The UK gaming scene has many claims to fame. Rare or Rareware were based in an idyllic middle England village where they created titles like Donkey Kong Country and Goldeneye 007. These were some of the best video games of their respective generations. Then there’s Lionhead, which created the classic action role-playing games, Fable and Fable 2. There are also many gaming writers from the UK. I recently picked up a “new” gaming magazine called Pixel Addict. It’s a UK-based magazine that covers many UK software and hardware developers. I actually picked up my first copy of the magazine at the event that this article is about. I’ve been to a few London Gaming Markets. This is the first gaming market that I have been to based in Northern England.
Aintree
On a wet, windy, and relatively cold September Sunday, the Liverpool Gaming Market was held. The venue of the event was the famous Aintree Racecourse buildings, a few miles away from Liverpool City Centre. After getting off the train, I followed the crowds and based on the alternative, and edgy clothing and accessories of people in the crowd, I made my decision that these were likely gamers (or retro gaming fans to be precise), and that it would be wise to follow them, rather than going alone, and getting myself lost. After only around five minutes walking, we arrived at the Aintree Racecourse. There were lines of people entering the event (some adorned with Pokรฉmon merchandise), and I knew that I had made a good decision in following the crowd. As a Press Pass holder, I picked up my wristband and entered the event.
Parallel Rooms
The building, which is a few hundred meters from the actual green racecourse, has two main sections split by a first-floor indoor walkway. Both sections were filled with salesmen and women selling their wares on stalls. Everything from plastic Nintendo doorstops to Pokรฉmon tea coasters, to old role-playing game guide books could be found on these stalls. However, primarily what was being sold were video games. There were NES, SNES, N64, PS1, Dreamcast, and more. Almost every retro system was being sold. Overall, this place was a real dream if you had about ยฃ500 to just spend on video games. I was being forced to be frugal, so this time, I wasn’t going to splash the cash on a new console or handheld. What appealed to me was the NES games.
Games, Memorabilia, and Magazines
The number of people at this Liverpool-based event probably matched or exceeded the number of attendants at the London Gaming Markets that I’ve been to. As I wandered around the venue, many of the stalls were crowded. Some of the ones that weren’t crowded sold Japanese video game guide books, particularly from the PS2 era. There were also stalls selling art prints. I was tempted to buy art at multiple points. However, something about being at the venue made me decide that I didn’t want to put down twenty big ones on Tetris for NES. Maybe a more niche puzzle game would be cheaper. Then I spotted Dr.Mario for NES. It was selling for ยฃ10. I decided I’d make the purchase. I bought the game then and there. My mission was complete, I had bought a game at Liverpool Gaming Market, and had inhaled its vibe. I now knew what the northern gaming markets were like. However, that wasn’t the only surprise of the day.
As I was looking at magazines and chatting to a staff member, the staff member said I should try to get a signed magazine from the creator of the DOOM series. I felt puzzled. How am I meant to do that, I thought. I looked left, and there was a busy stall full of DOOM merchandise. I looked more intently and realized it was John Romero himself! I was never the biggest DOOM fan (I was a Goldeneye 007 fan, though, and DOOM heavily inspired it), but I was still pleasantly shocked to see the creator of a major gaming franchise just sitting twenty yards to the left of me in a room full of kids and nerds. I couldn’t get that near him, and I couldn’t be bothered to wait in line to get his signature (something I might regret in the future), so I just took a photo from a distance with my phone.
After a few minutes, I decided to grab a Pixel Addict magazine and head home. The rain was still pouring, and it seemed even colder than before. However, I had picked up a great puzzle game for cheap, and had a ton of articles on gaming that I could read on the train (even if they are from the post-gaming magazine era). I would recommend the Liverpool Gaming Festival to anyone who wants a fun afternoon out or a good gaming deal.
Conclusion
Overall, the Liverpool Gaming Market was a gaming event held on a cold, rainy day in Aintree, a few miles from Liverpool city centre. The event was at the famous Aintree Racecourse. The buildings will probably be filled with drunk horse gamblers in a few months, but on the day, it was full of salesmen selling every type of game and console that you could imagine. Magazines, art, and merchandise were also on show.
The biggest surprise was the attendance of a gaming celebrity, John Romero. This indicates that gaming celebrities and esteemed developers do attend this style of event and could show up at future events. For me personally, I picked up the Pixel Addict magazine, which is a blast from the past with its retro-style gaming articles. I also added to my gaming collection by picking up Dr. Mario. I’d recommend the Liverpool Gaming Market to anyone who can get there easily and has some cash to spend on rare games. Have fun, be safe, and happy gaming.
