For many gamers, attending the EGX Games Festival, one of Europe’s largest gaming festivals, held at the ExCeL in East London, conveniently located near the London campus, is a major highlight. Two students from University of Staffordshire London had the chance to experience this vibrant event firsthand, thanks to complimentary tickets through the University’s student ambassador programme. This opportunity offered a chance to experience things that complemented their classroom learning - it was about engaging with the industry up close. The festival allowed these students to network with professionals, discover cutting-edge techniques, and find inspiration for their own projects. They were especially drawn to exploring new game releases, attending insightful panels, and joining the workshops throughout the day. Claudia-Noemi Vaduva, a BSc Computer Games Design with Animation student, and Khizer Khan, a BSc Computer Science student, shared their reflections on this immersive event celebrating the gaming industry in all its excitement.
Claudia-Noemi, a budding game designer in the third year of her course, was excited by the potential to network with industry professionals and playtest some of the latest games. She stated, “I wanted to go to EGX because events like this are such a valuable experience. It’s a chance to meet industry experts, play their games, and ask questions – like how they got started, what it’s like to showcase at EGX, and whether it really helps promote their games!”. Her enthusiasm was mirrored by Khizer, a third-year computing student and avid gaming fan, who also regularly hosts gaming events on campus with the Press Start society, including the popular Staffs Smackdown tournaments.
Khizer reflected on the highlights of EGX, “I was thrilled to see and play new and upcoming games. Learning that the Tekken European Cup playoffs were happening was an added bonus!” The excitement of watching top players compete in real-time tournaments was just one of many memorable moments at the festival.
Upon arrival, Khizer described the atmosphere as “lively and welcoming,” with a true sense of community that made it easy to connect with fellow gamers and industry insiders alike. One standout experience was the festival stage, where live performances brought the crowd together, with audience members eagerly joining in on the fun.
Throughout the festival, numerous talks, panels, and workshops took place, many of which directly applied to Claudia-Noemi’s studies. “I attended a talk on world-building in games, which was fascinating and directly connected to what I’m learning. They discussed how creating immersive environments adds depth to the player’s experience. It gave me new ideas for approaching my work and making my game environments feel more alive.”, she shared.
Another eye-opening moment came as Claudia-Noemi saw design techniques she’s studying put to use in real games, “Seeing these techniques in action was inspiring. Playing these games offered fresh insights into how mechanics and visuals merge, sparking new ideas for my own projects!”.
Of the many new releases at EGX, three games particularly captivated Claudia-Noemi and Khizer. The first was Egging On, a unique 3D platformer with a quirky twist, players control an egg navigating challenging levels. “It’s a fresh take on the platformer genre,” Khizer noted, admiring the game’s creative design. Another highlight was Dragon Ball Sparking Zero, an eagerly anticipated 3D arena fighter featuring beloved characters from the Dragon Ball series. As a dedicated Dragon Ball fan, Khizer was thrilled, “Finally getting to play this game was fantastic!”. Elsewhere, Claudia-Noemi was impressed by a stylised top-down RPG. She said, “The character animations, particularly a moment when the character moved seamlessly onto a bed. “It looked so natural,” she explained, “It gave me ideas for handling movement in a stylised top-down game of my own.”
EGX wasn’t limited to video games; it also featured tabletop gaming events. Khizer attended a Pathfinder Intro workshop, allowing him to experience a tabletop role-playing game for the first time. “I’ve always wanted to try Pathfinder but never had the chance,” he shared. This workshop provided an ideal introduction, where he connected with other fans and explored a new gaming interest.
One of the event's highlights was watching the Tekken European Cup finals. “The matches were incredibly close, and the production quality was outstanding,” Khizer noted. “It’s something I hope they do again next year.” The tournament was an intense spectacle, inspiring Claudia-Noemi to push her creative skills even further. “It was motivating to see such talent! Even though I specialise in realistic environments, watching that level of animation has inspired me to learn more about character creation and animation”, she commented.
University of Staffordshire London, Games Art lecturer Sam Westall was also in attendance, offering portfolio reviews for artists. Sam commented on his own experience, “Our academic teams from across campuses in Stoke-on-Trent and London were excited to attend EGX this year. We offered portfolio reviews to those who had booked appointments, giving them valuable feedback on their work. We also spent the weekend showcasing our courses to young people who were interested in learning more about the games industry and where it can potentially take you in your career. We talked to many talented individuals and hope to see some of them enrol in our courses in the future.”
Beyond gaming software, the students were able to see the latest in gaming hardware, including the ASUS ROG Ally, a handheld gaming PC designed for high-performance gaming on the go. “Devices like this and the Steam Deck are driving real change in the gaming industry,” Khizer observed. “We’ll see more demand for games that support both controller and touchscreen inputs, and for games optimised across platforms like Linux. Developers will have to consider these factors when creating new games,” he added, hinting at an era of increasingly versatile gaming technology.
Reflecting on their EGX experience, Khizer expressed, “I would recommend any student interested in gaming, whether playing or developing, to attend EGX. It’s a fantastic experience and a great place to meet others who share your passion.” The festival provided both students with valuable insights, inspiration, and industry connections that will fuel their enthusiasm as they continue their journey in gaming.
The exhibition provided University of Staffordshire London students a chance to dive into the games industry, engage with the latest technology fuelling innovation, and connect with like-minded gaming enthusiasts and professionals. It’s an experience that not only brings students closer to the games industry but also prepares them for a future in games development.