GamePlan

                  Invite only event demanded for UK games industry

Thursday 5th February/...UK retailers are backing a dedicated new business-to-business retail sales event for the video and computer games industry. GamePlan will take place between June 24th – 26th 2009 in Surrey.

GamePlan launches in 2009 following widespread discussions with both UK retailers and games publishers and will offer a business environment with an emphasis on one-to-one meetings between publishers and retailers. It offers both retail and publishers a place where they can meet under one roof and do business over a two day period.

Importantly, it also offers a single event at which retail can see games side by side and get a real feel for the range of forthcoming titles.

Kim Bayley, Director General of the Entertainment Retailers Association (ERA), said: "ERA has long argued the case for an event which brings together UK games publishers and retailers in one place. In these cost-conscious times it is all the more necessary to create a focused UK-based event.

“We congratulate the organisers of GamePlan for stepping forward to meet this need, and encourage publishers to give it their full support."

GamePlan spokesman, Andy Lane, added: “Retailers have been asking for an event like this for a while. This year, given the current economic climate, this low-cost but highly focused format means that Gameplan makes more sense to publishers than ever before."

GamePlan intends to attract 15 leading games companies, which will each have a formal private sales, meeting and presentation suite to talk business with their customers.

The event will deliver around 60 key individuals from retail for formal sales meetings and presentations as well as social time.

GamePlan is an invitation-only event and all retailers will attend for free, including complimentary hotel rooms and suites for the duration of the event.

The event is being organised by Tandem Events and Barrington Harvey both of which have an unrivalled pedigree for producing and delivering successful exhibitions, events and conferences in games entertainment.

The GamePlan concept has also been welcomed by non-specialist retailers, including major supermarkets as having a number of games companies in one place enables them to bring in top tier management, helping them make the case for expanding their games coverage and developing more effective sales strategies.

There will be time set aside for a welcome reception between sales teams and retailers, a dinner and networking time. It will deliver key meetings and an important snapshot of the market for the second half of the sales year in a focused format.

Ends

For further information please contact:

Simon Harvey

Barrington Harvey

Tel +44 (0) 1462 456780

Issued by: Barrington Harvey, Troopers Yard, Bancroft, Hitchin, Herts SG5 1JW