RETRO games, trading cards and an inflatable T-Rex greeted gamers at the first ever Yorkshire Cosplay Con in Barnsley.
Yorkshire Cosplay Con (YCC), a group run by Thurnscoe-based Jon Higson and Katherine Furniss, has held events around the country, but this is the first time the pair have organised something in their hometown of Barnsley. Jon, 36, said: “We knew there was an untapped market in Barnsley. When we’ve done events in Sheffield or Rotherham there have been quite a lot of people from Barnsley in attendance.
“We thought we would make something easier for people to get to. There are a lot of traders in Barnsley as well so it’s been good to get the word out about them and help them.”
The event, held at Barnsley College’s Honeywell campus, gave gamers a selection of free-to-play retro games, as well as around 30 videogame and card traders and various competitions. Jon said the college was very accommodating toward YCC, providing staff and students to help out on stalls and with competitions.
“They approached us and asked if we wanted to hold the event,” Jon said.
“They were really helpful. They have helped promote it and we had teachers and students helping us out. It’s the first event we’ve had where we’ve not had to set our own tables up. We’re definitely doing another event, if we run a couple more events there people will be able to see us more. We want to grow this event so it becomes a regular thing in Barnsley.”
Kalam Neale, sport course leader, said: “Our students were responsible for organising competitive gaming events and competitions as part of the Yorkshire Cosplay Convention. They delivered competitions on a variety of platforms, using virtual reality and gaming to engage attendees at the event whilst also promoting our new Esports Academy.”
Esports is a form of competition using videogames that gained popularity in the late 2000s. Kalam said the college was looking to introduce Esports into its curriculum.
The pair’s next event will be a Christmas market in Sheffield on November 25, and they will be holding a Christmas party at Honeywell on December 8.
