Esports events organizer GG Expo is launching a new event in Seattle. The GG Expo 2018 will be held next May and is touting itself as the first player-focused expo and conference in the United States. It will cover a range of esports topics with an emphasis on the community and players.
The wide esports umbrella
The event will cover popular esports genres including multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA), first-person shooter (FPS), fighting game community (FGC), as well as card, sport, and real-time strategy (RTS) games. The three-day event, set for Memorial Day Weekend 2018, will take place at the Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue, Washington.
“We’ve set out to build something that we as esports players and fans will want to attend,” said GG Expo Inc Executive Director Joe English. “We envision an event where attendees play the latest games, meet with experienced players, and learn how to be successful in esports.”
The organization’s board of advisors encompasses esports experts from a variety of companies, including Intel, RumbleMonkey, Curse Media, Splyce Gaming, and Stimulant. Furthermore, the board also plans to expand the team to include a community of players, cosplayers, and representatives from esports-related companies.
The expo’s events
Over the course of three days, fans will be able to enjoy the following:
- Center and gaming stages: This will feature exhibition tournaments, gameplay demonstrations, and panel discussions with professional players.
- GG Discover Theater: Top players, teams, streamers, students, and industry experts discuss trending topics in esports.
- Contests and fan experiences: Participate in GG Expo’s “Tricked Out PC,” “Best in Cosplay,” and “Best of GG Expo” contests.
- Esports Triceleron: University and professional players compete to be crowned best all-around esports triathlete.
- Expo and fan zone: Experience new games, products, and services.
“Our aspiration is to create something truly unique for the players,” said GG Expo founder and RumbleMonkey CEO Jacob Rapoport. “‘GG’ is shorthand for ‘good game,’ something that’s immediately recognizable to players and fans of esports alike, and highlights the community-focused mission of GG Expo. It’s about creating the show fellow gamers and esports enthusiasts want to see.”
Who supports GG Expo?
With the seemingly ever-increasing popularity of esports, events like these come as a natural development in the industry.
“RumbleMonkey is focused on enhancing gameplay by making real-money esports accessible to players from all walks of life,” Rapoport said. “GG Expo represents a fantastic opportunity to bring together people who share a love of esports, celebrating the titles they play, and engaging with the community. As gamers ourselves, that’s something RumbleMonkey can really get behind.”
“I’ve been involved with esports for over a decade, and I love to see the esports community coming together in new and interesting ways,” said Intel Esports Marketing Manager George Woo. “GG Expo’s mission in helping players be successful in esports and elevating their game is something that I personally think is really great for the esports community as a whole.”
Events like GG Expo 2018 are also drawing support from professional gamers.
“Becoming pro isn’t something that just happens; for most people it takes a lot of determination and dedication,” said professional Hearthstone player Th3 Rat. “Having an event like GG Expo, where I could have heard from people who have made it, would have been a huge help in advancing my career and me as a person.”
As per the announcement, more details will come soon and tickets will be available early next year.
