Hardcore Gaming at PLAY it! #PLAYitManc

We visited PLAY it! at the Museum of Science and Industry on the opening day for a family gaming session. The exhibition was quite simply a gamer's paradise, providing a huge range of games and consoles from the past 30 years for some hands on gaming action.

The event room at the MOSI is divided into six zones:

Zone 1: Retro Gaming - retro to modern computer games and consoles

Zone 2: Manchester - including games programmed by Ocean Games and the 80s classroom

Zone 3: Rhythm - music and dance based gaming

Zone 4: Minecraft

Zone 5: Celebrations - film, TV and character based games

Zone 6: Lounge - multiplayer gaming

Favourite gaming franchises such as Sonic, Mario, Tomb Raider, Star Wars, Street Fighter and LEGO games are represented in all their glory on a range of consoles. It was really interesting to see the evolution of characters such as Lara Croft across the different formats. We remembered having several of the games and it was very nostalgic having a play.

The Minecraft area was a real hit with Freddy who spent the time learning how to play the game on the PC rather than on the PS3 that he has at home. He got lots of tips from the other kids in the Minecraft zone.

I loved watching him concentrate so hard on mining, building, taming animals and blowing up his Minecraft world! Minecraft is such a phenomena, it was great to see it have its very own zone.

I introduced Kezia to some of my old favourites including Crash Bandicoot on the original Playstation. We also had a go at the Mega Drive, the Nintendo 64 and the SNES. There are plenty of consoles so we never had to wait for a go on anything. We just found a free spot and jumped in to try it. Although there was a lot of serious, hardcore gamers around, we never felt at all intimidated or embarassed by our lack of skill, in fact there were plenty of people willing to lend a hand or offer advice when we were obviously struggling due to our lack of gaming prowess.

Kezia and I had some fun at the selfie table, trying on Mario and Luigi hats. It was a bit of light relief from our attempts at gaming. and donning the iconic headgear definitely made us feel the part!

There is a cafe area selling drinks and snacks including some brilliant gaming cupcakes. The guy who served us told us the legendary story of when Atari tried to make an ET game after the release of the film, which was so rubbish that the whole lot was resigned to landfill. This became the stuff of urban legend until many years later when thousands of the games were unearthed when the land was being developed! The chocolate cupcakes played homage to this tale. Comfy seating allowed us to have a nice rest while we sampled a drink and one of the cakes.

Seeing the range of games and consoles makes you realise just how far the gaming industry has come, from the old original video consoles such as the Spectrum and the Commodore, right up to the most modern, contemporary games. The advancements over the last thirty years really are quite mindblowing. When I had my first console, the Intellevision, back in 1979, I could never have imagined what my own kids would be playing in the future.

The nostalgia of seeing the Sega Master System and the Mega Drive made my day, bringing back many memories of a younger me playing for hours and hours. I used be quite good back in the day, but the advancements in technology saw my skills lag further and further behind. These days I leave it to the kids, but I enjoyed this trip down memory lane.

With individual 90 minute sessions costing just £4 and full day passes £10, PLAY it! is a great opportunity to experience some blasts from the past as well as trying your hand at some modern gaming. Whether you are competitive and looking at taking on other seasoned gamers or if you are like me and looking for a nostalgic way to revisit your youth, it is well worth a visit.

Find out more and book at: www.mosi.org.uk/whats-on/play-it-manchester

Get Your Game Face On at PLAY it! Manchester July 25th - Aug 9th

I remember my first games console, the Intellivision that my dad surprised me with on Christmas Day 1979. I played Lock 'n' Chase until I completed all ten levels of the crazy, maze style game. I still remember the sense of accomplishment on completing it. In the late 80's a Sega Master System with the built in Alex Kidd game became my console of choice, quickly followed in the early 90's by the Sega Mega Drive complete with the first Sonic the Hedgehog game. This was my era! The 2D gaming platforms worked for me and I was the house champion at many of the games we owned, in particular the Lion King, which was our first ever official Disney video game. 

