EGX: Extinction of the Gaming Expo

Messy Merger

Returning to reality after a weekend at the recently combined MCM Comic Con and EGX in London, my thoughts were that it was a massive let-down. EGX came off as the poor relation in this arrangement, stripped of all the unique elements that once defined it. Over the three days, it became clear that other attendees shared my disappointment, left wondering what had happened to the usual activities and questioning what to do.

What went wrong? It is not a straightforward question, and there are no clear-cut answers. We might potentially only understand the reasons in time following a thorough post-mortem. Attributing the blame for the convention failings, we need to consider the organisers, the gaming industry’s current state, and the wider state of global gaming expos.

Poor Planning

They fumbled, failing to understand their market or the consequences their choices on the paying public.

Firstly, they stereotyped the community. They assumed that as EGX fans, Comic Con would be a natural fit, like a non-geek assuming a Trekkie would love Harry Potter. The reality is geeks have their own distinct interests within the wider geekdom. The people I spoke to, projected the event was underwhelming.

Throughout the weekend, whether in the ExCeL, outside in the smoking area, or at the nearby pub, the conversations echoed the same frustrations. Where are the games? What happened to EGX? Comic Con is not my scene, and there is nothing for me to do. This is a significant problem, if the event becomes purely a social hangout, why pay for entry when everyone could gather at the local pub.

For those not accustomed to Comic Con, it felt a very confusing experience. If the events did not pique your interest or you could not snag a seat due to limited availability, there was not much left to do. It was an entry fee to access stalls selling overpriced items that you could have easily ordered online for less.

Finally, decisions made were both counterproductive and jarring. Even with a priority pass for the entire weekend granting Afterhours entry, I had to take time out of my day to get an Afterhours wristband. Though, on the Friday night it was quickly established that it was pointless, the bars in the halls were closed so you had to enter the main walkway to get a drink, the retro zone was virtually non-existent and getting into the event was a battle due to limited capacity. 

Invisible Industry

The game industry is problematic right now but let us zero in on their glaring absence this year, the gaming section was barren.

Post-Covid, AAA developers and console manufacturers have retreated from physical events, opting instead to showcase games and announcements online. From their perspective, attending expos might seem unnecessary, but in truth, physical conventions depend on their presence to survive. Without the big names, many gamers lose interest, leading to declining attendance and financial viability. Strangely, the indie sector was also missing this year, an unusual shift considering they have previously filled the gap, offering hands-on experiences with their games. While I understand the costs involved, the lack of major indie publishers was palpable.

On the other hand, the lack of space allocated to the gaming zone might explain the decline in the indie presence, thus pointing a finger at the event organizers for this shortfall.

Endangered Expos

So far, we have been solely concentrating on MCM/EGX, but it is important to consider conventions in general.

The most striking example is E3, once the titan of gaming expos, which decided to shift entirely online, leaving us to wonder about the fate of other events. If E3 decided it no longer needed a physical presence, then what hope do we have for the rest. Whilst most have resurfaced following global lockdowns, they have not returned to the pre-Covid status quo, and fears persist with constant rumours swirling within the community that another one may soon vanish.

Unfortunately, even with high demand, we are at the mercy of the organizers and the gaming industry. Their decisions dictate what is available and whether they will continue.

Forlorn Future

I wish I could wrap this up on a positive note, but the world is not all rainbows and butterflies. EGX is not entirely dead yet, but certainly feels like it is on life-support with the doctor ready to pull the plug at any moment. Do not get me wrong, I met incredible people and had a wonderful time, but that was not thanks to the event itself. If the main attraction is missing, why bother going?

The convention stands at a critical crossroads, choices made by the decision-makers and the video games industry will determine its future. This year's flops highlight a significant disconnect between consumers and game companies, the industry needs to re-engage with its audience by being at EGX 2025. Organizers must pay attention to the feedback and carefully consider what they will bring to the table for the next event.

The attendance numbers make one thing clear, there is a strong demand for this expo. Now, the spotlight is on EGX and the games industry. It is their move. They need to give us compelling reasons to return in 2025.

Steam Next Fest: 14th October to 21st October 2024

Next Fest - A Varied Affair 

Yet another Steam Next Fest has drawn to a close, and I've waded through a fraction of the vast amount of demos available. My week-long journey through Steam has yielded a mixed bag: there were glitchy disasters, crushing let-downs, unexpected delights, and some truly solid experiences. Here's a selection of games from various genres that caught my eye based on the demos I played.

