Catalan video game industry comes together for second SAGA gaming fair
Talks, exhibitions, eSports and LAN party from Friday to Sunday in L'Hospitalet
The SAGA gaming fair returns for its second edition this weekend, with talks, exhibitions, eSports and a LAN party from Friday to Sunday at La Farga in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, just outside Barcelona.
The fair aims to "normalize the use of Catalan within the video game industry," one of the organizers, Susana Pérez, told the Catalan News Agency (ACN).
Organized by the Catalan-language NGO Plataforma per la Llengua, the 2023 fair builds on the first edition last year – it's three days rather than two, with 75 exhibitors, up from 50, and covers 7,000 square meters, practically double last year's space.
Fifty new points have been set up to play current and retro video games and the LAN Party has its own stage and will last 56 hours, open to anyone who wants to set up their computer or console and play.
Inclusion
As well as promoting Catalan in gaming, organizers also want to be a focal point for eSports and help break down barriers in the industry in terms of inclusion, gender and accessibility.
"It is a very masculinized industry," Pérez says, "but now we are fighting that with various actions," including female mentors for women who want to work as professionals in the industry.
Competitions
On a 14-meter stage with a giant screen, SAGA will have various competitions organized and broadcast in Catalan by Gamesports Eléctrònics.
In addition, the LAN Party will have 200 seats with about twenty games available, including FIFA, Hearthstone, Legends of Runaterra, Rocket League, Age of Empires II, Fortnite, Call of Duty: Warzone, Apex Legends, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and League of Legends.
There will be talks, workshops, training, information sessions, and a new podcast area, as well as more than 50 new gaming points.
Exhibitors and awards
Among the 75 exhibitors are 25 video game companies, 9 video game associations and 10 eSports clubs.
The Saga Awards will be presented as part of the fair, including a category for the video game in Catalan that has had the most social impact, and an award for best creator of Catalan video game content.