Since then, games have advanced to unrecognisable levels of incredible graphics, complex gameplay and 3D imagery. As our consoles became upgraded to the latest models, I found myself left behind and I conceded ownership of my gaming crown years ago. I've watched all five of my children grow up immersed in the technology of gaming and developing the instinctive skills necessary to be able to beat the end of level bosses and create their own virtual worlds. I'm in utter awe of what they can do. Gaming is a big part of life here Inside the Wendy House. From my eldest son and World of Warcraft expert Joe to my youngest Freddy, who is a massive Minecraft fan, we have enjoyed sharing the gaming accomplishments of all our children.

This summer, I am excited to be able to introduce my kids to some of the games that their mama used to play as PLAY it! comes to the MOSI Manchester, as part of their 'Imagine it, Make it, Move it' programme of events.  From July 25th to August 9th, visitors to the exhibition can get to play some of the most popular video games from the past 30 years, from Pong and Pac-Man to Minecraft and Halo, enter multiplayer competitions, take on  friends or family in collaborative games and play on consoles and gaming systems including Atari, Commodore, Spectrum, Megadrive, SNES, Nintendo 64, PC, PlayStation and Xbox. There are six themed zones with more than 120 consoles and games ready to test skills and give young visitors a taste of retro gaming, alongside the chance to try their hand at some more contemporary consoles.

Families can drop in for 90 minute sessions, whereas seasoned gamers can buy a full day pass or attend an adult-only evening session. PLAY it! is open to anyone with a passion for games. Individual day sessions start at just £4 while a family session is £12. All day passes are just £10. PLAY it! promises to be a fun and entertaining way to spend time with the family this summer holiday.

Find out more and book tickets at: www.mosi.org.uk/whats-on/play-it-manchester.

Keep Calm and Blog On! #BlogOnMOSI

On May 2nd, the annual Blog On conference took place at Manchester's Museum of Science and Industry. Some fantastic brands and PR companies were in attendance. There was some lovely food, with breakfast by Brioche Pasquier, The Co-Operative providing the wine and Hungry House sponsoring the wonderful cake, that kept us all happily fed throughout the day. Some of my favourite blogging buddies were in attendance, providing the company and the laughs.  With some fantastic giveaways and goody bags, we were properly spoiled!  

It was lovely to find out about some great new products such as the QVS range of great value make-up brushes and the new, cool science related toys from Brainstorm. (The Magno.Z toys are awesome!) Black Sheep Wools generously gave out some lovely things like pom-pom makers and French knitting spools, which will be great for introducing my kids to some new crafting skills. The wonderful Sandra from Thinking Slimmer was there and I'm excited to be working with her again soon. Hopefully I'll lose the last of my excess weight! The More Vitamin drinks were a great new discovery for me. Still or sparkling flavoured water with added vitamins and minerals for both adults and kids seems like a really good idea, plus the drinks taste lovely. An easy way of adding some extra nutrients to your diet.

There was a really informative and well delivered session on advanced blogging that I enjoyed from one of the PR companies in attendance. I don't really see my blog as a business, but still found some useful tips and ideas and the presentation was really professional and engaging. Other sessions included a YouTube talk. I leave my YouTube channel to take care of itself and it does pretty well, so I just carry on in my own laid back way! One day I might take up vlogging, when I can think of something interesting to say! The photography session gave us the chance to look at some nice pictures, then go off into the museum to take some of our own. Thankfully I had my technical, photography whizz and blogging buddy Bex to help me with the technical stuff while we snapped the steam train outside. The niche session we attended was on lifestyle blogging, but it didn't really resonate with me at all. Maybe I should have hopped across to the food blogging session instead?

I don't worry too much about my stats, rankings, DA or PR or any of that stuff - I write because I enjoy it and I love having a little corner of cyberspace to call my own. Every view is a bonus, any comments are excitedly and gratefully received. I really value being able to work with brands and work hard to provide a professional service that retains my own personal touch. I don't stress over my blog/life balance and switch off my laptop all weekend long to enjoy my family without distraction. I enjoy being a part of this community and have some lovely people that I count as friends. I'm one content and happy blogger!

Blog On is genuinely one of the most relaxed and friendly blogging conferences, and being in Manchester it is really convenient for me. I'd definitely recommend it to any bloggers looking for a good, bloggy day out!  I'll be keeping an eye out for Blog On 2016.