Dino Market – Idle Clicker – November 2024

Imagine running a cosy little market satisfying customer orders. As you progress, you’ll discover and unlock characters that add new products to the game, and you’ll reinvest the profits in perks to increase the effectiveness of the market. True to its genre, you have two options: let the game run on autopilot as an idler or dive in and play it as a hands-on clicker. Not being a fan of Idle Clickers, I didn’t expect much but soon found myself hooked by its loop.

Frameland: A Binary Tale – JRPG – 30^th October 2024

At first glance, it might seem like your run-of-the-mill JRPG, but lurking beneath the fantasy façade is an intertwined tale that weaves alongside your own adventure which adds an air of mystery. Though combat is turn-based, Frameland: A Binary Tale keeps you on your toes as attacks and blocks must be precision timed to inflict the most damage or deflect an enemy blow effectively. Luckily, I don’t have long to wait to delve deeper into this JRPG.

Ale Abbey – Tycoon – 2024

Step into the 16^th century and you are charged with running a monastery, where the art of brewing and selling ales to the locals aids the ability to enhance the abbey’s facilities. With no set recipes holding you back, you can unleash your creativity to craft various unique brews and variations within the type of brews. Whether it hits the 2024 release window remains to be seen, but I'll be tasting what they've concocted when it does.

An Unfinished Game – Walking Simulator – TBA

This game feels like it took inspiration from The Stanley Parable, delighting in its own ridiculousness whilst playfully toying with the player. As a tester, it is your job to navigate the levels in an upcoming game, hunt for bugs, learn the mechanics of each level and stumble your way through puzzles until you finally escape. With no release date in sight, it’s one to keep a close watch on and I’m eager to see how this project pans out.

Call of Boba – Life Sim – TBA

In Call of Boba, returning to your quaint hometown after a stressful and disastrous stint working in the big city. There's plenty to immerse yourself as the life sim contains all the essentials, whether you decide to run the café, battle enemies in your dreams, forge friendships or create new bubble tea flavours. Cosy life sims are a personal favourite of mine and can’t wait for the opportunity to chill and unwind with this charming title.

TMNT: Splintered Fate – Rogue-like – 6^th November 2024

There seems to be a flood of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles games lately, in this one, Splinter has been snatched by the Foot Clan through a mysterious portal. You’ve got to fight your way through NYC, encountering familiar TMNT faces both friend and foe while honing your ninja prowess. Normally, rogue-like/rogue-lite games don’t appeal to me, but the nostalgia of the franchise and the sense that every defeat is a lesson, and not a failure, had me addicted.

Neon Blood – Adventure – 26^th November 2024

Dive into a mesmerizing 2.5D cyberpunk pixel graphic adventure with breath-taking backgrounds and gorgeous cutscenes. As Detective Axel McCoin, you'll navigate the neon-lit alleys and shadowy depths of Viridis, interrogating locals and solving puzzles to expose the corruption festering in this dystopian realm. It promises to scratch the itch left by the long-anticipated The Last Night, and I'm eager to immerse myself in its dark, gritty world soon.

Whispers of the Eyeless – Strategy RPG – Q4 2024 (Early Access)

Infiltrate the city of Aranthor, determined to resurrect the Dead Gods. Your mission: expand your cult and shape the destiny of the city. You'll gather resources from various districts, engage in tactical turn-based battles, and keep your sanity intact as you upgrade your base and enable your cult to thrive. Despite my belief that I wouldn’t enjoy Whispers of the Eyeless, I soon found myself planning upgrades and strategizing my next moves.

Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders – Racing – 2024

In the latest twist of the Lonely Mountains series, mountain biking has given way to the exhilarating rush of skiing. The core formula remains intact: unlock new courses and gear by completing objectives. This time, though, multiplayer makes its debut, offering the thrill of racing with friends or against them. As a fan of the previous entry, I'm ready to tear down the slopes at breakneck speeds the moment I get a chance—whether it’s 2024 or later.

Loco Motive – Point & Click – Q4 2024

All aboard the Reuss Express, where a murder most foul has occurred, and you, dear player, find yourself as the prime suspect. Loco Motive embraces the delightful chaos of point-and-click adventures, filled with quirky characters to interact with, and hilariously absurd puzzles at times. As a devotee of this genre, I'm eagerly awaiting my ticket to this zany ride, hoping it pulls into the station before the year's end.

Phoenix Springs: Rising From The Flames or Mirage?

