gamescom 2018: gamescom Continuing on Growth Course in Anniversary Year

gamescom continuing on growth course in anniversary year

New exhibitor record expected in anniversary year
On course internationally: exhibitors from more than 50 countries confirm their participation
Partner country Spain: presences in the business and entertainment area for the first time
Extensive congress and event programme for trade and private visitors
Ticketing: private visitor tickets for Wednesday, 22 August, Thursday, 23 August and Friday, 24 August available

New records are once again expected to be set in the tenth year of gamescom. Since its start, gamescom has been growing continually in terms of numbers of exhibitors and visitors. In concrete terms that means a 100 percent plus of exhibitors, a 45 percent increase in visitors and a 68 percent increase in exhibition space since 2009. And the current figures show that gamescom 2018 (open to all from 22 to 25 August) will be more exciting than ever before. A new exhibitor record is emerging for gamescom 2018. In a year-to-year comparison (status: mid July), the booking results lie around 20 percent above those of the previous year. Also with a view to internationality, gamescom shows why it is Europe’s number 1 business platform of the games industry. Exhibitors from more than 50 countries have confirmed their participation to date. 28 pavilions from 25 countries are expected at gamescom. This year’s partner country is Spain. The gaming event of superlatives will cover a space of 201,000 square metres in total. The business area is located in halls 1 to 4 – the entertainment area in halls 5–10. In addition, the accompanying event and congress programme once again means a whole week “full of gaming”! Visitors can also look forward to several highlights in the context of the tenth anniversary of gamescom – both on the Cologne fair grounds and in the city.

“gamescom has grown enormously in both qualtity and quality in past years. And this year too, all signs point to the continuation of the success story: we presume that gamescom 2018 will surpass the 1,000 exhibitors mark”, says Gerald Böse, President and Chief Executive Officer of Koelnmesse GmbH. “gamescom has enormous charisma. It is noticed internationally, and it contributes decisively to us being able to position ourselves as an innovative location for the digital transformation.”

“Ten years of gamescom are a reason to celebrate and an incomparable success story that we want to continue in coming years”, says Felix Falk, Managing Director of game – association of the German games industry and a sponsor of gamescom. “The large number of different events in the gamescom week impressively demonstrate the great variety of computer and video games. Whether culture, education, the economy, sports or simply first class entertainment: games in the meantime enrich every area of life and their great potential for the future can’t be experienced anywhere in the world better than at gamescom.“

business area: international meeting point of the games industry

The international games industry is meeting in halls 1 to 4 from 21 to 23 August. The business area of gamescom is Europe’s leading business and trading platform for the games industry. It makes it possible for traders, media representatives, publishers and developers to exchange ideas with business partners in an exclusive environment, to establish new contacts and inform themselves about new products of the games industry. Following tradition, the partner country – this year Spain – is strongly represented in the business area. The pavilion of the partner country spans 120 square metres. For the first time in the ten-year history of gamescom, a partner country will not only exhibit in the business area, but also book a space in the entertainment area. Gaming fans from around the world thus also have the possibility to experience the Spanish games industry and hospitality live, and are cordially invited to visit the partner country in hall 10.1. At the pavilions, visitors can expect a variety of actions: from talks through workshops by and with high quality Spanish gaming experts to actions and sessions especially for Spanish studios. Spain is also presenting the “Games from Spain” guide at gamescom 2018, which provides a great deal of information on the games market in Spain and an overview of Spanish companies from the games industry. Also with a view to further international presentations, the business area is proving impressive. A total of 28 pavilions from 25 countries is expected at gamescom. Also here are Australia, Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Chile, China, Estonia, Finland, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Canada (2), Colombia, South Korea, Croatia, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Romania (2), Sweden, Switzerland, Spain (2) and the USA. Japan and Malta are present in the business area of gamescom with a pavilion for the first time.

Attractive and informative: the congress programme for (trade) visitors

In addition to the many high quality exhibitors and the high level of internationality, the event and congress programme for trade visitors also convinces: the gamescom week starts with the top developer event on Sunday, 19 August 2018. The devcom (organiser: CMG Conferences) combines an extensive and diverse conference programme with summits, workshops and networking events, and this year once again has high quality international speakers on board. The “Respawn” conference, which focuses on indie developers, will be completely integrated into the devcom in 2018.

devcom will take place on 19 and 20 August in the Congress Centre East. Further information is available at www.devcom.global

SPOBIS Gaming & Media (organiser: SPONSORS) focuses on e-sports and marketing in the gaming industry. The international congress provides an interface between e-sports/gaming and the sports business, addresses current thematic complexes from both worlds and brings together top decision makers from the various industries. SPOBIS Gaming & Media welcomes interested visitors to the Congress Centre North on 20 August 2018. More under www.spobis-media.de/en

Just like gamescom, the gamescom congress is also celebrating its tenth anniversary this year. Over the past few years it has developed into Europe’s leading conference for the potential of computer and video games in society. This year’s gamescom congress (22 August 2018, Congress Centre North) once again offers a broad spectrum of topics and shows that games technologies can help master digitalisation in nearly all economic and social areas. One of the highlights this year is the format “Debatt(l)e Royale” – the political arena at gamescom. Hosted by the YouTube stars Lisa Sophie Laurent and Peter Smits, the General Secretaries and federal party whips Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer (CDU), Lars Klingbeil (SPD), Nicola Beer (FDP), Jörg Schindler (Die Linke) and Michael Kellner (Bündnis 90/Die Grünen) answer the most important questions involving games policy in Germany.

