This weekend, indulge your inner gamer at Ottawa’s very own Capital Gaming Expo! Held on April 1st and 2nd at the Nepean Sportsplex, CGX is set to shine a spotlight on what the Canadian video game industry is all about! The annual event, which showcases all things gaming in every form, was recently purchased by Jillian Mood & Partners, who have changed this year’s event to become more video game focused- specifically on Canadian video games. Tabletop gamers need not despair however, as board games and other tabletop games will still be present, including a Magic: The Gathering tournament!
This year, the event has become a fusion of PAX-inspired expo goodness, alongside a conference featuring speakers from prominent industry-leading speakers. The expo hall alone fills a massive 17,000-square-foot space with vendors, exhibitors and even game tournaments. Super Smash Bros fans will be able to compete at the expo for Smash Bros glory! For those who prefer to explore gaming as an art form instead of competition, there will be an art gallery hosted by Pens & Pixels, which will be showcasing a collection of artwork from local game artists and designers. Attendees will also be able to check out various indie games from Ottawa-based developers such as Bendy and the Ink Machine, Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes, and Pizza Titan Ultra. If you haven't already explored virtual reality, Colony VR will be hosting a dedicated VR section where you can exit the expo hall into a coral reef under the ocean, paint in 3D, and more with their colonies of HTC Vives.
The conference side of CGX is aimed at developers and programmers, as well as individuals interested in working in the gaming industry. The line up includes speakers from Ubisoft, Microsoft, and Shopify, and aims to have inspiring and informative talks to and from those involved in the industry. Conference attendees looking to break into the video game industry can meet with hiring companies at the Connect Café. There, ten hiring studios will be present throughout the weekend, and attendees can bring their portfolios for review and advice from industry leaders.
Over 5,000 people are expected to attend this weekend. Tickets are still available for purchase online, or can also be bought at the door during event hours depending on availability. Day tickets for the expo hall only are $5, while conference tickets are $95 for one day, and $165 for both. Children under 5 get into the event for free, but obviously must be accompanied by a paying adult. No matter how to game, or what you choose to game on, Capital Gaming Expo is bound to have a little bit of gaming gold for everyone!
