A JAPANESE gaming sensation is taking over Bradford’ s National Media Museum for the duration of half-term in February.

Yo-kai Watch, which was released in Japan in 2013, is the latest video-game craze to sweep across the globe.

During the half-term school holidays, from February 18 to 26, the museum will be turned over to Yo-kai Watch, with a number of attractions and the game itself available to play.

The takeover follows on from the success of last year’s inaugural Yorkshire Games Festival, which was staged at the museum.

In the gaming suite, the latest game will be available to play, and the museum will be split into four zones based on the game, with a number of activities in each section.

The game features invisible creatures which cause mischief in everyday life, and can only be seen by people wearing a special watch. It is based on Japanese folklore, where Yokai are supernatural monsters and spirits.

The museum will be split into four sections based on Yo-kai tribes; Heartful, Mysterious, Charming and Brave.

In the Heartful zone, children can create a 3D paper character head to take home, design a cardboard game controller which can be used to control characters on a computer in the Mysterious zone, take a break to read, relax and draw in the Charming zone, or play the game itself in the Brave zone.

Other activities will include screenings of the games’ spin-off television series, the chance to hunt hidden tribes in a Yo-kai trail, and a pop quiz.

Every child which completes the Yo-kai trail will receive their own watch to take home.

One of the game series’ main stars, a cat-like creature called Jibanyan, will also be making daily appearances at the museum where children can meet and have their pictures taken with it.

Staff from the museum will also be displaying items from the museum’s wearable technology collection, and explaining how this technology is used in everyday life.

Georgina Cooke, programme developer at the National Media Museum, said: “Yo-kai Watch is a huge hit with children around the world.

“Given its popularity it’s fantastic to have the video game take over the museum for February half term.

“We’ll be giving away toy Yo-kai watches and there are other big prizes form the Yo-kai Watch universe to be won, in addition to activities for the whole family to enjoy.

“Discover the Yo-kai tribes, play the latest game and watch episodes of the television series on the cinema screen. And best of all, it’s all free.”

All activities during the takeover are free of charge, and it will be open each day from 10am to 4pm.

The takeover is the latest video games-themed event to come to the National Media Museum.

In November last year the first ever Yorkshire Games Festival took place in Bradford, and featured famous faces from the gaming world and the opportunity to play some of the best video games of recent years.

Plans are already under way for the second Yorkshire Games Festival later this year.

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