But Leipzig Games Convention organiser terms new show ‘ridiculous’
Gamescom will emerge as the leading European trade and consumer games event next year, as top industry executives back the Cologne show – leaving the future of Leipzig Games Convention hanging in the balance.
Despite the success of GC 2008 – which drew upwards of 200,000 visitors – Gamescom’s favourable transport links and greater capacity will make Europe home to the biggest games event in the world, according to key players in the trade.
Klemens Kundratitz, Koch Media managing director and one of 12 key power brokers that make up German publisher association the Federal Association of Interactive Entertainment Software (BIU), told MCV that ambitions are sky-high for the Cologne expo.
“There will not be another show of any relevance in Germany,” he told MCV. “[Leipzig] might try something, but the top 12 publishers are in the BIU and we are committed to take the show to the next level in Cologne.”
“The facts are that we have had a great time for seven years at Leipzig Games Convention, but it is now at the stage where it requires a new environment.”
Advertisement
So could Gamescom become the world’s leading trade and consumer show? Kundratitz believes so: “I think we really have an opportunity to do that,” he added. “We can kick down the barriers – obviously the Germans will be the majority at the show, but we want the mass media as well. We want to be like the film business and show that we are recognised as a cultural movement.”
SCEE president David Reeves also went on record to back the new show. “Leipzig Games Convention has its limitations logistically in terms of getting there and the number of hotels available for visitors,” he told MCV.
“I believe the attendance number was set at around 200,000 people this year. Cologne will double that. It will be around 400,000.”
The message from the highest level at Midway was much the same. International executive VP Martin Spiess added: “We will go to Cologne – we will not go to any other show.”
Yet Leipziger Messe CEO Wolfgang Marzin insisted that the Cologne show’s claims that GC had no trade backing are nonsense.
“We know the truth,” he told MCV. “We’ve already proved that GC works, and we have trade backing – nobody wants a show in September. Another copy of GC in Germany is ridiculous; what is the benefit of holding another show? I am confident that the big show will be GC next year.”
Comments
Clowns
These BIU people are clowns. Each time they open their big mouth. They can say whatever they want, 200 000 people will kill their little show.
What a messe!
The value to the trade is in the trade visitor numbers not the sweaty german kids
Re: What a messe!
What the industry needs right now is some stability and collaboration. Not selfish infighting between whoever happens to want to take the top seat for the next 3 years or so.
Like most people I don't care what show we have or where in the world it is, as long as it stays put for 10 years or more so I know how to plan my working year properly.
Leipzig has been a great show for the last 4 years, just like E3 used to be in a different way, I see no benefit at all in putting doubts in all of our minds about where we are going to go next year.
Doubt normally means it will be terrible in which case most of us won't bother to go to Germany at all (for fear of another ECTS at Excel or E3 2008).
So if the Germans don't make their mind up first I predict most of us will just put all of our efforts into the big GDC in San Francisco or wherever they put it in the States next year.
Also on a practical note, August/September is a terrible time for most developers, who are busy with Nintendo crunch time for Xmas product. So if anything at all needs to be modified at all it is the date (I used to like May)
BIU Clowns
“I believe the attendance number was set at around 200,000 people this year. Cologne will double that. It will be around 400,000.”
----- Yeah right! What a huge Bullxxxx. As if. Sorry but they will never, ever attract that many visitors.
But in on thing Klemens Kundratitz is right, the Gamescom will have the 12 Big Players who are organized in the BIU. The complete rest of the industry will go to Leipzig.
Leipzig or bust
Leipzig GC is already the major international show - this year I met with developers and suppliers from Russia, Thailand, China, Taiwan, Argentina, France, Italy, Czech Republic, Poland and, oh yes, some from Germany too. Funnily enough they all found somewhere to stay, didn't starve, managed to get to and from the expo, and there was lots of spare room in the Leipzig Messe Halls too. The BIU may be at Gamescom but any international show is about much more than the BIU. If it ain't broke....
Re: Leipzig or bust
Leipzig is a horrible city, only few flight connections there, mainly old an worn down hotels and a bad infrastructure. It is not suitable of hosting an international leading exhibition even if the people there claim otherwise.
I am glad we move to Cologne next year, for sure more international trade visitors will go there so the international importance of the show will finally be able to rise.
Take an honest look at GC this year, Nintendo did not even go to Leipzig and Microsoft's booth was a joke. The only ones taking it serious were Sony and Activision with Sony having commited to Cologne already for next year.
The 200.000 visitors (probably 75% of them screaming children) do not reflect the factual prolems Leipzig already had this year and which would grow further and further.
GamesCom is the future, face it and use the opportunity to finally establish THE European videogaming exhibition with global importance in Germany. It is not surprising that some despaired Leipzig show managers are crying, but honestly - who cares...
Re: Re: Leipzig or bust
@ Dale : Bull****.
I have been several times at the GC, and never had the problems you are talking about. It IS suitable of hosting an international leading exhibition, we are not talking about the future, it exists now, and it is a huge success, from the trade or visitors point of view. Even if you claim otherwise.
Leave a Comment
HOT TOPICS
PS3 Slim already in production? 11
Pachter: PS3 will trump 360 by 2015 11
Warner Bros boss questions pre-owned 9
‘80s home computer war becomes comedy show 9
US: Sony's PS3 titles struggle to hit 1m 9
UK console installed base tops 24m 6
Sony planned UMD-free PSP 'from the beginning' 5
Reborn Woolworths bursts into life 3
Last.FM free to XBL Gold members 3
Blu-ray sales boom in UK 2
RELATED STORIES
Trade-backed games expo leaving Leipzig in 2009 1
Leipzig and Gamescom go head-to-head 3
Trade registration opens for Cologne
Nintendo backs Cologne trade show
Countdown to Gamescom begins
Leipzig is dead, says Gamescom organiser 9
Games Convention off to Cologne in 2009?
Is GAMESCom too late for retail?
Cologne show backs GMAs
GamesCom confirms '09 dev conference plans
ABOUT US
MCV is the leading trade news and community site for all professionals working within the UK and international video games market. It reaches everyone from store manager to CEO, covering the entire industry. MCV is published by Intent Media, which specialises in entertainment, leisure and technology markets