Yesterday was the first day of the UK Games Expo 2022, and the only day I would be attending out of its three day duration.

Previously pre-pandemic I had attended all three days. But this year I wasn’t able to justify to myself the time and cost of attending all three days. Especially since I had long missed the small window of cheap hotel prices.

The day started real early, nearly up for work early. I was on the road to Birmingham by 5am. Coffee and pain au chocolate providing me with that start of the day kick and nourishment the body needs.

I arrived at the NEC parking at 7am. There were some vehicles already there. But the advantage for me was I could park very close to the car park entrance and the exhibition halls themselves.

As I got near to the entrance for halls 1 and 2, next to the lake, was the medieval reenactment camp. Which was nicely framed with the rear end of a helo and aerial trapezium (from the smaller Bear ‘glorified stunt man’ Ghylls Adventure Show).

The aerial trapezium reminded me of my early years in Aldershot, and the one that the paras had to use.

Surprisingly there were already 10 people queuing up waiting for the ticket office to open up.

7:20am and I had been beaten to the front of the ticket queue.

I hadn’t realised the show was opening up earlier this year. The doors were opening to the public at 9am.

So after getting my ticket at about 8am, it was time to start another queue at the top of the stairs! But only after a very quick exchange of cash for a copy of Ghostbusters 2 the boardgame that had been arranged.

It was here that Jonathan finally caught up with me.

After a couple of photos and banter it was time to go in.

There was a great freebie as we entered the show of copies of The Little Book of Battle Maps being given away. I grabbed a couple of copies.

My show purchases on my very limited budget were the following:

• 5 tile bags
• A copy of Regicide
• Sushi Go Party
• Ghostbusters 2 (a pickup at the show)

The highlights of the day were the encounters I had during the day.

Within minutes of the doors opening I met Brian a friend from the Chatteris Warlords gaming group. Later on I bumped into Dean also from the same gaming group, and MtG opponent.

Then there was the lunchtime Fenland Gamers club photo of those attending the show.

I even met some-one new! I had a great lunchtime chat with iplayred (on Instagram) and her partner.

Otherwise I felt the show was a little flat. Not yet back to its glory of the pre-pandemic days. I know the SUSD folks were at the show, as were the OnTableTop crew (they even had a live streaming booth! Very E3 video game channel like). But there was no Dice Tower crew over, no big boardgame Youtubers. Airecon got the Watch It Played lot over. But UKGE couldn’t get their big names over? Or were OnTableTop and their setup meant to be it?

The Wise Wizard Games demo area had no one from the company there as far as I could see. I think it was just a third party doing it for them.

It almost felt like the American presence was reduced.

I had an enjoyable day. But glad it was just a day I was there for.