Rocket League pro players from UK esports organisation team GridServe Resolve challenged members of the games industry at Coutts Bank in London this week.
Those attending to mark the launch of the London Games Festival 2024 took part in 2v2 challenges, with one person at a time teaming up with GridServe Resolve Welsh coach Euan ‘Tadpole’ Ingram, and another joining German player David ‘Rezears’ Wunsch.
Resolve COO Jeff Simpkins was also in attendance, as casters Daisy ‘Damp’ Powers and Mads ‘Massive’ Pedersen led proceedings. Former Method event director Darren Price and observer Jack Baxter (from the College of Esports) also helped to run the esports activity.
Overclockers UK provided equipment including PCs, monitors and accessories, as well as showcasing its 8Pack PCs, and noblechairs providing gaming chairs on stage, including some cool Fallout-themed ones.
Thanks to this excellent group of people for helping to run the esports challenge today!
— Dom Sacco (@Dom_Sacco) April 9, 2024
It was an honour to present esports to the games industry as part of #LGF24 pic.twitter.com/Dl385iwxF7
More than 300 games industry members showed up at Coutts, with other activities including retro arcade machines from Antstream Arcade, a Super Mario Kart Ghost Valley RC track, DYN x Dynamic Racing Experience simulators, a VR Kat Walk Omnidirectional Treadmill, and a variety of games made by over 40 independent developers from around the world.
The special esports showcase event and full list of other London Games Festival 2024 activities were announced recently, including an exhibition at Trafalgar Square, Screen Play conference, Games Finance Market and more.
To open the ceremony on the night, Paul Franks, interactive entertainment lead at Coutts Commercial, said:
“Coutts has been a proud partner of Games London for the last three consecutive years, and if you’re not aware, the London Games Festival has one mission: to make London the capital of the games world.”
Paul Franks, Coutts
“Coutts has been helping entrepreneurs across many sectors for over 330 years. From the early years in performing arts to the thriving community of game developers and content creators we have today. We were the first bank to focus on the interactive entertainment sector, and we’ve built a long-lasting relationship with clients to really add value.”
Michael French, head of Games London and director of the London Games Festival, added: “London isn’t just the biggest hub for games in the UK, it’s the biggest hub for games in all of Europe. Most importantly, we share that success with the rest of the world. This week, for the London Games Festival, we’re expecting thousands of people to do business, a number of which are from overseas and a lot are in the room today.
“I know that industry headwinds haven’t been generous for everybody. That said, tonight is about confidence in the face of challenge, confidence in the city, in what games do, in what we’re making, and confidence in London being the games capital of the world.”
Dylan Jones, editor of the Evening Standard, also said on stage: “London has world-beating music, theatre, film, fashion, art, and of course, gaming. We lead the way in gaming, which is why I’m delighted to be here today to launch the London Games Festival. Gaming is a source of incredible creativity, it captures imagination and hearts and minds, thanks to their innate innovation and artistic expression.
“Gaming allows players to see different points of view, and see the world from different perspectives. We’re here to celebrate the creativity of this extraordinary industry. We now have a video reminding us why London is such a fantastic place to make and play games.”
The video included presenter Elle Osili-Wood and various members of the games industry talking about the strengths of games development and more in London.
Jeff Simpkins, Resolve COO, told Esports News UK: “It’s really interesting to be involved in events that feature esports but aren’t necessarily esports events. When you go to specific esports events, it’s sometimes the same faces are there, so it’s nice to come to something like this where you don’t know anybody and to network.
“When else would you be able to come to Coutts bank and play Rocket League? It’s bizarre but also really cool. I met lots of people from the games industry and there’s lots of other cool stuff going on here, like real life Mario Kart and indie games. It’s been cool to be involved in and showcase our pro players and staff, and also show off what Resolve are all about.”
Steven Levitt, Business Development Manager at noblechairs, added: “To be at the opening evening of the London Games Festival was inspiring. There was so much talent in the vast reception at Coutts, and it’s excellent for noblechairs to be a part of the event.”
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Dom is an award-winning writer and finalist of the Esports Journalist of the Year 2023 award. He graduated from Bournemouth University with a 2:1 degree in Multi-Media Journalism in 2007.
As a long-time gamer having first picked up the NES controller in the late ’80s, he has written for a range of publications including GamesTM, Nintendo Official Magazine, industry publication MCV and others. He worked as head of content for the British Esports Federation up until February 2021, when he stepped back to work full-time on Esports News UK and offer esports consultancy and freelance services. Note: Dom still produces the British Esports newsletter on a freelance basis, so our coverage of British Esports is always kept simple – usually just covering the occasional press release – because of this conflict of interest.
