Picture credits: Gamestart 2015 Media Release.
Following the success of its inaugural show last year,GameStart 2015 will take place across three days from
November 13 to 15, 2015 at
Suntec Convention Centre,Halls 401 and 402, with double the floor space from last year at almost 4,000 square metres.
Last year, more than 12,000 game enthusiasts from Singapore and around the region had an
adrenaline-fuelled weekend, trying their hands at over 45 games, cheering the players on at a
variety of tournaments and competitions, and getting the insider view on everything to do with
Partners that are returning to participate in this year’s event include
Sony Computer Entertainment Hong Kong (Singapore Branch),
Bandai Namco Entertainment,
Blizzard Entertainment,Capcom Pro Tour Asia tournament and home-grown
companies
Armaggedon,
IMBA Interactive,
Kinetiquettes,
Witching Hour Studios and
Xmashed Gear.
This year, visitors can expect to see numerous trial stands and demo booths across all
platforms – PC, console and mobile - and over 60 hot new games, including several that have
yet to be launched. Over the weekend, there will be meet-the-producer sessions, show
matches, eSports tournaments, cosplay runway showcase and exclusive promotions for game
bundles and show merchandise.
Visitors to GameStart 2015 will be the first in Southeast Asia to try the PlayStation VR headset
peripheral. When worn during gameplay with PS4 VR games, the headset gives the user a truly
immersive experience. Bandai Namco Entertainment will showcase upcoming games Dark Souls III and Gundam Extreme vs. Force. Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment will be presenting Lego
Marvel’s Avengers, which is expected to launch in January.
Thanks to the Star Wars fans at Geek Culture, GameStart 2015 attendees will also be the first in Singapore to experience the Star Wars™: Battle Pod™, an experiential arcade game that features a dome-shaped screen, transporting players into heated battles in a galaxy far, far away. In iconic locations like the Death Star, players will be able to take control of some of the most memorable vehicles and moments in the Star Wars universe and pilot them to victory.
New partners on board this year include the organisers of
Taipei Game Show - TaipeiComputer Association,
Singapore Gamebox by Games Solution Centre,
Warner BrothersGames,Funplus,
Obutto Singapore,
Saint Games and
Simply Toys.
No Average Joe, GameStart 2015’s Production Partner for the show, has brought back the popular retro gaming section “Retro DNA”, where gamers can check out vintage game consoles, games and arcade machines from the 1980s to the early 2000.
Merchandise for fans and collectors include
official Blizzard merchandise including items fromBlizzcon 2015 that will be sold in limited quantities,
exclusive pieces from Simply Toys, and
Arc System Works from Japan will be
offering exclusive merchandise of their criticallyacclaimed fighting game franchises, BlazBlue and Guilty Gear.
- SUPPORT FOR LOCALS, START-UPS AND INDIES
In line with GameStart Asia’s goal to showcase independent developers and gaming-related
start-ups, this year there will be
30 independent companies at the show,
a big jump from 2014,where there were only eight participating companies. These will be located at two sections:
Founders Base, and the
Singapore Gamebox booth.
Founders Base is GameStart’s own indie section which will feature a variety of gaming-related
start-ups, artists, crafters and independent studios. This year, 17 exhibitors from Singapore,
Barcelona, Hong Kong, and Taiwan will be showcasing their wares. Look out for award-winning
Singapore company
LambdaMu Games, best known for their simulation game Pixel People,
Herding Catsfrom Barcelona will be there with their new mobile game Cannonland, and Hong
Kong-based
Genuine Studio will feature a game which will have players constructing a thriving
night market.
The Singapore Gamebox booth is hosted by Games Solution Centre (GSC), an initiative by
the
Media Development Authority (MDA) and managed by
Nanyang Polytechnic (NYP), that
is a one-stop resource centre for Singapore-based game developers, and is the region’s first
PlayStation Incubation Studio. GSC will help promote 15 local independent game developers
who will showcase their games at the Singapore Gamebox pavilion to GameStart 2015’s
visitors. This includes the five mobile games that were specially created for SG50. More
information can be found here
http://www.mda.gov.sg/sg50games- COSPLAY CELEB GUEST JUDGES ,COMPETITIONS & ESPORTS TOURNAMENTS
Cosplayers who come to GameStart in
recognisable costumes from games, anime and mangapay
only $5 to enter the halls on Saturday and Sunday. Celebrity cosplayers
Johnny (JunkersCosplay) and
Karin (Acanthastar Cosplay) from the United States and
TUNA from South
Korea will be at the show to meet their fans and will also be judges for the Game On! Cosplay
Runway Showcase on Sunday, 15 November, organised by cosplay partner
Neo TokyoProject.Well-known FIFA eSports personality
Mohd Phirkhan “Xtr3me3” will bring back 2014’s popular
“Xtr3me3's GameStart Champion's Cup”. This year included pre-qualifiers in Singapore and
Malaysia, and a Last Chance Qualifier will be held on 13 November. The competition is
supported by sponsors
Ingram Micro Asia,
Armageddon,
SecretLab and
Colosseum. The
top 16 players will win cash and prizes, with the top player taking home a S$2,000 cash prize
and SecretLab ergonomic gaming chair worth over S$300.
