Gamescom is much more than a trade and public fair. It is also conceived as an event and entertainment festival throughout Cologne. Whether in the trade-visitor area, the public halls, the specialist and social supporting programme on the exhibition grounds, or at hotspots throughout the city, gamescom and its participants celebrate games under the motto “Celebrate the games”. Oliver P. Kuhrt, Managing Director of Koelnmesse GmbH, said: “Together with our exhibitors, we are carrying the fascination of interactive games from the exhibition grounds into the city and beyond its boundaries. Gamescom’s innovative concept enables every audience, from intensive to occasional players, to participate actively.”
Trade-Fair Managing Director Kuhrt: Leipzig Announcement Not Surprising
Kuhrt said he was not surprised by Leipziger Messe’s announcement that it would stage its own event the following year: “It was to be expected that Leipziger Messe would use its date announcement to try to retain the topic in its 2009 programme. However, it will have to do so largely without the industry. The leading fair will take place in Cologne in 2009 and beyond.” Games experts from industry, retail, purchasing and development, together with fans of interactive entertainment, will encounter a new level of trade fair, event, entertainment and infotainment in Cologne. Industry interest in gamescom is already strong. Koelnmesse and BIU have received more than 120 enquiries from companies, including almost every market leader.
Oliver P. Kuhrt said: “We are bringing back a clear message from Leipzig: the games industry will exhibit at gamescom in Cologne in 2009. We encountered broad approval, and the industry is looking forward to Cologne. Whatever takes place elsewhere in Germany in 2009 cannot claim to represent this industry.” Cologne places the entire interactive-entertainment community, with its participants, products, ideas and objectives, at the centre. That is what the gamescom name represents. The organisers’ new concepts aim to offer Europe’s games community a new home for trade-fair business and events, attract a larger international professional audience to Cologne, and address every target group in this dynamic industry.
Compact Trade-Visitor Area
The trade-visitor area in Halls 4 and 5 of the Cologne exhibition grounds is the new communication and commercial platform for the international games industry. Conceived as a compact unit, it offers participants from industry, retail, media and development ideal conditions for uninterrupted dialogue. As an integral part of gamescom, it guarantees short walking distances and a high-quality environment through dedicated rooftop parking, lounge, service and catering areas, and a roof terrace. The public area is also easily accessible via the exhibition grounds’ boulevard. To open Cologne’s doors to international trade, gamescom’s organisers deliberately selected a date in early September, with 9 September reserved for media and trade visitors. Koelnmesse’s international network of eleven subsidiaries and more than 80 foreign representatives supports international sales work in the relevant local languages and therefore contributes to internationalisation. Europe’s new trade-fair and event highlight will add another new concept to strengthen its international character at its 2009 premiere: a selected partner country will present itself in an exclusive setting. Trade visitors will gain an opportunity to learn about new markets and business fields at economic, cultural, structural and political levels and to establish and expand networks. The partner country selected by Koelnmesse and the advisory board can also appear in the public area, bringing international gaming cultures, markets and participants closer to the active games community.
Action and Entertainment in the Public Area
The gaming community will meet in gamescom’s new North Halls 6 to 9. The new games platform promises action and entertainment both indoors and on Koelnmesse’s outdoor grounds.
Oliver P. Kuhrt said: “Gamescom’s public area is the hotspot and starting point for action, events and entertainment. In dialogue with the games industry, we are currently expanding it step by step so that at the premiere we can offer every target group — from intensive and occasional players to newcomers to PC and video games — an ideal programme on and beyond the exhibition grounds.” New conceptual approaches will ensure that every audience experiences the event character.
Supporting Programme
Alongside activity in the trade area and public halls, gamescom’s supporting and event programme will certainly form a highlight of the new trade-fair and event platform. A specialist developers’ conference, meetings, presentations and panel discussions on current games topics, together with fun sports, action and chill-out offerings, will take place on the Koelnmesse grounds and throughout the city. In close dialogue with city officials, numerous enquiries and concepts for varied citywide events and entertainment offerings are already being developed.
Games and Media
Media and games are converging ever more closely. Against this background, Cologne’s position as a media centre offers ideal conditions for a new entertainment experience devoted to interactive entertainment. National and international media partners are therefore another important cornerstone of gamescom in Cologne. Europe’s leading private broadcasting group RTL, for example, will shortly be based directly beside gamescom, while Westdeutscher Rundfunk is also headquartered in Cologne. Through the planned television, print and radio partnerships, gamescom will communicate its central idea: “Celebrate the games”.
