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GameStop Announces Celebrity Appearances and Special Guests at GameStop EXPO 2015

August 18, 2015

GRAPEVINE, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 18, 2015-- GameStop, a family of specialty retail brands that makes the most popular technologies affordable and simple, revealed today the list of celebrities and special guests attending the GameStop Expo 2015. Fans attending the GameStop event on Wednesday, September 2, at the Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas, are sure to have an unforgettable experience through participating in one of the many gaming tournaments, or taking selfies with and/or receiving autographs from any of the professional athletes, celebrities, and gaming icons attending the show.

The following celebrities and special guests will be attending this year’s GameStop EXPO, representing the best line-up yet since the company first introduced the annual in 2012:

  • Seven-time NBA champion Robert Horry and WWE superstar, Dean Ambrose will be posing for photos and signing autographs in the 2K booth, while fans are also able to check out NBA 2K16 and WWE 2K16.
  • Hajime Tabata (Director of FINAL FANTASY XV) as well as Tomohiro Hasegawa (Art Director of FINAL FANTASY XV) will be signing autographs at the Square Enix booth (#832) from 10:00am12:00pm PDT.
  • McFarlane Toys Founder and Legendary Spawn artist, Todd McFarlane will make an appearance in the McFarlane Toys booth from 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m., and autograph a free Halo poster (while supplies last). While waiting in line, fans can see the latest McFarlane Toys, including construction sets, action figures and statues of AMC’s The Walking Dead, HBO’s Game of Thrones, The Walking Dead Comic, Assassin Creed, HALO, and more.
  • A selection of Game Informer Editors will be in-the-house and signing autographs. Expo attendees are invited to swing by the Game Informer booth, have a chat with the Editors and grab a free collector’s edition poster.
  • Critically acclaimed game creator and visionary, Randy Pitchford, will be at the Game Informer booth from 11:30-12:30 to sign autographs, take photos with fans, and answer questions about upcoming title, Battleborn.

Square Enix, HITMAN, and GameChanger are partnering up to put a hit on cancer, and we need you to become Agent 47 and pull the trigger. Come to the Square Enix pop-up barbershop at the EXPO where we’ll shave your head to resemble Agent 47’s iconic bald look. For each head shaved at the show, Square Enix will donate $47.00 to GameChanger Charity and their mission of supporting children battling cancer.

In addition to playing upcoming games, giving back to a great cause, and meeting the special guests, show attendees will be able to compete in various tournaments with chances to win some great prizes. Tournaments and prizes include:

  • Kids Categories (Attendees age 12 & under)
    • Mario Kart 8- Wii U (Prize: $100 gift card and vendor swag)
    • Super Smash Bros- Wii (Prize: $100 gift card and vendor swag)
  • Teen Categories (Attendees age 13-16)
    • Naruto Shippuden Ultimate Ninja Storm 4- PS4 (Prize: Swag bag valued at $300 & $200 gift card)
    • Mario Kart 8- Wii U (Prize: $100 gift card & vendor swag)
    • Super Smash Bros- Wii U (Prize: $100 gift card & vendor swag)
    • Madden NFL 16- Xbox One (Prize: Signed NFL Jersey & $100 gift card)
  • Adult Category (Attendees age 17 and older)
    • Naruto Shippuden Ultimate Ninja Storm 4- PS4 (Prize: Swag bag valued at $400 & $200 gift card)
    • Mario Kart 8- Wii U (Prize: $100 gift card & vendor swag)
    • Super Smash Bros- Wii U (Prize: $100 gift card & vendor swag)
    • Madden NFL 16- Xbox One (Prize: Signed NFL Jersey & $100 gift card)
    • Killer Instinct- Xbox One (Prize: $100 gift card)
    • Street Fighter V- PS4 (Prize: Limited edition SFV face plate or Ryu statue & $100 gift card)
    • Injustice: Gods Among Us Ultimate Edition- PS4 (Prize: $100 gift card & vendor swag)

Prima Games is the 2015 title sponsor of the GameStop EXPO tournaments and will have some of their top gaming experts in attendance at the show. For more information about the tournaments and to sign up, visit www.GameStop.com/expo/tourneys.

Need a place to relax, take a seat, and engage with the gaming community? GameStop will be bringing three panels to the show floor this year where fans can listen to various topics about the gaming industry while asking questions to industry experts and icons. Panels include:

  • 1:00 p.m. – A parent’s guide to gaming
    • Do you have little gamers or want to understand more about your older kid’s gaming experiences? How do you determine what games are right for your children? In this panel, guests and publishers of kid friendly titles will discuss ESRB ratings, how to set parental controls and guidelines and teach you some gaming terminology to get you started as you raise the next generation of gamers.
  • 2:00 p.m. – What Generation Gap?
    • Today's increasingly multigenerational American families are united by… Batman? As Millennials become parents and Baby Boomers become grandparents, today's families are different from what we've seen and come to expect from previous generations.
  • 3:30 p.m.Kinda Funny Games Panel (NOTE: Mature audiences only)
    • The gentlemen from Kinda Funny Games will share their favorite GameStop shopping memories, talk about the gaming industry, while engaging with fans in a live Q&A.

Registration for GameStop EXPO 2015 is now open, with options including:

  • General admission passes for $40*
  • A limited number of VIP** passes for $110, which includes:
    • Early access to the show floor
    • VIP lounge access to recharge your body and devices
    • Exclusive swag bag of gaming goodies
  • Student passes for $20, available on-site only starting at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday

Tickets can be purchased using PowerUp Rewards™ points or by credit card online at www.GameStop.com/EXPO and at your local GameStop store. To learn more about GameStop EXPO, details on the VIP experience, and to register for the show, visit www.GameStop.com/EXPO.

* Attendees must be 17 years of age or older or accompanied by an adult. Some activities or games may feature mature content. Exhibitors reserve the right to censor content for guests under the age of 17 even when a consenting parent or guardian is present.

** Adults who purchase VIP tickets do NOT have to purchase a VIP ticket for their children under the age of 17. Purchase a general admission ticket for your child and he/she will be allowed to accompany you to all VIP events. With this option General Admission children will not receive VIP swag bag.

About GameStop

GameStop Corp. (NYSE: GME), a Fortune 500 and S&P 500 company headquartered in Grapevine, Texas, is a global, multichannel video game, consumer electronics and wireless services retailer. GameStop operates more than 6,600 stores across 14 countries. The company’s consumer product network also includes www.gamestop.com; www.Kongregate.com, a leading browser-based game site; and Game Informer® magazine, the world’s leading print and digital video game publication. In addition, our Technology Brands segment includes our Simply Mac and Spring Mobile businesses. Simply Mac, www.simplymac.com, operates 71 stores, selling the full line of Apple products, including laptops, tablets, and smartphones and offering Apple certified warranty and repair services. Spring Mobile, http://springmobile.com, sells post-paid AT&T services and wireless products through its 410 AT&T branded stores and offers pre-paid wireless services, devices and related accessories through its 68 Cricket branded stores in select markets throughout the United States.

General information about GameStop Corp. can be obtained at the company's corporate website. Follow GameStop on Twitter @ www.twitter.com/GameStop and find GameStop on Facebook @ www.facebook.com/GameStop.

Source: GameStop Corp.

Kyle Stephenson
GameStop – Public Relations
817-722-7735
KyleStephenson@GameStop.com