Developer: Calligram Studio

Publisher: Calligram Studio

Available Platform: Steam

Review Platform: Steam

Genre: Point and Click Adventure

 

Unravelling Mysteries in the Heart of the Desert

Calligram Studio’s debut game, Phoenix Springs, is a surreal and eccentric point-and-click adventure. Players embark on a journey with Iris, who is searching to find her brother Leo. As she follows the clues, her path leads her to the enigmatic desert locale of Phoenix Springs. But is this place a true oasis or just an elusive mirage?

Vivid Visuals and Noir Narrative

Phoenix Springs immerses you in a world that is delightfully bizarre, both visually and audibly.

The art style, reminiscent of an art student’s wildest fever dream, is strikingly garish. Despite its assault on the senses, it manages to draw you in, perfectly setting the stage for the peculiar adventure that awaits.

Throughout Phoenix Springs, Iris’s voice guides you, narrating the unfolding events. Her narration often feels oddly out of place, as if it does not fit, sounding off-key and mismatched in tone. This might be a deliberate choice, enhancing the game’s uncanny valley effect. Iris’s matter of fact, emotionless recounting starkly contrasts with the emotional weight of searching for her sibling, perhaps a failure in the noir-style storytelling.

Overall, it left me feeling detached from the experience which strangely made me want to delve deeper and uncover the reasons behind it.

Curious Journey Through Chaos

The story left me baffled and captivated; I cannot confidently claim to grasp the narrative of Phoenix Springs but wished to garner further insight into the game as I progressed. I am unsure if there was a clear plot which I failed to follow or a deliberate intent to obscure it, either way if the player fails to decipher unfolding events, then the message is lost.

The characters only add another layer of wackiness to Phoenix Springs. There are a limited number of NPCs are interactable and drive the plot forward, the remainder ramble incoherently. They do not enrich the story or provide any clarity.

Regrettably, Phoenix Springs squanders its chance to deliver a clear and cohesive narrative through its storytelling and character interactions.

A Bold Reimaging of the Genre

Phoenix Springs flips the script on the classic point and click formula and breathes new life into the genre. Its unconventional system takes some getting used to, making me rethink how I interact with the environment. I compare it to learning a new language, as I adapted to this fresh approach to world interaction and puzzle-solving. Instead of picking up and combining objects, we use leads, unlocking further clues and driving the story forward. This mechanic truly immerses you in the investigative spirit of the game.

Phoenix Springs captivates players from start to finish, due to its concise length, emphasise on exploration/experimentation and a link to a comprehensive playthrough guide. This allows the player to continue their journey without losing interest.

Unfortunately, Phoenix Springs strays from the genre’s core principles, where nearly every environment, character, and object play a crucial role in advancing the plot, with only a few red herrings thrown into the mix. Instead, numerous locations serve no purpose, characters that do not contribute to the storyline, and objects that remain unused. This results in a world that feels empty and underutilized.

Sound Woes and Comical Bugs

During my playthrough, I stumbled upon a few technical issues. At times, the music and sound effects overshadowed the protagonist’s dialogue, and while adding subtitles helped, it marred the game’s visual impact. Some cutscenes were fleeting and ended so abruptly that it felt quite jarring. Midway through the game, an update introduced a new bug, making it tricky to move between areas. It often took a while for the protagonist to navigate to a new location, sometimes humorously flitting back and forth between two locations.

Elusive Answers and Modern Take on Classic Genre

As the credits rolled, I felt Phoenix Springs was an enigma. What had I just experienced? What events had truly transpired? Why was I compelled to see it through to conclusion?

Regarding the first question, I honestly do not know. Could it have been a university project that they kept working on that was arty and highbrow, or was it meant to be nonsensical? For the second question, it is not a true reflection that I was completely lost regarding the narrative. I have a vague outline of the series of events of the game, but I certainly did not have the full picture by the end of what transpired. Lastly, why did I finish the game, well in a small part it is a short game but mostly there was a fascination with wanting to understand Phoenix Springs.

To wrap up on a high note, I must highlight the innovative mechanics that drive interaction and progression in the game. It felt like a breath of fresh air and eager to see this system evolve and implemented in other games of this genre.

Pros

• Captivating and Garish Art Style
• Innovative Mechanics
• Kept My Interest

Cons

• Did not Utilise World Fully
• Narrative Incoherent

Score: 6/10 – A refreshing take on the genre but lacked cohesive story

Bloomtown: Bloom or Gloom?

