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University of Warwick celebrates Culture Fest 2022 with FREE immersive esports experiences in Leamington Spa

The University of Warwick is celebrating Culture Fest 2022 by inviting the local community to experience its cutting-edge esports technology – for free.

From Thursday 11 August to Saturday 20 August, The Esports Centre, part of the University of Warwick, is welcoming visitors to the Pump Room Gardens in Leamington Spa to pick up a controller and experience its pioneering gaming technology.

The event is part of the region’s Culture Fest 2022, which was created by Warwick District Council to celebrate the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. The ten-day esports experience encourages people who live, work, and visit Warwickshire to discover its world-class venues and find new experiences created by young people and emerging talent from across the region.

From competitive players to casual gamers, the Esports Centre is inviting visitors of all ages to experience the latest and greatest in esports technology. This includes popular online games such as Forza Horizon, Fall Guys and Formula 1 all which were created in ‘Silicon Spa’, the name given to the local creative cluster – home to the largest number of video game developers outside of Greater London. You’ll also be able to log in to your own accounts and play any of your favourite games on the best computers in the country!

Experienced gamers can compete against one another in the Trackmania Time Trial for the chance to win an exclusive coaching session with a seasoned racing game player from the Esports Centre. Younger players at the event will also have the chance to design their own supercar or show off their dance moves to the ultimate dancing game, Just Dance, in the Centre’s console area.

Experts from the Esports Centre will be available throughout the event to offer their top gaming advice and discuss the university’s achievements in the industry and the future of online gaming.

Jack Fenton, Head of Esports at the University of Warwick, said: “2022 is certainly the summer of sport across the West Midlands – but sport today is constantly evolving and can take many forms across different mediums.

“Digital culture is reimagining what sport means, with people of all ages redefining the art through online gaming tournaments. The esports industry has seen tremendous growth globally over the last few years with Warwick now working to bring esports to life in the West Midlands, developing opportunities in creative and digital careers.

“We’re excited to celebrate this growing sporting movement by bringing the virtual world of esports and gaming into the physical realm for the Warwickshire community to experience. This is a free event, suitable for all ages, which offers a fantastic opportunity to learn more about esports and its developing technology and community.”

The Esports Centre at the University of Warwick is the home of the largest and most successful university esports club in the UK and aims to bring people together who enjoy playing games, watching esports as a spectator, or those who are completely new to games and are looking for a friendly atmosphere to learn in.

The Race to the Finish programme has been curated with support from across the local creative cluster, including: The British Motor Museum, Codemasters, Ubisoft, and Playground Games.

CultureFest: Race to the Finish, is free to attend and runs from Thursday 11 to Saturday 20 August, 10 - 4 at Royal Pump Rooms, The Parade, Leamington Spa, CV32 4AA. Events taking place include:

 · Coffee with Codemasters – Drop-in gaming careers insight

· Ready, Salt, Go! Family Friendly Science Workshop

· Formula 1 2022 Simulator Experience provided by Williams Esports

· Trackmania Time Trial

· 101 talks from games designers, artists, and engineers.

· Q&A with professional rally driver and game designer at EA, Jon Armstrong

 

To find out more about CultureFest and register to the event, visit: eventbrite.co.uk/e/culturefest-race-to-the-finish-tickets

For more information about the Esports Centre at the Unviersity of Warwick, visit: warwick.ac.uk/esports

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