Press releases
Here you will find all of the news and numerous multimedia links related to gamescom at a glance.
No.20 Preliminary report: gamescom 2010 shows the next level of interactive entertainment
From 18 - 22 August 2010, gamescom will be taking place in Cologne for the second time. At the largest trade fair and leisure event for interactive games and entertainment, the site of the Koelnmesse will be transformed into the world's most exciting playground for interactive games. On 120,000 square metres of space in Halls 4 to 9, the international games industry will be presenting its world, European and German premieres, accompanied by events and entertainment on the trade fair site and in the city. Led by global industry participants, from developers, publishers and trading partners to the large community of computer gamers, the "Who's who" of the games industry comes together in Cologne to celebrate the world of games under the motto "Celebrate the games". Over 245,000 visitors and 458 exhibitors are expected in Cologne in August. "This year gamescom will significantly increase its international scope and open the gates to the next level of interactive entertainment," says Oliver P. Kuhrt, Managing Director of Koelnmesse. For the first time, the organisers Koelnmesse and the German Federal Association of Interactive Entertainment Software (BIU) will be presenting an official partner country: Canada. By presenting Canada, one of the world's leading creative centres of the games industry, gamescom is building a bridge from Europe to the North American market. Participation from new countries, for example Korea, emphasises gamecom's claim to set a new international tone as the leading European trade fair. The major themes include new concepts in motion control and game entertainment in 3D. "Game sensations that have previously been reserved for expert audiences are now accessible to a broad audience at gamescom for the first time. The trade fair reveals which trends will capture the attention of game enthusiasts by the end of the year. We are expecting a trade fair of premieres, particularly in the area of games software," says Olaf Wolters, Managing Director of the German Federal Association of Interactive Entertainment Software, with his eye on gamescom. Even before the start of gamescom, the second run of Europe's leading developer conference - Game Developers Conference (GDC) Europe - will be ringing in the games days in Cologne from 16 - 18 August.
gamescom 2010 will be building on its successful concept and the cornerstones of last year's debut. After the games days are kicked off by GDC Europe, media and industry professionals will have access to gamescom starting on Wednesday, 18 August 2010. On Thursday, 19 August 2010, the gates of the trade fair will then open to private visitors - fans and friends of interactive games from near and far. Starting on Friday night the games will also be celebrated in the city centre at the gamescom city festival in addition to the events being held at the trade fair site.
Increase of international scope in the business area and beyond - partner country Canada
This year gamescom is increasing its thematic and international scope and opening up additional opportunities for trade visitors and trading partners. For the first time the industry's leading trade fair will be presenting Canada as an official partner country, thus building a bridge between Europe and North America. Canada is considered the third-largest manufacturer of video games worldwide as well as a creative hot spot. Through targeted business development and the establishment of training opportunities in the games industry, Canada now has over 260 companies and 9,000 experts as well as 60 universities with special courses of study in the games industry. This year gamescom will be welcoming companies at the country-specific stand for Korea for the first time as well, thus increasing the scope of the trade fair yet again. The GDC Europe will be celebrating its debut in the business area in the form of a stand as a central meeting point for game developers and creative minds from around the world. In addition, gamescom will feature the participation of numerous other countries with companies from the United States, France and Great Britain. Exhibitors from Greece, Latvia and Jordan will be presenting at the industry's leading trade fair in Cologne for the first time. The business area is the exclusive trading and business platform at gamescom. This is where European retailers place their orders, especially for upcoming Christmas trade. With a direct connection to Cologne/Bonn Airport and the European transport routes, gamescom can be easily reached from Europe, abroad and even Asia. When in Cologne, trade visitors and trading partners can drive their cars directly onto the roofs of Halls 4 and 5 without negotiating traffic lights, park there and arrive at the centre of the business area through a separate entrance. Those travelling by train can get out at the trade fair site's own train station. Short distances, inviting lounge and catering areas, sufficient hotel capacities as well as an attractive events program guarantee trade visitors, retailers and business customers all amenities at gamescom.
entertainment area
In the entertainment area visitors will experience the next level of interactive entertainment up close. World, European and German premieres as well as numerous other events will ensure the best entertainment. In Hall 8, fans, families and friends of computer and video games will find companies such as Nintendo, Namco Bandai, Warner Brothers, Microsoft and THQ, to name but a few. Konami, Sony, Ubisoft, Bigben Interactive, Koch Media, Hama and Asus - among others - will be presenting their innovations in Hall 7. Electronic Arts, Square Enix, Take Two Interactive and others will be welcoming games fans in Hall 6. In addition to Intel, an array of leading suppliers of online and browser games in the new "online world", including a browser games park, is featured in Hall 9. The dynamic segment of online and browser games is a fixed component of the industry for interactive games and entertainment. Its major players - e.g. NCsoft, Bigpoint, Trion Worlds, Perfect World, gamigo and Frogster Entertainment - will also be exhibiting in Cologne. Razer, Roccat and other suppliers from the hardware and accessories segment will also be presenting their latest innovations in Hall 9. The gamescom exhibition portfolio once again consists of the entire thematic range of the games industry, spanning hardware to PC and video games, to online and offline games. On 120,000 square metres of space, a record number of world, European and German debuts are expected, including hardware innovations and enhancements as well as blockbuster games that fans are anxiously awaiting. At gamescom it will even be possible to test the products that will be available in stores for Christmas. The best games and products being presented for the first time at gamescom will be evaluated by an independent jury of experts who will subsequently award the gamescom Award 2010. This year the "Best hardware accessory" award will be given for the first time. More services, scope and presentations, as well as a new "Meet & Eat Area" in Hall 10 complete the overall experience of gamescom 2010.
