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Northern Game Expo 'one-stop shop' for nerd culture

Thousands pack Caruso Club for second annual event

Alexander McKenna, owner of Northern Ontario Video and Anime (NOVA) said the organizers of the Northern Game Expo on Sunday have done a great job making sure they didn't overreach when expanding in their second year.

“They know what they're doing, and they're passionate about everything nerd,” said McKenna, who specializes in anime and manga. He works solely off tradeshows and conventions, so he said he was right at home Northern Game Expo.

“It's a great way to get exposure and to meet the people who are potential customers,” he said.

McKenna, who is based out of North Bay, was one of dozens of vendors on display at the Caruso Club. Thousands of people packed the upper hall, searching for something to appease their inner nerd. And, they didn't have to look hard.

Sarah Calder wasn't looking for anything specific when she walked into the Caruso Club, but she did end up buying a Sailor Moon DVD. It was a feeling of nostalgia that led to the purchase.

“I cam mostly just to find things I didn't know about,” she said. “There are a lot of things here that I haven't seen or played in a long time, and when you see it, you want to play it again. Like Sailor Moon – I haven't seen it in such a long time, and I enjoyed it so much when I was a kid, and it's something I'd like to relive.”

Northern Game Expo is a bit smaller than similar events she's attended in southern Ontario, “but it's no less packed,” she said. “It's super crowded. It's great to see this kind of event finally in Sudbury.”

Northern Game Expo co-founder Brad Davidson didn't have a lot of time to chat, as people were coming and going all day. People lined up at the door hours before the expo opened, he said.

“It's been really fun,” he said. “As soon as the doors opened, it's been non-stop.”

Davidson said prior to Northern Game Expo, there had been nothing of its kind north of Barrie.

“This is our second year, and we decided to go bigger, and the results have been very positive,” he said. “Already, we've had more people than last year, and there is still a few hours to go, and that's awesome.”

He said vendors from all across Ontario were on display.

“It's a one-stop shop for everything nerd, if you will,” he said. “People come here because they know they will find something they want.”


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Arron Pickard

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