Games Convention Online 2010

GAMES CONVENTION ONLINE

(8 – 11 July 2010)

Leipzig, 6 May, 2010

From 8 to 11 July 2010, Leipziger Messe presents the second edition of the GAMES CONVENTION ONLINE – the only independent platform in Europe for browser, client and mobile games. The trade show and public event will be accompanied from 8 to 10 July by international Business Talks in the Congress Center Leipzig (CCL). The media research centre at Hamburg University, the Hans-Bredow-Institute, is the scientific partner for the Business Talks. “After the successful premiere in 2009, we would like to contribute again to facilitating a fruitful exchange of experiences, findings and perspectives between the industry, research and society”, explains Dr. Wolfgang Schulz, director of the Hans-Bredow-Institute.

The professional programme at the GAMES CONVENTION ONLINE is specifically designed for the online and mobile games market. Its content focuses on the needs of market players, with many specialist talks and panel discussions serving to promote the exchange of knowledge between the industry’s experts. In this process, the Hans-Bredow-Institute programme functions as an interface between practical competence and scientific know-how. This includes a dialogue panel with top-ranking representatives from the worlds of politics, academia and industry on the first day of the trade show, as well as three other Business Talks. The opening panel will focus on networking in browser games and through social networks.

Silvana Kuerschner, Strategy Director Games Convention Global, explains: “With the Hans-Bredow-Institute, we have a reputable and reliably effective partner at our side, enabling objective and discerning discussion of important issues of current concern to the industry. Alongside gaming experts, this is also intended for educationists, politicians, public authorities, associations and researchers from the fields of communication, culture, social affairs and psychology who deal with the topic of online games.”

Threefold subject-matter for Business Talks

As well as the dialogue panel on the first day of the trade show, the partnership also involves three Business Talks dealing with various aspects involved in the use, design and perception of social games.

The first discussion set for the Thursday is headlined “Why are social games so much fun – users, motivations and motivating factors?” and deals with the sociological, communication studies and psychological findings on what makes social games particularly attractive from a user perspective. Apart from game design, possible answers could be the motivational situation among gamers, as well as playing with real people. In this context, the Business Talk also looks into the issue of the identity of the social gamer.

The second Business Talk, “Design and persuasive power – What keeps a gamer playing?” on Friday is dedicated to the question of how so-called “persuasive design’ operates in the field of social games in order to captivate the gamer through the mechanics of the game, its features and interface design. There will be a closer look here at psychological findings, in particular in relation to game design, user interface design and user experience design.

Finally, on the Saturday at the event, there will be detailed discussion of the topic “Gradually the penny drops. Implications of micropayment on how things are valued”. The focus will be on the latest findings as to what happens with users’ evaluation and quality classification relating to free or very affordable media products and how differently users react to virtual goods. There will be discussion of possible consequences for the relationship between price and product, as well as for the industry in general.

The Business Talks will be held in the Congress Center Leipzig (CCL) at the Leipzig Exhibition Centre. This year, trade visitors pay 60 euros a day for the conference, including all Business Talks, or 150 euros for a three-day ticket.

Call for Papers for industry-related Business Talks

As well as the Business Talks prepared by the Hans-Bredow-Institute, Leipziger Messe is also planning other individual events. International experts in the industry have until 7 May to submit their topics for special interest talks, panel discussions and company presentations. These Business Talks will cover areas that include business & legal aspects, development & production, browser, client, social and mobile-based games, internationalisation and international markets.

Submissions can be entered on the website at http://www.gamesconvention.com/en/business/business-talks/call-for-papers/.

About the GAMES CONVENTION ONLINE

The only trade show worldwide for browser, client and mobile games brought 43,000 gamers to Leipzig for its first presentation which featured altogether 74 exhibitors from eight countries. The 150 games on show included 50 world and European premieres. The national partner at the first GCO was the Republic of Korea.

Further information is available on the website: www.gamesconvention.com.

Contact for the press:

Nancy Pfaff, Press Officer

Phone: +49 (0) 341 678 8186

Fax: +49 (0) 341 678 8182

E-mail: n.pfaff@leipziger-messe.de

Contact at the Hans- Bredow-Institute:

Christiane Matzen, PR Department

Phone: +49 (0) 40 450 21741

Fax: +49 (0) 40 450 21777

E-mail: c.matzen@hans-bredow-institut.de

On the internet:

http://www.gamesconvention.com