I'm getting my Blog On at the MOSI #BlogOnMOSI

On Sunday, you will find me at the MOSI in Manchester taking part in the first Blogs Up North conference:  Blog On.  Organised by the unstoppable power of Laura from Tired Mummy of Two, it promises to be a fun opportunity to meet brands, learn stuff in round table discussions, drink wine, meet fellow bloggers and raise money for Clic Sergeant in an amazing raffle!

It's great to have an event held up this end of the country.  I have decided not to do any more London based events unless they are the totally amazing, not to be missed kind.  But getting to Manchester is ideal, with just a quick stint up the M6.  Ian is driving me to the venue then taking the children off to the Trafford Centre with their Merlin Annual Passes so they can visit the new sea Life Centre and the Legoland Discovery Centre.  They will also be joining up with big sister Megan who lives in Manchester, so it promises to be a great day out for everyone!

I have met a lot of bloggers over the last three years of my blogging journey, a few of which will be there on Sunday.  But if anyone doesn't know me, I'm the rather tall one who has a propensity for misbehaving at times.  I'll probably also be wilting away in the corner unless the MOSI has air con.  I'm not good with this heat!!  I'm also not good with names and faces so if I appear rude by not approaching you straight away, it's because I'm trying desperately hard to remember if I know you in real life or just virtually and I don't want to appear like a crazy stalker.  Please come and say hello to me, to avoid that situation.

I hear there is alcohol at Blog On!  I only just came off the wagon after five years being tee total, so that might prove interesting.  I promise not to disgrace myself!

I'm really looking forward to meeting the brands and I must remember to bring my business cards!  I had like 500 of them originally and still have about 497 after giving one to my mum and offloading a couple more on unsuspecting folk.

So who am I?

I am Wendy.  44.  Mum to five great kids.  Joe 24.  Megan 21.  Ella 17.  Kizzy 10.  Freddy 4.  Wife to my high school sweetheart Ian.  Grandma to baby Ted who is 7 months old.  I love blogging...it gives me a raison d'être! I love the opportunities that it has given my family.  I live in the country but crave the city shops and restaurants. I'm vegetarian and am a real foodie.  I love films, music and Disney.  My hair is greying but I refuse to dye it.  Stubborn.

@wendymcd83 on Twitter.

This is Me

See you there!

Blogs Up North at The MOSI

As a family, we almost think of Manchester as our second home.  It's where my daughter has settled after graduating from university and is our nearest accessible big city being just over an hour away from our rural Shropshire home.  I am always impressed by just how much there is to do there, and last weekend we got to experience the MOSI on a bloggers' family day out with Blogs Up North.

The Museum of Science and Industry is an impressive series of buildings combining the old with the new.  Comprising of a series of galleries, it showcases the scientific discoveries and industrial innovations that Manchester has brought the world.

We met up in one of the conference rooms for coffee, cookies and an introduction to the museum.  We were visited by Forgetful Fireman Fred a costumed character who we would later see performing in the Power Hall, as he told the children about the workings of a steam engine.  My Freddy really liked his namesake, who did some removable thumb tricks for him!

The museum consists of five main buildings: The Great Western Warehouse, the 1830 Warehouse, Power Hall, Station Building and the Air & Space Hall.  Each houses a host of exhibitions, some temporary, most permanent.  There is also a wonderful steam train that runs on selected weekends and holidays on site which you can ride for a small fee.  We were lucky enough to have a ride on the train and Freddy loved feeling the wind in his hair as the train chuffed down the track, giving us a great view of all the surrounding buildings.

Experiment! is the hands on interactive zone where children can learn all about science by playing with the exhibits.  Exploring magnetism, light, sound, shapes, liquids, temperature and electricity proved a lot of fun for everyone, kids and adults alike.  

We also had our photograph taken to appear up on big screens in a huge digital sculpture which is part of the Revolution Manchester Gallery.  You get a bar code card that allows you to register and log in from home to access a series of games and challenges online, keeping the MOSI experience alive.

There is so much to see and do at MOSI.  It is all very family friendly with a focus on fun.  There is a coffee shop, picnic area, gift shop and restaurant on site.  There is also a 4D theatre and a motion simulator, Morphis (charges apply).

MOSI is open from 10am-5pm and has onsite parking (chargeable).  

Entry is free but a £3 donation is suggested to help maintain and preserve the historic site.

Find out more at www.mosi.org.uk