Archive notice: This article was originally published on August 26, 2009. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
“The game is just the start” - with this slogan, Sony Computer Entertainment delighted the more than 245,000 visitors to gamescom 2009. Between August 20 and 23, Sony PlayStation showed at its approximately 2,000 m2 exhibition stand that there was much more to celebrate besides many new games. Star chef Holger Stromberg, Hollywood actor Ralf Möller, football expert Reiner Calmund, comedians Erkan & Stefan, and many other acts offered the numerous visitors to the stand an unforgettable and varied entertainment program around the clock. The absolute eye-catcher at the stand was also the new PlayStation hardware line-up with PSP go and the PS3 Slim announced only one day before the trade fair began. Nevertheless, PlayStation naturally also focused on the latest games: particularly popular were “EyePet,” the new PS3™ augmented-reality game, and the action adventure “UNCHARTED 2: Among Thieves” for PS3, which won the 2009 gamescom Award for “Best Console Game.”
SCE Unveils New Hardware
The announcement of the new PS3 hardware came one day before the official start of gamescom 2009, during the SCE press conference: Kazuo Hirai, President of Sony Computer Entertainment, announced the new PS3 Slim, equipped with an extremely slim design and a 120GB hard drive. The device will be available in stores from September 1, 2009 for 300 euros.
Pure Gaming Fun with Software Highlights
Sony PlayStation’s varied games line-up also caused a stir. The new augmented-reality game “EyePet” was a particular eye-catcher: with its innovative controls, the cuddly interactive pet for PS3 quickly became an absolute favorite among trade-fair visitors, who romped around, fed it and had fun with it. Other PS3 highlights included the action adventure “UNCHARTED 2: Among Thieves,” voted best console game at gamescom 2009, the noir thriller “Heavy Rain,” and the racing simulation “Gran Turismo 5,” which, like the PSP version, was playable for the first time at gamescom. Enthusiastic trade-fair visitors used PlayStation Portable and InviZimals to search for previously hidden creatures. Alongside GT and InviZimals, other highlights included the forthcoming PSP titles LittleBigPlanet for PSP and MotorStorm: Arctic Edge. Sony PlayStation offered the most unusual preview for Gran Turismo for PSP: as part of the “GT in the Sky” campaign, the portable racing hit could be played on a free-floating platform 50 meters above the city’s rooftops.
Unusual Events with Celebrity Guests
At “GT in the sky,” trade-fair visitors were not the only ones who could rise high. Numerous celebrity guests, including “Unter uns” actor Stefan Franz and Germany´s Next Topmodel contestant Carolin Ruppert, also drove a few racing laps on the new, stylish PSP go. Anyone who secured a place at GT in the Sky was spoiled for choice: almost 800 vehicles can be selected in the game, including Lamborghini vehicles for the first time.
The finale of Europe’s most successful parkour series, PlayStation the way, featured strenuous moves at the PlayStation exhibition stand. Hollywood star Ralf Möller served as a judge and, together with Stefan Richter, action director at action concept, named parkour participant Christian the winner. As a reward for his spectacular performance, Christian received a PSP as well as a stunt role in the popular television series “Alarm für Cobra 11 - Die Autobahnpolizei.” The PlayStation LIGA was also about sport, this time combined with healthy, delicious food: Holger Stromberg, chef for the German national football team, and football expert Reiner Calmund allowed trade-fair visitors to watch them cook together and explained healthy eating.
There was a huge turnout for the finale of the SingStar competition with cult comedians Erkan & Stefan: the best singer and performer, Benjamin Hinterseer, prevailed against three competitors on the SingStar stage with his favorite song “Supergirl” by Reamonn, and performed the winning song “Losing my Religion” by rock band R.E.M. live to great applause that same evening at the mega music event THE DOME.
Pure Entertainment
The stage program at the PlayStation exhibition stand was naturally complemented by further show acts. Breakdance crew “Flying Steps” fired up the audience in their usual fashion, while presenter and actress Doro Gelmar, alias “Charly Lauber” from the series “Unter uns,” guided the audience through the program. DJ and television presenter Nilz Bokelberg provided verbal wit and exciting quiz rounds on the Buzz! stage. The presenting team Joko and Claas welcomed high-profile guests from the games and entertainment industry live from the PlayStation stage for “MTV Home.” Anyone seeking fun and entertainment outside the exhibition halls could immerse themselves in Sony PlayStation’s complete entertainment world at Cologne’s Neumarkt and Hohenzollernring.