entertainment area: more gaming isn’t possible

From the console through PC to online and mobile games, from action, adventure and e-sports presentations to family entertainment: the entertainment area is gaming pure! gamescom will be opening its gates to everyone as of 22 August, and the entertainment area (halls 5 to 10) will then once again be the “place to be” for games fans from around the world. Many new game products can be tested out at the impressive stands of the exhibitors live and for the first time. Nearly all renowned companies of the industry from all segments will present themselves to attract attention at the world’s largest event for computer and video games. The following overview shows which exhibitors have already confirmed their participation at gamescom and where they can be found:

Hall 5.1 (among others): ALTERNATE GmbH, eSports.com, Razer, Webedia Gaming

Hall 5.2 (among others): Merchandise stands of more than 80 exhibitors

Hall 6 (among others): Bandai Namco, Electronic Arts, facebook, Ubisoft

Hall 7 (among others): Activision-Blizzard, ASUS, Sony Interactive Entertainment, Techland, Travian Games, Yoozoo Games

Hall 8 (among others): Astragon, Epic Games, Kalypso Media Group, Microsoft Xbox, THQ Nordic, Wargaming Europe

Hall 9 (among others): Amazon EU Sarl, Deep Silver, ESL/Turtle Entertainment, Nintendo, Square Enix

Hall 10.1 (among others): Indie Arena Booth, My.com, Samsung, Tencent, YouTube, gamescom gamespark powered by Honor

Hall 10.2 (among others): cosplay village, gamescom campus, gamescom jobs & karriere

family & friends: gaming lounge (Activision, ak Tronic, Deep Silver, Nintendo, Ubisoft), evangelische Jugend, Ecko Unltd. COS Cup 2018, hesher ball, retro gaming and many more.

Further information on the exhibitors of gamescom 2018 can be found in the exhibitor search under www.gamescom.global

Many events at gamescom supplement the gaming offering and once again make gamescom 2018 a 360 degree experience event. Visitors can purchase a nice souvenir in the fan shop arena. Around 80 providers of merchandise articles revolving around the theme of gaming can be admired in hall 5.2. Exciting lectures and shows await visitors on the gamescom campus stage at the gamescom campus in hall 10.2. In the jobs & career section, experts provide information on, among other things, career perspectives in the games industry, and renowned companies offer attractive IT jobs. Many universities will provide information on their programmes of study. Jugendforum NRW (North Rhine Westphalia Youth Forum) and many other institutions, facilities and companies will also provide offerings on the subjects of youth protection, media competence and games. The popular cosplay village (hall 10) with drawing garden and photo points will also take place at gamescom 2018 and offers cosplayers a fixed meeting point. Of course one can’t miss the cosplay contest, in which both amateurs and pros present their costumes live on the cosplay stage. The signing area also finds a home in hall 10.1. In the outdoor event section (P8), gamescom guests can this year look forward to Red Bull and the gamescom beach.

The organisers of the international developer conference devcom will also offer a special highlight for gamescom visitors this year. A total of four “public keynotes” will take place from Wednesday, 22 August to Friday, 24 August. Famous personalities of the games and media industry will talk about the latest themes there. The lectures are conceived of for private visitors and are freely accessible for anyone with a gamescom ticket. However, because space in the halls is limited, it pays to come early.

The whole of Cologne is celebrating: the gamescom city festival

The gamescom week traditionally concludes with a highlight: the gamescom city festival in the Cologne city centre. And this year too, Cologne will once again be full of music, street food, games, information and entertainment offerings from Friday, 24 August to Sunday, 26 August. Many national and international music acts, a street food market offering culinary delicacies from around the world and countless activities for great and small will once again make the gamescom city festival the attraction for guests and residents of the Rhine metropolis. Admission is free. The gamescom city festival is an event project of Media Kultur Köln GmbH in cooperation with prime entertainment GmbH, with the support of the City of Cologne and Koelnmesse GmbH.

Status of ticketing:

The demand for day tickets for gamescom 2018 (open to all from Wednesday, 22 to Saturday, 25. August) is growing. gamescom private visitor tickets are still available for Wednesday (22.08.), Thursday (23.08.) and Friday (24.08.). Those who want to attend the world’s largest event for computer and video games live should hurry up and secure a day ticket for Wednesday, Thursday or Friday (only a few thousand tickets available). Official gamescom tickets are only available in the online gamescom Ticket Shop. This way to the gamescom Ticket Shop www.gamescom.global

Koelnmesse – Global Competence in Digital Media, Entertainment and Mobility: Koelnmesse is an international leader in organising trade fairs in the Digital Media, Entertainment and Mobility segments. Trade fairs like photokina, dmexco, gamescom, INTERMOT and THE TIRE COLOGNE are established as leading international trade fairs and are being expanded by future-oriented formats like DIGILITY. Koelnmesse not only organises trade fairs in these areas in Cologne, but also in other growth markets like, for example, China, Singapore and Thailand, which have different areas of focus and content. These global activities offer customers of Koelnmesse tailor-made events in different markets, which guarantee sustainable and international business.

The next events:
DMEXCO, Cologne 12.09. – 13.09.2018

photokina – IMAGING UNLIMITED, Cologne 26.09. – 29.09.2018

DIGILITY – Conference & Expo on Digital Reality, Cologne 26.09. – 27.09.2018

Nathan Stevens

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I have always enjoyed playing video games and am a programming team lead for a video game company. I co-founded Gaming Cypher because I enjoy the gaming community and would like to provide the best news service around. Feel free to ask me any questions and I will make sure to get back to you quickly.