At gamescom in Cologne from August 19 to 23, the international games industry will present interactive entertainment software and hardware. Alongside members of the German Entertainment Software Association, which were planning portfolios for casual and core players, exhibitors from across the industry were preparing for the show. The business and consumer areas increasingly included online- and browser-game companies from a growing market segment.
Ubisoft general manager Ralf Wirsing described the field as important to the company’s gamescom presence. “In Cologne, we can present our product portfolio to the international market while learning about new releases from national and international participants. The growth in online- and browser-game registrations demonstrates the segment’s increasing importance.”
Funatics managing director Thomas Friedmann said online games were continually changing the conventional market. “Growth figures are only one interesting aspect alongside intensive player use. We are watching the market closely as it presents itself in Cologne in an attractive environment.”
Electronic Arts managing director Dr. Olaf Coenen said gamescom would provide new international impetus. The company expected to welcome partners and customers from Germany and abroad at the Cologne exhibition center.
Tivola head of sales and trade marketing Bernd Grannemann identified the combination of exhibition concept, location and international reach as a success factor. The publisher expected gamescom’s casual-to-core hall structure to place its games for children and young people in an appropriate thematic environment.
International participation included France, where Ubifrance was organizing a joint pavilion with Koelnmesse. Regional networks such as gamearea FrankfurtRheinMain were also concentrating their efforts on Cologne.
Hardware completed the gamescom portfolio alongside developers, software publishers and retailers. Hama managing director Christoph Thomas said the accessory supplier wanted to position itself close to leading hardware and game manufacturers. He expected Cologne to bring together major companies, trade visitors and players from the national and international markets.
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