It’s game on with Big Games Night Out on October 10 with an epic one-night-only event running across ACMI and Fed Square.
Big Games Night Out (BGNO) is gearing up to bring an all-ages, all-accessible party of interactive spaces and exciting games to the heart of the CBD for this year’s Melbourne International Games Week.
Set to light the city alive on Thursday October 10, BGNO invites everyone from all walks of life to come and celebrate the spectacle of games. The festivities kick off at 3pm at Federation Square, with activities beginning at ACMI at 6pm and running until late.
Big Games Night Out
- Thursday October 10, 3pm until late
- Fed Square and ACMI
- Free entry
- More information here
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The Atrium Arcade
The fun begins a day early, when the Atrium Arcade opens on Wednesday October 9 at the stunning Atrium down the stairs from Fed Square’s main square. Kick off your games week and consider it the ultimate teaser to Big Games Night Out. From 3pm till late, The Atrium and The Edge will transform into a gamer’s paradise, buzzing with excitement, energy and some of the best arcade games of all time.
Fed Square like you’ve never seen it before
Expect a free immersive night filled with games, music, cosplay and more. Attendees can participate in games both in a digital format and through tabletop game activations, with an eclectic variety of games and stories on display. Whether you’re a hardcore gamer, a casual dabbler, a social player or a curious newbie, BGNO is an event for everyone.
Walk the Cosplay Catwalk
Fed Square will be buzzing with performances and all kinds of cosplay fun. The Cosplay Parade and Runway Experience is your one precious opportunity to strut the Fed Square runway. No matter your experience, skill level, or whether you make buy your costumes, every kind of cosplayer is encouraged to participate in this parade of absolute joy and self-expression.
The BGNO stage will also feature some awesome musical performances, with massive names like Tripod and Montaigne leading the festival’s musical component in previous years. However, the stage isn’t only reserved for renowned stars. Make the spotlight your own in the immersive audience dance-off battle. Whip out your best dance breaks under the stage lights and awe the audiences with your wicked moves.
Beyond the stage
With an action-packed night that will bring every nook and cranny of Fed Square to life, Big Games Night Out promises a vibrant atmosphere of community and play. Expect a flurry of activities both in front of and around the Fed Square stage.
Get involved in Esports tournaments, try your hand at treasure hunts, and enjoy some classic table-top games. No game is off limits at BGNO, so there’ll certainly be something for everyone.
It doesn’t stop there. With so many events packed into one night, Fed Square’s sister venue, ACMI, is also joining in on the action. Move freely between the two venues to experience everything this epic party has to offer.
The fun continues over at ACMI
Known as the spiritual home of games in Melbourne, ACMI is teaming up with BGNO to keep the party going. You’ll find a variety of games to enjoy, with the ACMI Collection arcade station’s playable classics available alongside several brand-new editions to the gaming catalogue.
Honk! Untitled Goose Exhibition is the exhibition to keep an eye out for. Discover the behind-the-scenes magic to this internationally acclaimed game as you chase that naughty goose throughout displays that feature previously unseen concept art and design material from this beloved game.
You’ll also get a chance to play some the best new Australian games of the year, as part of the AGDAs: ACMI Audience Award Exhibit. Be the first to try some of the most innovative and exciting new games in the domestic marketplace and lose yourself in a world of nothing but fun and joy. Best of all, everything – from the range of games to entry into ACMI to access into exclusive spaces – is completely free.
Party vibes abound
What’s more, ACMI will also bring the party vibes with a live local DJ spinning tunes. There’ll be a bar with food options, as well as ACMI’s dedicated Quiet Room if you need to take some time to chill. With BGNO spread across both ACMI and Fed Square, there are plenty of spaces to enjoy the festivities and soak in the atmosphere of this incredible event.
As BGNO unveils more exciting details about the epic party they’re curating, make sure to keep up to date on the highly anticipated event of the Melbourne International Games Week Calendar.
Mario Kart King of Kart Tournament
The Big Games Night Out celebrations start a day early and it ends a day late! On Friday October 11, head over to The Edge at Fed Square and put your Kart credentials to the test.
An action-packed event filled with adrenaline-pumping live big-screen races, The Mario King of Kart Tournament will showcase the ultimate racing skills of 32 skilled competitors as they vie for the coveted title of King of Kart Champion.
For more information on Big Games Night Out, head here.
This article was made in partnership with Melbourne International Games Week.
