Games Convention
| Games Convention | |
|---|---|
 Official Logo of Games Convention | |
| Status | Active |
| Genre | Video games |
| Location(s) | Leipzig, Germany |
| Country | Germany |
| Inaugurated | 2002 |
| Attendance | 203,000 (2008) |
| Organized by | Leipziger Messe, Bundesverband für Interaktive Unterhaltungssoftware |
| Website | http://www.gamesconvention.com/ |
The Games Convention, sometimes called the Leipzig Games Convention and abbreviated as GC, was an annual video game event held in Leipzig, Germany, first held in 2002. Besides video games, the event also covers Infotainment, Hardware, and Edutainment. Its concept was created by the Leipziger Messe (Leipzig Fair) in cooperation with Bundesverband für Interaktive Unterhaltungssoftware (German Federal Association for Entertainment Software) amongst others. The 2010 Gamescon was held August 18th to August 22nd.
With 183,000 visitors, 2,600 journalists, and 368 exhibitors from 25 countries in 2006, the Games Convention was the second biggest gaming event in the world, together with the Tokyo Game Show, only superseded by Gamescom, which is also held in Germany. By comparison, both the Leipzig and Tokyo shows, where gamers of all ages can visit the show floor, are three times the size of the trade-only 2006 E3 show in Los Angeles. The Business Centre at Leipzig is reserved for professional visitors. In 2008, the Games Convention had a record of 203,000 visitors.[1] The conference takes place in a sprawling modern complex of exhibition halls in Leipzig.
To help identify younger visitors, coloured bracelets are handed out to attendees, indicating their age: "12 years and older" (green), "16 years and older" (blue), and "18 years and older" (red). These colours correspond to the age indicators used by the USK, the German version of PEGI or ESRB.
In April 2011, it was announced that GCO 2011 will not take place.
History
The Leipzig Games Convention was first held in 2002. In 2005, the convention achieved visitor numbers of 134,000, which had risen to 185,000 by 2007.
The Games Convention is usually held in the last week of August. The Games Convention 2007 took place from 23 August to 26 August 2007. It started one day earlier for press members, exhibitors, and professionals.
In 2008, the Industry consortium BIU announced not to back a Games Convention in 2009 in Leipzig, preferring a newly to be established convention held in Cologne under the name of Gamescom. Sony, Nintendo, and Microsoft are members of the BIU, representing 12 companies.
On 29 January 2009, the Leipziger Messe (Leipzig Fair) announced that in 2009 there will be no Games Convention as in 2008, but a new fair called "Games Convention Online" from 31 July to 2 August 2009. It will feature mainly browser games and other online and casual games.[2]
Asian expansion
An Asian edition of the Games Convention, called Games Convention Asia was first held in 2007. It was a yearly convention held in Singapore, starting on 6 September 2007. However, it has since become defunct as of 2010 when it was officially announced that the convention would no longer be held.
Statistics
| Year | Visitors | Exhibitors | Professional visitors | Journalists | Exhibition size |
| 2002 | 80,000 | 166 | 3,000 | 750 | 30,000m² |
| 2003 | 92,000 | 207 | 3,500 | 1,300 | 42,000m² |
| 2004 | 105,000 | 258 | 4,200 | 1,700 | 55,000m² |
| 2005 | 134,000 | 280 | 6,200 | 2,000 | 80,000m² |
| 2006 | 183,000 | 367 | 7,000 | 2,400 | 90,000m² |
| 2007 | 185,000 | 503 | 12,300 | 3,400 | 112,500m² |
| 2008 | 203,000 | 547 | 14,600 | 3,800 | 115,000m² |
International Games Convention Developers Conference
The Games Convention Developers Conference (GCDC) is the largest game design and development conference in Europe, with 950 attendees in 2008.[1]
The GCDC is held in a building in the same complex in Leipzig where the GC takes place, typically just before the opening of the main show. During the conference attendees gain ideas and inspiration from the presentation of new tools and methods, and from a variety of sessions discussing both the craft and the business of game design and development. The conference is open to both game professionals, students and press.
As the major European conference, GCDC draws top speakers from all over the world. Presenters in recent years include Bob Bates, Louis Castle, Don Daglow, Peter Molyneux, Bill Roper, Bruce Shelley, David Perry and Will Wright.
Speakers
2007
Notable speakers from the GCDC 2007.[3]
- Julian Eggebrecht, from Factor 5, United States
- Peter Molyneux, from Lionhead Studios, England
- Michael Capps, Mark Rein from Epic Games, United States
- Mark Morris, from Introversion Software, England
- Ken Rolston, from Big Huge Games, United States
- Cathy Campos, from Panache, England
- Doug Whatley, from BreakAway, United States
- Michael Lewis, from Cryptic Studios, United States
- George Bain, England
- Christopher Schmitz, from 10Tacle Studios, Germany
- Michael Wimmer, from The University of Vienna, Austria
- Alexander Fernández, from Streamline Studios, Netherlands
- Amir Taaki, from Crystal Space, England
- Jeff Strain, from ArenaNet, United States
- Vlad Ihora, from Telia Sonera, Sweden
- Barbara Lippe, from Avaloop, Austria
- Pamela Kato, from The GamerX, United States
- Uwe Nikl, from Level 3[disambiguation needed], England
- Matt Firor, from Ultra Mega Games, United States
- Konstantin Ewald, from Osborne Clark, Germany
- John Smedley, from Sony Online Entertainment, United States
- Cindy Armstrong, from Webzen, United States
- Jennifer MacLean, from Comcast Interactive Media, United States
- Chris Mottes, from Deadline Games, Denmark
- Jeff Hickman, from EA Mythic, United States
- Jeffrey Steefel, from Turbine, Inc., United States
- Don Daglow, from Stormfront Studios, United States
- Matt Firor from the United States
- Jason Manley, from Massive Black, United States
- Patric Palm, from Hansoft, Sweden
- Jonathan Wendel, from Fata1ity, United States
2008
- David Perry, from Acclaim Games, United States
- Cevat Yerli, from Crytek, Germany
- Mike Capps, from Epic Games, United States
- Paul Barnett, from Mythic Entertainment, United States
Press day and press conferences
The Games Convention opens for professional visitors, such as developers and members of the press, one day before the event opens to the public. Many developers and publishers hold official press conferences on this day.
Symphonic Game Music Concert
As part of the Games Convention, on the evening of the first day of the Games Convention, a grand Symphonic Game Music Concert is held in the Leipzig Gewandhaus. Well-known game music composers such as Nobuo Uematsu, Michiru Yamane, Akira Yamaoka, Jason Hayes, Rob Hubbard, Chris Hülsbeck and Yuzo Koshiro are among those who have attended.
See also
References
External links
- Official website of the Games Convention
- Games Convention Developer Conference
- Site of the Symphonic Game Music Concerts
- Leipziger Messe
- Games Convention Asia official website
- Video Games Convention 23 August 2008 in Leipzig, Germany.
External links
