FACTS, Belgian’s oldest and biggest Comic Con returned to Flanders Expo in Ghent to deliver another magical weekend for everyone. It’s a yearly tradition for us to join the fun so let’s talk about this edition!
Gaming
As a gaming website, we tend to focus on the gaming content. FACTS is a lot more than a gaming convention although it never disappoints to deliver something for the gamers. The biggest booth close to the entrance and the food was the Nintendo booth. That’s right, after an absence from a lot of other Belgian events, Nintendo picked FACTS as the place they wanted to showcase the Nintendo Switch fun. No new games sadly, I was hoping for a playable version of Mario & Luigi: Brothership but instead, we got a lot of the Super Mario family games like Mario Kart, Mario Wonder, and of course the newly released Super Mario Party Jamboree. A lot of fun and people were certainly having a blast at the big red booth. On the other side of the gorgeous booth, you could scan your My Nintendo code to get a free exclusive Super Mario tote bag or play The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom in a nicely decorated segment of their big booth. More than enough Nintendo games to play in other words and to make it even better you could compete in several big screen competitions where you could also score some exclusive merchandise, even as a spectator! Last but not least, you could go take a picture with Princess Peach or Super Mario. A fun booth that made a lot of (young) gamers happy.
Besides the huge Nintendo booth, you could also play on RedBull’s high-end PCs or play on the impressive Philips EVNIA screens so this certainly was a great edition for the gamer. I also appreciate the fact that the gaming booths were part of the big main hall instead of being hosted in a smaller side room. Gaming was an important part of the FACTS experience and I liked how integrated it was in the global experience. Even if you were looking for exclusive gaming merchandise, FACTS has everything you need.
Board games Walhalla
Apart from the impressive gaming booths in the main hall, there was also a dedicated board game section in a spacious side hall. This area offered the perfect retreat for those looking to escape the hustle of the main floor and enjoy a more relaxed, social gaming experience. Here, you could learn the basics of Dungeons & Dragons, guided by passionate, seasoned players who were more than happy to welcome new adventurers. But that was just the beginning; a wide variety of both well-known and brand-new board games awaited eager players. From quick card games to more strategic board games, there was something for everyone. The tables were filled with groups laughing, strategizing, and simply enjoying the atmosphere. It was a great spot to take a breather and dive into some tabletop fun, adding a unique and much-appreciated dimension to the FACTS experience.
Market
If you don’t know what to do with your fresh monthly paycheck FACTS has you covered. Whether you’re looking for collectible games, statues, posters, figurines or trading cards, the many vendors have it all! It’s smart to get an early bird ticket formula if this is your main reason to come to the convention. During the early hours you can browse to your heart’s content to find that special “chase” to complete your collection. The vendors are nice and will cut you a good deal if you make a worthy purchase. But fear not, I still scored a nice collectible in a later stage of the convention. It’s all about getting your hands in the many boxes, binders and displays at the plethora of stalls. Being at FACTS means that you can also get your hands on asian clothing and food or candy that isn’t for sale locally. We’ve never seen so many KitKat flavors in so many colors! All the vendors I visited were up to date with payment options so there’s no need to queue for cash ATMs at FACTS. Even in the giant food hall transactions are swift and the food is great and not too expensive!
Actors
We were happy to follow the meet with Devon Murray on his second day of FACTS. He’s most famously known for portraying Seamus Finnigan in the Harry Potter series. He really seemed to enjoy Belgium and especially the Belgian waffles from Brussels. It’s always nice to see actors sharing new stories based on local fans asking questions even though the movies are from a long time ago. It shows how grateful these actors are and how the communities surrounding these movies is still strong and at FACTS it all blends into a big happy family. John Noble and Felicia Day were also on the guest list but Murray surely stole the show and was open for meet and greets, photos and selfies.
Artists & Fan village
FACTS dedicated a lot of floor space to the many artists that make art based on the many movies, games or sci-fi worlds. From lifelike props to small cute realistic dioramas, These people share their artistic gift with the fans and visitors at FACTS. The Fan village has also become a classic at the yearly FACTS convention. Finding hidden details in a full scale Hogwarts built in Lego or getting your picture taken on a lifelike movie set is one of the great things to do here. Families with kids always find joy in this hall and if you’re fearless you could also try the Haunted Maze this year. Just in time for Halloween and of course brought to life with help of the amazing cosplays.
Cosplay & the “18+ kid you not spot”
Cosplayers remain the heart of the convention at any Heroes’ convention. You can put a lot of money in a nice venue and add good lighting and props but you’ll never have that magical feeling without the creatures that inhabit it: The cosplayers. Luckily FACTS has always been the home of cosplay since the early days in the ICC many years ago. Cosplayers are a special breed, they are by far the nicest and most helpful people on the convention. From sharing tips on crafting DIY magic to helping new cosplayers or curious souls into the world of costume play. Cosplay comes with a warning though, do not mistake their kindness for consent! Cosplay is not consent to sexualization. With the all new “Kid you Not Spot” hosting 18+ content creators these lines are blurry though for some. Luckily it is an entire different area with ID verification shielded from the very family friendly main halls. FACTS always feels like coming home, more so than other conventions from Heroes. There’s something magical about it and we were glad to be a part of it!
