Back to the lot.

On the ascent to the most successful exhibition games in Europe followed the departure of the largest exhibitors. Now dares the Leipzig Games Convention line with the new GM concept - saves and striking with lace against the new trade fair in Cologne Gamescom rivals.

 

The sector sizes have emigrated, the name has remained. In this unfortunate situation, the Leipziger Messe to restart the game fair Games Convention. The attached word line shows the new direction: From 31 July to 2 August are browser games and mobile games in the spotlight.

DPA
So it was at the "Games Convention" 2008: This year daring the Leipziger Messe with a modified approach to reboot.

"It is always interesting, the first movers to be, and that we are", announced Wolfgang Marzin, Chairman of the Managing Director of Leipziger Messe. Because so far there is no European games trade fair, which is purely the last fast-growing online games market and the dedicated console Daddler outside leaves. Who wants to have both together, must be in Cologne this year after switching, where three weeks of the Games Convention online Gamescom opens.

At the instigation of the sector size of the Bundesverband Interactive Entertainment Software (BIU) - including Nintendo, Sega, Konami, as well as in Cologne, Germany-based company Electronic Arts and Microsoft - is the big game exhibition drawn westward. Only the name of the industry were allowed to review the emigrant, for legal reasons not to take - but also can be formulated as Gamescom Games Convention with the letters GC abbreviate.

But hostile tone against the new competitors are in the presentation of the Leipzig program can hardly be heard. Rather, the impression that they had a part of the industry temporarily leave that one in a few - perhaps five, perhaps ten - years, wants to retrieve. "It may be that the platforms come back together," says Marzin.

No forces with Cologne Trade Fairs

Initially one sees in Leipzig apparently the new Kleinsein as an opportunity to avoid Clearance and comparisons with the second trade show. "We measure ourselves not with Cologne," says Marzin. In a sober comparison of the figures, the Leipzig trade fair would probably even before the start are lost. With 50 to 60 exhibitors - including Bigpoint Gameforge and sizes of the two German online gaming market, but also many small providers - want the Leipzigers 50,000 to 70,000 visitors attracted. The "Gamescom" self-confident, however, has spent the hurdle of 200,000 to try to overcome.

Instead of high target exclaim, says Marzin prefer it, "old plaits" cut off from the product fair leads the way to the modern relationship fair. The new Online Games Convention will be a meeting in which members of online communities really can reach out a hand. The Gothic Guild, with about 2000 members, one of the leading German associations have pledged their participation. How should exhibitors groups Messehalle three as a platform for financially contribute to these presentations through the sale of tickets.

In Hall, the two judges organizers topics worlds. There may be fringe are arranged to rent space to stand without pompous presence. In addition, a family planning field, where mom and dad can explain what the son just tried. For business visitors, a dialogue conference with expert presentations and discussions by industry Hamburg Hans Bredow Institute aligned. Total Games Convention draws the line with a planned 40,000 square meters of exhibition space, however, the available space in Leipzig is not enough.

Uncertain Future

Messe CEO Marzin described the show as "greenhouses of optimism." But whether an on-line and mobile-game specialist trade fair is also worthwhile for the organizers, is uncertain. Online gamers get their applications are already out of the net, they can just as well there after market products are looking for. Because of the dominant payment model in which the game start is free, and only features such as bonus levels or virtual weapons cost money, they can also try online before they pay.

In Leipzig you willing to experiment and start with the happy moment. But the outlook remains cautious. "We do not know whether we will be successes," admits Marzin A. After all, we had two years - possibly even a third year - will incorporate in the show to invest - so even if the gamers in Europe to accede to Saxony, where the meeting was not large profits return. Finally, one also with the Pre-Games Convention small.

For the fair's CEO is also the restart then look something like the prelude of the previous seven years before the fair. "We have things in 2002, not copied, but we developed," he says - and one thinks it a bit to hear gen Cologne, where a new location with a new name to be proven adequate follow.