gamescom advisory committee paves the way for gamescom 2010

committee and Koelnmesse prepare for the event in the coming year

Cologne – “Together with our partners we intend to pick up on the success of the gamescom premiere in the coming year and successively expand on the largest event and entertainment highlight for interactive games and entertainment.” With these words, Oliver P. Kuhrt, Managing Director of Koelnmesse GmbH, and Olaf Wolters, Managing Director of the German Federal Association of Interactive Entertainment Software (BIU), summed-up the first meeting of the gamescom advisory committee, which met last week in Cologne. Together with the BIU, the other advisory committee members including members from the city of Cologne and from the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, Koelnmesse analysed the gamescom premiere and derived the potential for the coming event scheduled for 18 – 22 August 2010.

“Market research has confirmed the positive results of gamescom and at the same time shown where the potential for optimisation lies,” states Oliver P. Kuhrt. One performance parameter, for instance, would be an even better interlocking of the individual elements of trade fair, festival and Game Developers Conference (GDC Europe). Furthermore, there are initial ideas for expanding on the event character and the “look and feel” of the overall event. Preparations for gamescom 2010 are already running full-speed ahead. Koelnmesse has already paved the way for 2010 with initial press trips to the United Kingdom and Austria and conducted intensive conversations with industry, press and trade on its expansion. Beyond the exhibitors who were at the premiere, numerous new exhibitors both from Germany and abroad have already signalled their interest in participating in 2010. “Compared with the previous year we are noticing that the industry is approaching their plans for participation in gamescom 2010 much earlier and with more decisiveness after the successful initial event. We are very pleased about this positive signal and display of trust on the part of the industry,” says Kuhrt.

With more than 17,000 trade visitors (43.2% from abroad) and over 450 exhibitors from 31 countries (44% abroad), gamescom really put markers down internationally in August. More than 245,000 visitors overall and a successful gamescom festival for winning over new target groups also meant a new level for interactive games and entertainment. Also when it comes to media output, gamescom was able to achieve a positive result with over 4,100 journalists from 48 countries with the share of international media representatives being around 30 percent.