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Dreamland park is a Creative Build challenge using Minecraft for gaming expo GEEK 2014 at Margate Winter Gardens

GEEK 2014: the south east's biggest gaming expo, coming to Margate's Winter Gardens in February 2014.
GEEK 2014: the south east's biggest gaming expo, coming to Margate's Winter Gardens in February 2014.

Dreamland amusement park is the inspiration for a Minecraft challenge for the largest gaming expo in the South East.

Gamers of all ages are invited to put their creative talents at the world-building game to the test to create three dimensional elements of an amusement park.

GEEK 2014 is running a creative build challenge in the countdown to the show at Winter Gardens, Margate, from February 21-23. The event will be a magnet for gamers from around the UK, taking place for the third time in east Kent.

The event’s Kim Steward said the small Minecraft area at last year’s show proved very successful.

“This year we have asked Multiplay to join us as part of GEEK. Multiplay is the organiser of Insomnia, the UK’s biggest gaming festival and also the largest Minecraft dedicated server host in the world.

“So who better to organise the Minecraft Zone including the GEEK creative build.

The theme for the Minecraft challenge is to build an amusement park or amusement park attraction, inspired by Dreamland.

Players can log in to the server geek.multiplay.com until Wednesday, January 29 to build in a specific plot.

For inspiration, take a ride on Kim’s roller coaster based on Dreamland’s Grade 2-listed Scenic Railway at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOQkUoXCdeA

Dreamland amusement park, Margate, in the 1960s. Picture: the John Hutchinson collection.
Dreamland amusement park, Margate, in the 1960s. Picture: the John Hutchinson collection.

The builds will be judged by Wayne Hemingway, Dreamland’s multi-disciplinary designer, and Jacob Aron, New Scientist journalist and Minecraft player.

Prizes are being provided by Razer, the world leader in high-performance gaming hardware. They include Razer’s popular Kraken Headset, Blackwidow keyboard and Deathadder mouse.

Jan Leandro, the Dreamland Trust’s heritage and engagement manager, Jan Leandro, said: “This is a wonderful crossover where heritage is inspiring gamers to explore, discover and create imaginary worlds using new technology. We’re really excited about this challenge and look forward to seeing the outcomes.”

A Minecraft-built scenic railway, inspired by Dreamland amusement park, Margate, created in the countdown to GEEK 2014.
A Minecraft-built scenic railway, inspired by Dreamland amusement park, Margate, created in the countdown to GEEK 2014.

As well as a Minecraft cave and 16 Xbox Ones, GEEK 2014 will be hosting the first heat in the Classic Gaming Championships through Replay Events.

The GEEK heat will feature five games from a shortlist of 15

Heat winners will receive a CGC heat winners medal and an expenses paid trip to Manchester, where they will compete against the best gamers in the country for the title of Classic Gaming Champion 2014.

Other main features include talks from government adviser Ian Livingstone, a 40-year historic timeline of gaming, and eight coding hubs run by Encouraging Programming in Kent.

Single day tickets are £13 for adults, £7 children (five to 14) and free under fives. Concessions are £11, family tickets are £36, and evening tickets £5.

Two-day passes are £24 (adult), £12 (child) and £20 (concession). Three-day passes are £36 (adult), £18 (child) and £30 (concession). Special rates are available for groups and people who are registered disabled.Contact the box office on 01843 296111.

Find out more at: www.geek2014.co.uk and by visiting GEEK 2014 on Facebook and Twitter @GEEK_2014

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