Archive notice: This article was originally published on August 25, 2009. Links and embedded media are preserved as part of the historical record.
The premiere of the new flagship fair for interactive entertainment and games, gamescom, was a full success. From August 19–23, 2009, 245,000 visitors came to the Koelnmesse grounds to experience and try out new games from 458 exhibitors representing 31 countries.
This immediately made gamescom the largest games fair in the world. With an audience conversion rate of about 44 percent, it was also very successful internationally. Koelnmesse and the umbrella sponsor BIU (Federal Association of the Interactive Entertainment Software Industry) held a very positive post-event review after the five-day event.
Oliver P. Kuhrt, CEO at Koelnmesse, said: “The gamescom premiere ran excellently. We are pleased with the enthusiastic reactions from exhibitors and visitors. In short, gamescom has immediately established itself as a leading event.”
According to BIU CEO Olaf Wolters, gamescom achieved all objectives from day one. It became the world’s largest games fair. Despite the economic crisis, computer and video games remain highly attractive and the sector continues to set records.
On 120,000 square meters, world, European and German premieres were presented to fans and families.
Beyond game premieres, an entertaining program with action events and youth protection focus gamesCompetence provided the framework.
Over 17,000 industry visitors and more than 4,000 media representatives from 48 countries attended the trade-fair and media day. 95 percent of exhibitors praised the visitor quality; 92 percent of professionals rated their own visit as a success. 90 percent said they will return to Cologne in 2010.
World premieres and award winners
The shows also included many high-profile launches and award announcements, with StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty winning the overall “Best of Show” award. Other award winners included Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (console), The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks (mobile), Aion (online), Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (PC) and Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games (family entertainment).
Prominent guests showed that celebrities enjoy interactive entertainment too, including boxer Wladimir Klitschko, actor Ralf Möller, skateboarder Tony Hawk, Smudo, Thomas D., and Germany’s Next Topmodels.
gamesCompetence and the gamescom congress
The gamescom congress focused on youth protection and media education and drew more than 350 visitors. It addressed social effects of games and drew interest from players, experts, policy representatives, parents and educators.
The gamescom festival and city program brought entertainment and gaming to Cologne with concerts and events across the city, including the City-Festival over the weekend and GDC Europe, which had 1,500 participants and more than 250 media representatives.
Accordingly, gamescom 2010 was scheduled for August 18–22 in Cologne.
Gamescom in numbers:
A total of 458 companies on 120,000 square meters, including 248 exhibitors from Germany and 199 foreign exhibitors. At the close of the final fair day, attendance was 17,000 professionals and 228,000 consumers.
