4 reasons to get excited about GameStart Asia

After a successful inaugural show in 2014, GameStart is coming back bigger and better to wow gamers from Nov 13-15 at the Suntec Convention Centre.

With the convention's floor space doubling to 4,000 sq m, video game enthusiasts from Singapore and the rest of South-east Asia are in for a treat with more than 60 games set to be featured.

Aside from the games, there will be cosplayers, merchandise and eSports tournaments to make sure there is something for everyone.

Still not convinced? Here are four good reasons to get excited about GameStart 2015:

---

1) SONY PLAYSTATION VR

---

TNP PHOTO: GREGORY LOO

While Sony will be offering a much larger presence at GameStart this year, the electronics giant's latest gaming gadget will surely be the star of the show.

Singaporeans can be among the first in South-east Asia to try out Sony's PlayStation VR virtual reality headset, previously known by its codename Project Morpheus.

Used in tandem with the PlayStation 4, PlayStation VR promises a new level of gaming immersion that can open up new possibilities for gamers.

The headset contains two sensors – an accelerometer as well as a gyroscope – to track and translate your head movements into the game for a full 360-degree view backed up by 3D audio technology to enhance the experience.

You can get a taste of what you're in for with the video below:

 

 

---

2) STAR WARS GALORE!

---

PHOTO: YOUTUBE/BANDAI NAMCO AMUSEMENT AMERICA

Can't get enough of the new trailer for The Force Awakens? Star Wars fans can hit GameStart and try out some awesome games from their favourite sci-fi movie franchise.

The highly-anticipated Star Wars: Battlefront will be available for play just ahead of its Nov 17 release date.

If you head to the Geek Culture booth, you can also be among the first in South-east Asia to try out the Star Wars: Battle Pod arcade game, which will place gamers right in the thick of the action with some of the most iconic moments from the movies.

Whether as a pilot of an X-Wing or as Darth Vader in his special TIE fighter, Battle Pod looks like a world of fun and, according to Geek Culture, the game was made in Singapore by Bandai Namco's local studio.

Since the game isn't available in local arcades, it could be your only chance to play it on Singaporean soil.

 

 

---

3) LOCAL DEVELOPERS STEPPING UP

---

 

 

Singaporeans have a bad habit of saying local products aren't good enough, but that shouldn't sway you from trying out the games being trotted out by the local gaming development scene.

Masquerada: Songs and Shadows by local game-makers Witching Hour Studios is one such entry.

An isometric RPG not unlike the Diablo series, Masquerada features gorgeous visuals and an innovative pause-for-tactics feature, allowing the most obsessive gamers plan out their characters' moves before having them execute them in battle.

On top of that, the game features some top-notch video game voice actors like Jennifer Hale of Mass Effect fame to bring the characters of Masquerada's whimsical world to life.

 

 

---

4) RETRO GAMING

---

 

PHOTO: GAMESTART ASIA

If you prefer your video games old school, you might want to check out the Retro DNA section of GameStart.

A popular section from last year's show, Retro DNA will be expanded to 63 sq m to give attendees an even greater blast from the past.

Whether it's playing Super Mario Bros on the venerable Nintendo Entertainment System or Street Fighter II on a trusty old arcade cabinet, this section will certainly trigger a flood of memories for older gamers while giving younger ones a glimpse at how their current favourite games came to be.