Celebrating Firstlook Festival 2016
Last weekend was the 9th edition of Firstlook in Utrecht. Firstlook is the biggest gaming event in the Netherlands with the newest games, gadgets and hardware. A lot of gamers gather in Utrecht every year to play games and hang out with friends. And this year we were excited to see that there were a lot of festivities around the Maffia 3 game and the 15th anniversary of Gamekings. For all the non-Dutchies: Gamekings is a tv-show that does reviews and previews of games and shows game related press trips. Naturally Girl Gamer Galaxy set off to Utrecht to celebrate this Firstlook festival 2016 too.
What is there to do at Firstlook?
Well let’s start off by saying that there are a lot of games to try every year. Which is nice, since we don’t always have the time to see and try everything at other events, like Gamescom. And we can imagine that not everybody is able to spend time and money to travel to Germany every year. This is why Firstlook is of great value to a lot of gamers based in the Netherlands. Even though the lines are less long at Firstlook as they would be at bigger events, don’t be suprised if you spend hours in line to try out a populair newcomer, like in our case Horizon: Zero Dawn.
A paradise for gamers or naw?
Besides Horizon: Zero Dawn there were a lot of other games that gamers were eager to get their hands on. A few examples are: For Honor, Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare, Gears of War 4, Final Fantasy XV and Black Desert online. FirstLook also has an area where indie devolpers can show their latest games. Our favorites this year where: Lethal League, Tricky Towers, Marooners and Disposable Heroes. Like every year e-sports is also covered at Firstlook. They host professional tournements as well as open competitions for all the visitors.
Are you inspired by all those pro players and want to get the gear that improves your own game? Then Firstlook is also the place to be because of special Firstlook only offers or the possibility to try the gear out first-hand. The hardware companies have really impressive stands. For example, the big Razer bus. Inside the bus visitors could play Overwatch with some awsome Razer gear and afterwards they got a goody bag. The Logitech G stand was also quite suprising. This year the focus was on real female gamers! Visitors could try to beat the Mcon female CS:GO team. And at the photobooth we saw cosplayer Princess Tomboy in her Street Fighter cosplay handing out Logitech G shirts.
Love the cosplayers
She wasn’t the only cosplayer out there because Firstlook now has an area called ‘Cosville’ where they had a really cool programme with Cosplay contests, workshops and signing sessions. If there is one thing that always seems to suprise us is the amazing cosplays that you can see at an event at Firstlook. Different game and anime character parade the halls during this events and cosplayers gather outside to make group photo’s. These awesome people always seem to have the time and energy to have their picture taken with visitors. It’s always fun to see what costume the cosplayers come up with every year.
Shopping time
Done with playing games? No problem! You can also go on a goodie hunt, buy merchandise or even win incredible prices. This year our own Joëlla won a new PlayStation 4 at the PlayStation stand. You could find a lot of different stands that will empty your wallet. Like Japanese candy, gaming art, Funko collectibles and lots of more stuff that is on every gamers wishlist.
Making pictures and test your real life skills
This year Firstlook Festival 2016 felt more like the festival they claim to be. Aside from the photobooths where you could use props, act silly and create amazing memories, there was an escape room that you could do with up to 6 friends. There was a big area reserved where you could race with drones or shoot an airsoft gun and test your real life shooting skills. And if you got tired of walking around or standing in lines, you could sit down at one of the food area’s for a drink or some food and talk to your friends about what you’ve seen so far or where you could meet some new people like we did.
