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Gamers Flock to Niagara for UGC

May 01, 2013

May 1, 2013                                                                                         

UGC Niagara: Who’s Up For the Challenge?

Hundreds of gamers will soon descend on Niagara to vie for video game supremacy in southern Ontario’s largest X Box video game tournament. The Ultimate Gaming Challenge (UGC), being held on May 4 and 5, gives gamers the opportunity to test their mettle against the toughest competition from Canada and the United States. The UGC will take place at the Scotiabank Convention Centre in Niagara Falls.

The event features three popular gaming titles and participants can choose to compete in one, two or all three divisions. Opening ceremonies will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday morning. Those unable to make the trip to Niagara Falls but would still like to keep up with all the action can watch the live broadcast on the UGC website.

Proceeds from the tournament will go to support the development of The Walker Living Campus at Woodend and other important school-based initiatives such as breakfast programs.  

Spectators are also welcome to attend and can walk the gaming floor and visit the different vendors on-site free of charge. Those under 17 will have to bring a signed parent consent form to have access to the gaming floor. Vendor booths will feature exciting 3D gaming and mobile apps. Westlane (Niagara Falls) and Governor Simcoe (St. Catharines) Secondary Schools will also be on-site on the weekend to display their robots which recently made the trip to St. Louis to compete in the FIRST Robotics World Championships. The disc-throwing robots will participate in a special competition for those on-site.

In addition to all the excitement on the gaming floor, DSBN Chief Information Officer Dino Miele says Brock University’s Faculty of Education will be on site to present the Gamification of Learning. “Play and exploration have always played an important role in the way students learn. The Gamification of Learning incorporates elements from game design into the classroom to create an experience where students are excited to learn while completing game-like tasks,” says Miele.

The Scotiabank Convention Centre is located at 6815 Stanley Avenue in Niagara Falls.

For more information on UGC Niagara, please visit http://www.ugcniagara.com/.