With so many things to see and do at GameStart 2019, it is easy to get lost in all the commotion. Games? What kind? Toys? Which ones? Things to see? Where does one start? As this will be the very last GameStart in Singapore, you might feel some pressure to make it as memorable as possible, so here are some booths that are worth the detour.
Retro City
Gaming and big conventions like GameStart wouldn’t be where it is today without the pioneer consoles like FamiCom and Atari. Retro City at GameStart 2019 lets attendees relive the glory days with arcade classics such as Fatal Fury, Samurai Shodown and Alpha Mission II
Brush up on your gaming history by checking out the display shelves filled with retro gaming consoles and handheld devices. With the combined efforts of No Average Joe, JCU Museum of Video and Computer Games and RetroCade attendees can come face to face with the Magnavox Odyssey and the Gameboy Colour.
Doujin Market
The Doujin Market is truly a gem, filled with passionate and talented individuals sharing their talents with the rest of the community. Most booths included small prints, keychains, stickers and pins of their favourite characters in their own art style.
One of the artists, Rachta Lin caught our eye with her beautifully done prints in varying sizes. Her work mostly featured stylised versions of fan-favourite characters from a wide range of fandoms, covering anime, comics and games. She was also taking commissions during her time at GameStart so you could walk away with a one-of-a-kind piece of art.
D&D Adventurer’s League
Any experienced Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) player will tell you that the hardest thing about the game is finding a time when everyone is available. With the D&D Adventurer’s League, you’ll be able to join in on the fun, regardless of your desired campaign length.
Play a one-shot campaign that is quick and (relatively) easy or meet some like-minded individuals to form a dedicated party. They even have games called “Epics” where your actions not only affect your table of adventurers but all the other tables around you. The coolest thing about the D&D Adventurer’s League is that you’ll be able to use your character at any Adventurer’s League around the world.
Games By Singaporeans
One of the best parts of GameStart is being able to meet the people behind the games as well as discover the great games that are being made within the region. Unsurprisingly, there were a number of game designers and developers born and raised on this little red dot.
Made up of six members, Hexagoon is a Singaporean game studio that created Takoaway. The game is a perspective-based puzzle game that is reminiscent of big hits like Monument Valley but with its own unique flair. Takoaway is available for download for iOS and Android phones.
There are many crazy stories about what our men serving National Service would do for a little extra cash. So a few of these lads made a game to poke fun at this social observation. In The Great Singaporean Sale, make or break your friendships by asking your crew what insane acts they think you would commit just to earn a quick buck. Make sure to get it on their kickstarter on October 25.
Disney’s Tsum Tsum Festival
There is absolutely no way that anybody at GameStart could have missed the massive booth by the Walt Disney Company and Marvel as well as the plethora of recently launched and upcoming games. If you did, you might have walked into a different convention hall because it is the first thing that greets you at the door.
However, you might have missed out on another Disney title, Disney’s Tsum Tsum Festival. Similar to Mario Party, Disney’s Tsum Tsum Festival is a collection of minigames which accommodate up to four players. It is really easy to learn, super fun and has the added bonus of being insanely cute.
What a better way to mark the last ever GameStart than with a photo opportunity. After you’re done having a blast with Disney’s Tsum Tsum Festival, head around the back for the most adorable photo frame you could possibly ask for.
The final GameStart ends Oct 13, 2019.
Chelsea started playing video games at a young age and has since sunk deeper into the hole of geekdom. She dreams of one day studying pop culture for a living so she can watch Netflix all day in her pyjamas.
Si Jia
Trinity Sun
Destro