This is what the future of interactive entertainment looks like
New and expanded technologies in motion control and 3D are redefining the experience of interactive games in the future. From now on all game consoles will have intuitive control devices. At the same time the industry is presenting a full-body control technology that works entirely without a controller. Instead, the player steps into the action himself, which is technically enabled through a RGB camera, a depth sensor and a surround sound microphone. The new control devices can be easily connected to existing hardware. Sales for the controller-free technology are expected to begin in November 2010. On the other hand, the latest version of motion control with an input device has acceleration sensors that record movements. A camera films the remote control, while software calculates its location and distance in the room.
The third dimension will also enter the world of games. The first consoles will become 3D-capable through an update of the operating system. The first technologies will also have the option to display 3D effects even without shutter glasses. At the same time, 3D games are also to be brought onto the market. Olaf Wolters (BIU) comments: "Films such as Avatar have impressively shown the waves of enthusiasm that 3D can generate. Unfortunately in the TV segment there is still a lack of content to justify the purchase of a 3D-capable television. Here the games industry can set an important tone and contribute to helping 3D make a breakthrough."
From Retro to an eSport European championship - The supporting programme at gamescom 2010
Beyond the latest developments and premieres, the entertainment area at gamescom in Halls 6-9 is one big interactive playground with a great deal of entertainment and a large supporting programme. One of the numerous top events is the European Nations Championship, abbreviated ENC, the European championship for professional eSports. This event will be held by the European Sports League (ESL). Through national elimination rounds throughout all of Europe in recent weeks and months, Turtle Entertainment has determined the finalists who will play for the official title of European Champions during gamescom. Thanks to an official marching in with flags and national anthems, the authentic atmosphere of a large sporting event is guaranteed.
At the 9th International Case Modding Championships, computer cases will be transformed into real works of art. The audience can be right at the heart of the action during live modding and follow the metamorphosis from grey cases to true masterpieces. The Retro Gaming exhibition by René Meyer shows the history of video games from their beginnings 35 years ago until today. For those looking for opportunities for careers or job transitions, the Jobs&Career Centre in Hall 8 features companies and contacts from the games industry. Here companies will present themselves and interact with potential applicants. Right next door the programme for the events stage in Hall 8 promises exciting variety, ranging from artists and music to issues on media competence and youth protection. For those in need of relaxation and calm, the gamescom beach, which features music in a lounge atmosphere, invites you to take a little break outside before heading to the next point on the gamescom agenda.
gamesCompetence
How to deal with interactive entertainment correctly is an important issue for children and young people, parents and teachers as well as representatives from the political sphere. That is why gamescom is once again devoting an entire section in Hall 8 and in the Congress Centre to the aspects of youth protection, media competence and media education with the gamesCompetence exhibition area. This year gamesCompetence consists of the pillars:
- North Rhine-Westphalia Youth Forum - Offers by young people, for young people
- Presentations and information on initiatives and institutions
- Media education-related content on the stage in Hall 8
- gamescom conference held by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia
- Networked communication on the site
More than 40 companies will be exhibiting in the gamesCompetence area alone. In addition, the ideal sponsor of gamescom, the German Federal Association of Interactive Entertainment Software (BIU) is carrying out special educational work in the area of computer games with the industry initiative "Games connect", the aim of which is to promote public discourse about computer and video games. The advice and information platform www.spielen-verbindet.de provides parents and guardians, game fans and educators with comprehensive informational material on the topics of youth protection, media competence and gaming culture. As part of gamescom, "Games connect" will have its own counter in the gamesCompetence information area in Hall 8. This year the highlight of the gamesCompetence programme will again be the gamescomCongress conference, which is organised by the state government of NRW together with the city of Cologne and the BIU. It will take place on 19 August in the Grosser Rheinsaal at Koelnmesse's Congress Centre North. It is devoted to the current debates in computer gaming culture. In addition to numerous keynote speeches, panels and presentations, high-ranking politicians and leading industry experts will discuss the current perspectives of the games industry in a top-level talk. The conference is primarily geared towards stakeholders from the games industry, representatives from politics, culture and the press as well as multipliers from the areas of education and parenting.
Festival
Once again this year, the eventful gamescom days will be rounded off by the gamescom festival, which is organised in cooperation with Koelnmesse and the city of Cologne. From Friday to Sunday the festival will bring the best entertainment and interactive games to the heart of the city after the trade fair closes. The innovative festival concept primarily addresses the growing target group of casual gamers in an entertaining way. On Wednesday, the trade visitor and media day of gamescom, the festival will kick off at the Tanzbrunnen at 7:00 p.m. with a concert by Revolverheld and Stanfour, two of the best German live bands. As gamescom continues, the comedy show NightWash will also be celebrating its 10-year anniversary at the Tanzbrunnen. The highlight of the open-air programme will then take place from Friday to Saturday with the festival in the city, which also provides non-gamers and potential gamers with a first look at the world of interactive games. In addition to stages with other national and international live acts, numerous game modules and show trucks will be set up outside as free entertainment for the general public. The event programme in Cologne city centre will be rounded off by spectacular shows and award ceremonies, for example "NightWash", the comedy show in Cologne, and the BÄM Award 2010, which captivates fans of computer and video games. Further information available at www.gamescom-festival.com.
Further information available at: www.gamescom.de.
Press tips
You can find further information on gamescom - the trade fair and event highlight for the international interactive entertainment industry - at www.gamescom-cologne.com. The latest news is also available as an RSS feed in the press area.
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