On July 3–5, Slush Puppie Place will become a hub for the Eastern Ontario video game community to come together, celebrate gaming and smash each other’s characters off a cliff. Because the Eh! Game Expo will not only have activations from major gaming brands, cosplayers, nerd culture collectors and indie game developers but it will also host a major fighting game esport tournament called Fight for the Throne!
“We’re expecting competitors from the Kingston area as well as Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal and New York State,” says Executive Director Carl-Edwin Michel. “The level of competition will be very high. That being said, the best thing about fighting game tournaments is that anyone can enter a bracket and if you win, you keep on going to the further rounds. Anything can happen.”
Michel is not only a huge gamer himself, but he’s also a vocal advocate of the gaming industry in Canada – a creative sector estimated to contribute $5.1B to the nation’s GDP. As Executive Director of the Canadian Game Awards, Michel celebrates the best in the Canadian game industry including game design and development. “The easiest way to understand the event is that it’s like the Junos of gaming, but it’s got a wider lens”, Michel says, pointing to the way video game culture goes well beyond the games themselves. “We honour the best esports events and athletes as well”.
The event will also feature a partnership with Esport Canada as the Fighting Game Genre evolves from the one-on-one challenges at the local arcade towards sanctioned events. “Fighting games have always been a grassroots, community-driven Esport,” says Raul Fernandes, President of the Queen's Fighting Game Club, founder of Byrd Esports, and Tournament Director of the Kingston tournament series, Middleground Kingston Smash. “What started as groups of people gathering around arcade cabinets or a Smash Bros. setup has evolved into highly competitive tournaments with substantial prize pools.”
Fernandes emphasizes that the community and social aspect of fighting games remains at the heart of the genre. "It's always more fun in-person because you're engaging directly with your community and competing for bragging rights." At Fight for the Throne, competitors will compete for over $3000 across several popular titles including, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Super Smash Bros. Melee, Rivals 2, Street Fighter 6, Tekken 8, and 2XKO.
While the players are battling it out, the Expo will offer a variety of activities for gaming fans of all ages. Here are ten things you need to know when you go to Eh! Game Expo and Fight for the Throne:
1. Hosted by Rooflemonger
The event is hosted by Rooflemonger, a celebrity YouTuber in the fighting game community with over 250k followers. He’s also from Brockville, so he knows the gaming landscape of Eastern Ontario.
2. Serious competition
Fight for the Throne has confirmed a stellar lineup of major players including LudwigFrog, Huebert, Rongunshu and Gabagool.
3. It’s super cheap!
Tickets are extremely affordable with all-weekend passes costing only $19.56 for kids and $37.61 for adults. See the price structure online.
4. Anyone can play.
Looking to put your skills to the test in a competitive setting? Register for one of the brackets and see how you do!
5. Let’s a-go!
There will be a Mario Kart tournament just for funsies. Plus, you can try some rare Japanese arcade consoles from Yume Arcade.
6. Trading Card Game tournaments
Prefer your games on tables? The teams from Nerd Night and Mind Games will be hosting TCG tournaments for games like Star Wars: Unlimited and Legions: Realms at War in the concourse of the Slush Puppie Place. They will also be guiding curiosity seekers in learn-to-play demonstrations.
7. First Look
Get a first look at Canadian indie games that haven’t reached the market yet.
8. Turtle Power
Are you or your kids really into Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles? Well not as much as this guy. Guinness Book of World Records holder, Dave Fawcett, aka the TMNT Collector, will be showing off some of his incredible 5000+ piece collection of TMNT figurines, movie props, books and more.
9. Local Artists and Vendors
Artist and Vendor Alley will feature local artists and shops showing off their gamer goods.
10. Cosplay and Ghostbusters
Some of the biggest cosplayers in Canada like ZachGambit, Binrand, Omizie, Curseling, and Freakish Workshop will be decked out in awe inspiring costumes. Plus, the Toronto Ghostbusters will be bustin’ any creepy ghosts with some larger-than-life activations.
BONUS:
Voice actor, Frederick B. Owens who plays Gol D. Roger on One Piece and Leatherhead on the 2003 TMNT series will also be in attendance.
There are more surprises still in the works behind-the-scenes, but the event promises to be fun for all ages. From July 3 to 5, it’s all about jumping in and playing, whether you’re a longtime gamer or just getting started. No tokens required.
