Manchester Town Hall will soon abandon politics for gaming, as a new multi-platform gaming convention arrives in the city for the first time.
The free event, which will take place in just under a fortnight to coincide with Manchester Day, is called The Manchester Games Room and will showcase the wide spectrum of games on offer.
Mutiny! and Sublevel Zero are some of the most hotly anticipated independent games on the market and both will be on display at the event.
Johann Sebastian’s Joust’s screenless multiplayer game which uses motion sensor technology will also be available to play.
Councillor Rosa Battle, Manchester City Council’s executive member for culture and leisure, said: “As the Manchester Games Room shows, Manchester Day is far more than a parade.
“Showcasing some of the most exciting game developers in the city – this is the sort of event that makes Manchester Day so special.”
HOTLY ANTICIPATED: One of the games on show will be pirate-themed Mutiny, which can host up to 16 players (© Hidden Armada, with thanks)
The Manchester Games Room will also have a range of traditional games on offer from Tabletop Manchester, which promise to open people up to the world of board games.
Founder Mike Rose said: “I started Tabletop Manchester in the hope of bringing more people together to experience board games.
“Volunteers will be on hand to oversee some of the rarer games, which most people will never have heard of, allowing people to broaden their gaming horizons.
“Having the opportunity to share the group with thousands of people on Manchester Day is super exciting.”
The event coincides with this year’s Manchester Day theme, GAME ON!, which celebrates the way that games have shaped modern Manchester, looking to the future impact of gaming on the city.
Councillor Pat Karney, Chair of Manchester Day, said: “The town hall is nearly 150 years old and it hasn’t seen anything like this!”
ABANDON POLITICS FOR GAMING: Manchester Town Hall will play host to The Manchester Games Room in two weeks (© Steve Parkinson, with thanks)
Manchester has one of the fastest growing game industries within the country, with new media hubs being established across the city.
Over 21,000 people work within the software, date and games industry in the city, with a further 5% of the population working in the digital and creative industries.
The next generation of coders is now able to learn as part of some primary school curriculums, with coding clubs spread across the region for further support.
David Hayward, Curator of the Manchester Day Games Room, said: “Manchester and the north in general have some incredibly talented videogame developers.
“While their work has a world stage, it’s not always obvious that such talented people are in your back yard.”
For all the latest information on Manchester Day be sure to follow mascot PIXEL on Twitter at @PIXELMcrDay and check out the hashtag #MCRDay.
Top image courtesy of Manchester City Council, with thanks
