Play Expo Blackpool: Arcades, VHS Nostalgia, and Our Annual Saturday Outing
Every year, there is one weekend I look forward to above almost all others on the calendar: PLAY Expo Blackpool.
It has become a true yearly customary outing for me and my old school friend, Robbo. We’ve known each other for 40 years now, and with life getting in the way as it so often does, this annual Saturday trip to Blackpool has become the one guaranteed time each year we catch up, relive our childhoods, and immerse ourselves in pure retro gaming nostalgia.
Here is how our Saturday went down at PLAY Expo Blackpool!
T-Shirts, VHS Tapes & Stalls
I decided to set the tone early by wearing my bright red "VHS: The Future is Here (1975)" t-shirt. It turned out to be a great conversation starter, grabbing plenty of smiles and nods from fellow attendees throughout the venue!
Speaking of VHS, one of the highlights on the trade floor was a brilliant stall stacked high with classic old VHS movies on tape. Browsing through rows of physical media always hits that warm hit of nostalgia—everything from blockbusters to classic retro cult films.
We spent plenty of time shopping the merchant stalls for retro games, books, and merchandise. It was great to see creator stalls set up by YouTubers including Slopes Game Room and TheGebs24 out on the floor meeting fans and sharing the retro love.
We even spotted some absolute gems tucked away on retro computer cassette tables, including classic ZX Spectrum titles like How to be a Complete BASTARD!
Hitting the Arcades, Consoles, and Pinball
After browsing the stalls, it was time for the main event: the machines.
PLAY Expo’s arcade floor never disappoints. We took turns on classic sit-down arcade cabinets like Sega’s iconic OutRun and After Burner, as well as legendary coin-ops like Moon Patrol.
There was also an incredible array of pinball machines lined up, including modern classic tables like Stern’s Metallica and Guardians of the Galaxy.
On the home console side, there was everything from Atari home systems and an Atari 800 XL setup playing Bruce Lee, to the new Vectrex Mini and vintage Sega consoles. I couldn't resist picking up the Sega Light Phaser to blast through a round of Operation Wolf on a classic Panasonic CRT television!
The One Downside This Year
If there was one slight disappointment to our trip this year, it was the guest talks schedule.
We only found out a few weeks ago—well after we had already purchased our usual Saturday tickets—that all the main guest talks we wanted to attend were scheduled for Sunday. Because Robbo and I only ever do the Saturday session, we missed out on seeing the stage panels this time around. Hopefully, future events spread the creator and industry guest talks across both days so Saturday-only visitors don't miss out!
The Haul: Bitmap Books & Funko Pops
No trip to an expo is complete without bringing something home in your bag!
For myself, I picked up the fantastic new release from Bitmap Books: The Arcade 1971–1999: The Stories Behind Classic Coin-Ops, Told by Their Creators. Bitmap Books never disappoint in terms of quality, and I can't wait to dive into the developer history and artwork inside this massive volume.
Of course, I couldn't come home empty-handed for my 5-year-old daughter, Olivia. She is currently crazy about K-Pop Demon Hunters, so I managed to track down a K-Pop Demon Hunters Funko Pop for her. Needless to say, it was a huge hit when I got back!
Final Thoughts
Despite missing the guest talks, PLAY Expo Blackpool was an absolute blast as always. Catching up with Robbo, playing classic coin-ops, talking retro media with fellow gamers, and coming home with a great new book made it another memorable Saturday outing.
Roll on next year's Expo!
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