What a splendid show! I've always loved the UK—I've been there many times and would go back in a heartbeat—so it was incredibly exciting for me to have the opportunity to talk about Disney Lorcana.
The night before the expo opened, I had the chance to see our booth, and I was absolutely blown away by its stunning appearance! Even after all this time in the industry, I'm still awestruck when I see the ideas that our team and I brought to life. We've all put in a lot of hard work, and now we get to witness the game unfold for all of you. It's truly a wonderful and humbling experience!
On Thursday morning, the hall opened its doors, and people flooded in. I absolutely love game expos because they bring together people from all walks of life, united by their shared love for gaming. It's like being among my own people, a chosen family, and it always brings a smile to my face seeing so many enthusiastic gamers gathered in one place.
One thing that took me by surprise was the sight of people rushing to join our line (or queue, for you Brits)! It quickly filled up, and we soon realized that having only four demo tables wouldn't be enough. Luckily, Lea, the Ravensburger representative in charge of the booth (and a wonderful lady to work with), graciously offered two more tables and two demoers from the Ravensburger board games side of the booth. Initially, the line had an almost two-hour wait, but we managed to reduce it to an hour at most. By the end of the convention, a sixth table had been added.
The whole experience started to feel like a Disneyland ride. Lea stood at the front of the line, asking people how many were in their party so they could demo together, and the tables filled up as quickly as they emptied, with a fresh batch of new Disney Lorcana players each time. We had all sorts of people—seasoned gamers, children, and even some who returned to line up again after their initial demo!
While I primarily focused on press interviews, whenever I had a break, I walked from table to table, answering questions, and occasionally giving demos myself. I vividly remember a pair of guys who came in and started playing without hesitation—they had already learned the rules online. It was truly incredible to witness so many people eagerly excited to play!
Our demo staff was absolutely amazing, and by the end of the convention, they had taught the game to over 1,500 people. It was an extraordinary experience to meet so many individuals, engage in fantastic conversations, and play games with those who share our excitement for bringing this game to the world. Next stop, Gen Con!