Organised by BEast of the East and Capcom, the Capcom Pro Tour Asia returns as nine
Street Fighter players from the region compete for the chance to qualify for the prestigious
Capcom Cup, which will be held at the PlayStation Experience event in the US in December.
This year’s tournament includes an open Last Chance Qualifier on 13 November, finals on 14
and 15 November. Top players who have qualified include Singapore’s RZR Xian, Dakou and
Xiaohai from China, Be Nemo, Misse, Mov and RB Bonchan from Japan, and Poongko from
South Korea.
- SHOW MATCHES AND PERFORMANCES
There will be daily show matches for the highly anticipated multiplayer first-person-shooter
TomClancy's Rainbow Six Seige, featuring local gaming team “
No Use Talking” vs “
HBS”
(HontoniBuaySai). This will be a great preview build-up for fans before the game officially
releases in December.
Gamers will also witness the
StarCraft II Legacy of the Void SEA Beta Anniversary Tournament
Grand Finals, a
Hearthstone show match, game producer presentations, a Street Fighter V
Producer Showcase and on a different note, a performance by
Gentle Love, a musical duo
from Japan comprising of saxophonist
Norihiko Hibino (composer for Bayonetta and the Metal
Gear Solid series) and pianist
AYAKI. The Gentle Love duo will be performing well-known game
music pieces and have collaborated on several projects, primarily performing and making music
to provide therapeutic relief to others after the wake of Japan’s 2011 earthquake and tsunami.
- INAUGURAL BUSINESS DAY – GAMING IN ASIA
With events and games that will appeal to everyone from core and casual gamers to cosplay
enthusiasts, this year organisers have expanded the show to include
an industry-focusedBusiness Day and conference session on Friday, 13 November themed “Gaming in Asia:
Trends & Insights”. The Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA) is the supporting
agency for the Conference, with the aim of profiling and promoting the career opportunities
within this dynamic and exciting industry.
Ubisoft Singapore Senior Producer Hugues Ricour will be the keynote speaker for the
conference and will share his views on how AAA HD game titles put Singapore on the map.
Attendees will also get the inside scoop from experts from Facebook, Mad Catz and Twitch,
among others.
- TICKETING, LOOT BAG & MERCHANDISE
The first 500 visitors to the show on Saturday and Sunday will receive a ‘Random Loot Bag’which could contain anything from exclusive T-shirts to games, posters and other exclusive
items. All paid ticket holders qualify for the show lucky draw in which they could win prizes such
as consoles and gaming accessories. These include a SecretLab chair, Obutto racing seat,
products from Armaggeddon and Razer, Kinetiquettes Street Fighter statues, and more. Full
details will be revealed on the GameStart.asia website. Homegrown gaming gear company
Armaggeddon will be also be launching exciting new products at the show.
Official apparel partner for GameStart, Xmashed Gear will be debuting new designs for sale atthe event. Also available for sale will be game-themed socks specially created for GameStart
2015, a collaboration with Freshly Pressed. A total of 17 designs will be available at the event.
Standard priced tickets can be purchased online at GameStart Asia’s website –
www.gamestart.asia and from selected retail partners -
Saint Games (The Cathay),
GameScore(Funan outlet), and all
GameXtreme outlets.
One-Day Standard ticket for entry on either 14 or 15 November is S$12, and a Two-Day Standard allowing entry for both days is S$22. There is a
special edition VIP ticket at $58 that gives
priority access on
all three days to passholders, This VIP ticket will also
include specialpremium items and
GameStart 2015 stationery and merchandise including an
exclusiveAlyse Xmashed Gear T-shirt,
Freshly Pressed x GameStart Official Socks worth S$12 and
SaintGames Cafe PlayTime $7 Vouchers.
Conference passes are available at
www.gamestart.asiaand include entry to the convention hall for all three days, as well as the networking Gaming
Night on 13 Nov. Thanks to WDA support, all Singaporeans and PRs are eligible to buy the
tickets at a special price. MyRepublic is the Official Fibre Broadband Partner for the event.
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