gamescom

When Koelnmesse's doors open for the premiere of gamescom from 19-23 August 2009, the European games industry - ranging from A for Activision Blizzard to X for xaitment - will invite visitors to enter the fascinating world of interactive entertainment. Today another global player, namely Nintendo, has signed up to participate in Cologne. gamescom's trade fair concept impressed Dr. Bernd Fakesch, General Manager of Nintendo Germany: "gamescom offers the ideal platform for the presentation of our games and product portfolio to a large audience in an attractive setting. We are looking forward to the start in August." The community of gamescom exhibitors and partners today includes national and international, online and offline, as well as global and medium-sized companies. The games industry's entire value chain, from developers to traders, will be represented in Cologne. Three and a half months before the start of the event, Oliver P. Kuhrt, Managing Director of Koelnmesse GmbH, and Olaf Wolters, Managing Director of the German Trade Association of Interactive Entertainment Software (BIU), can rejoice in successful interim results: "Nintendo's pledge is a further clear signal. The industry's leading trade fair is on road to success."

Exhibitor and media interest from over 30 countries

Around three and a half months before the start of the trade fair, gamescom is on the road to both national and international success. Over 70 percent of the exhibition space has already been booked. Exhibitors from 20 countries, including from Asia, Eastern Europe and Scandinavia as well as Benelux, Great Britain and the United States, have already registered for gamescom.

But the gamescom premiere in August will not just be a great event in terms of exhibitors; it is also expected to draw the attention of the media. Alongside journalists from Germany, more than 350 editors from the most important games media, including representatives from Eastern Europe, Scandinavia and the United States, have already been accredited. Together with national and international media partners from abroad, gamescom will reach industry and media specialists from around 30 countries, including Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Norway, Italy, Spain, France, Great Britain, Hungary, Russia, Poland, Australia, the United States and Brazil.

In addition to the companies who are members of the BIU, gamescom is also expecting the following exhibitors and media partners in August among others: Aerosoft, ak tronic, ANKAMA GAMES, arvato games task force, Asociación de Desarrolladores de Ocio Interactivo Digital, Autodesk, Avanquest, Bigben Interactive, Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung (Federal Centre for Political Education), b.i.b. International College, CAPCOM, CCP Games, City Interactive, Click & Buy, Computer Bild Spiele, Computec Media, dtp entertainment, DuMont Schauberg Publishing Group, Eurogamer, Entertainment Media Verlag, Fishlabs, flashpoint, FUTUREMARK, G.A.M.E. Verband, Games Academy, Games Campus Cologne, Game Outlet Europe, GOA, Government of Canada, HAMA, HMH Hamburger Medien Haus, IDG Communications Media, Intend Media, Initiative gamearena frankfurtrheinmain, Iran National Foundation of Computer Games, Kalypso Media, Kaspersky Labs, Landesanstalt für Medien NRW (LfM Media Authority of North Rhine-Westfalia), MAGIX, magnussoft España, marketpoint, NC Soft Europe, Nyko Technologies, rondomedia, SevenOne, Software Industry Promotion Agency Thailand, SouthPeak Games, Square Enix, Taipei Hsien Computer Association, Tivola Publishing, Think Services, Ubifrance, Vidis Electronic, Warner Brothers Interactive Entertainment. A provisional list of exhibitors will be published at the end of June/beginning of July.

Business, entertainment, festival and more

The gamescom concept addresses all target groups for modern PC and video games, from intensive players to the dynamically growing group of casual gamers, which includes players of all age groups. While retailers and industry visitors conclude deals in the business area (Halls 4 and 5); the European games industry will present the entire world of interactive entertainment in the gamescom entertainment area (Halls 6 to 9). Countless world and European premieres from the area of interactive entertainment are expected. "Celebrate the games" is the motto of the gamescom premiere in 2009. This will be carried over into the gamescom festival, which will take place in the city after the conclusion of the trade fair. The festival will be opened on 19 August by the German band Die Toten Hosen. Countless other musical guests and extensive games opportunities await visitors from Cologne, Europe and the world. In addition to sufficient hotel room allotments, the gamescomCamp, located on the Rhine in direct proximity to the northern entrance of the fairgrounds, offers visitors a campground feeling during gamescom. Countless travel services and offers will mean that visitors from both Germany and abroad can travel to Cologne affordably and effectively using all means of transport.

The games spectacle in Cologne will open with the Game Developers Conference Europe (GDCE) from 17-19 August 2009, the event highlight for international developers.

Press tips

You can find further information on gamescom - the trade fair and event highlight for the international interactive entertainment industry - at www.gamescom-cologne.com . The latest news is also available as an RSS feed in the press area.

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