Developer: Lazy Bear/Different Sense Games

Publisher: Twin Sails Interactive

Available Platforms: PS4 & PS5, Steam, Switch, Xbox One & Series X|S

Review Platform: PS5

Genre: JRPG Life Sim

A Summer Adventure with a Supernatural Twist

From the creators of Graveyard Keeper, Lazy Bear Games presents their latest offering, a blend of life sim and JRPG set against the backdrop of 1960s America, with a supernatural element. In Bloomtown: A Different Story, you step into the shoes of Emily, who, along with her brother Chester, embarks on a summer adventure to their grandpa’s house following their parents’ separation. Is it a delightful escape from reality or merely the humdrum of mundane life? 

Symphony of Pixels and Tunes

Visually and aurally, Bloomtown shines within its genre and setting. The pixel art style, while familiar to fans of cosy Life Sim games, also evokes the charm of classic JRPGs, updated for the modern era to vividly express the characters’ emotions. The weather visuals in Bloomtown are particularly delightful, adding an immersive touch. Musically, the game draws inspiration from JRPGs like Persona, yet it seamlessly fits the 1960s backdrop. Together, the graphics and music beautifully complement both the genres and the era.

Summer Joys and Mystical Thrills

Set in the 1960s, the developers have cleverly sidestepped the era’s contentious issues, instead weaving a tale of kids blissfully enjoying their summer holidays, oblivious to the global politics swirling around them. The narrative does delve into the characters’ personal traumas without becoming too intense or heavy. However, some movie and video game references miss the mark, as they are from decades after the game’s setting. Despite this, the story remains charming, never overstaying its welcome, and concludes a satisfactory ending.

Exploring the town is an engaging experience, as we encounter a variety of residents, each with their own unique personalities and quirks. These characters offer tasks that feel perfectly suited for a child’s summer holiday, while also unwittingly aiding in the game’s supernatural elements. Emily quickly gathers a diverse group of allies to help her combat the town’s evil, though the ensemble sometimes feels reminiscent of a Scooby-Doo knockoff. The sibling banter and bickering between Emily and Chester feels authentic, and their candid discussions about their parents’ separation add depth as they navigate their new reality. Emily’s interactions with Ramona can be a bit awkward, but they share a hilarious moment trying on makeup for the first time. Hugo, the talking dog, rounds out the gang, reinforcing the Scooby-Doo vibe as they face the town’s dark forces together.

A Light-hearted Journey with Depth and Charm

Bloomtown fuses two game genres, resulting in a mix that feels like a lighter version of both. This duality is both a blessing and a curse. On the positive side, it never becomes too complex or tedious, but it also leaves you craving a bit more depth. It would have been exciting to see some innovation to make it stand out. While it does not aim to rival giants like Persona, the life sim genre is a staple in indie games, and a fresh twist could have added a unique flair. On the bright side, the game excels in introducing and integrating its mechanics, culminating in a satisfying final act.

Your main activity is battling demons, like in Persona, you can choose to defeat or capture demons. Capturing them allows you to add new demons to your team or fuse them with others to level up. It would have been nice when levelling up demons that their new abilities were predetermined rather than based on a percentage chance of acquiring new abilities or resistances.

As you explore, you will encounter various activities that help level up Emily’s skills, crucial for various aspects of the game. Skill levels influence your success in skill checks during interactions and demon captures. However, there are missed opportunities: being Smart does not make crossword puzzles easier, and Proficiency does not speed up task completion. Investing time in building friendships is worthwhile, adding depth to characters and providing useful battle perks.

Bloomtown offers a variety of activities, but you do not need to do everything to complete the game. If something does not appeal to you, you can simply move on to other tasks.

The American Dream Is Far from Perfect

During my playthrough, I encountered a few hiccups. Some fish seemed impossible to catch, hinting at bugs that need fixing. At times, it was challenging to tell which character was speaking, especially when they were close together. I also spotted several typos and issues with the English localization, though nothing that made the dialogue incomprehensible. Quest markers occasionally pointed to the wrong locations, and quest updates could lag on the screen. While these bugs did not stop me from finishing the game, they were frustrating and wasted my time.

Slice of Americana or Backwater Trailer Trash?

I thoroughly enjoyed the game, it was solid, with a compelling story that reached a satisfying conclusion. However, I wish it had introduced something new to revitalize the genres. The visuals and audio were perfectly suited to the genres and period, and there was a good variety of activities to keep you engaged. That said, they do need to fix a few annoying bugs.

Pros

• Gripping story
• Graphics & music in harmony
• Variety of activities

Cons

• Lacks Innovation
• Annoying bugs

Score: 7/10 – A solid game that required a unique twist to truly shine.