Koelnmesse GmbH and game – the association of the German games industry establish partnership with ICEX Spain Trade and Investment and AEVI, supported by DEV for gamescom 2018.
Spain is the partner country of gamescom 2018. This means that a European country (Canada in 2017) will once again present itself from 21 to 25 August 2018 at the leading business platform of the games industry in Cologne. With Spain as the official partner country, the organiser Koelnmesse and the sponsor game – association of the German games industry are placing their trust in the fourth largest gaming market in Europe after Germany, the United Kingdom and France. For the first time in the ten-year history of gamescom, with Spain a partner country is presenting itself both in the business and in the entertainment area.
As the official partner country of gamescom 2018, the presence of Spain will this year be larger than ever before: the partner country has more than 100 square metres at its disposal in hall 4.1. 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 gaming scene and hospitality live, and are cordially invited to visit the partner country in hall 10.1. A total of 16 companies will be represented at the group stands of the partner country, including Altered Matter, Badland Games Publishing, Blade, Estudio Ábrego, Gammera Nest, Gato Salvaje Studio, Herobeat Studios, Localsoft, Plastic SCM, Playcom, PlayGiga, Playstark Games, Raiser Games, Sila Games, Stage Clear Studios and Therion Games. 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 gaming market in Spain and an overview of Spanish companies from the games industry. Details on the programme will be announced in the context of the press conference of the partner country on the first day of the trade fair (21 August, time and place to follow).
“With Spain we were this year not only able to recruit a partner country for gamescom that is one of the largest markets in Europe, but also a country with a lively and creative developer scene and games culture. Like everywhere in Europe, and fortunately also in Germany, the Spanish government is currently committed to increased support for the local games industry. Here too, Spain and gamescom suit one another especially well this year”, says Felix Falk, managing director of game, the sponsor of gamescom.
“We are pleased to have won Spain as partner country for gamescom 2018, and are thus able to present one of the leading games markets in Europe to an international public. Spain as the partner country, underlines the function of gamescom as the number one platform of the games industry in Europe. Due to the strong presence of Spain at gamescom, and with ICEX as a partner, we are convinced that we will be able to create synergies and generate additional potential on the exhibitor and visitor sides”, explains Katharina C. Hamma, Chief Operating Officer of Koelnmesse GmbH.
“At ICEX we have been supporting the Spanish videogames sector for many years and we have every confidence in the talent and potential of our companies. Being partner country of Gamescom gives us a great opportunity to focus on the exceptional games Spain has produced in recent months and on upcoming launches. gamescom will bring our companies the required visibility and the chance to win international recognition”, says Jorge Alvar, Director for Infrastructure, Health and ICT at ICEX Spain Trade and Investment.
ICEX has already been successfully supporting the presence of Spanish companies at gamescom since 2011. The mission of ICEX is to promote the growth of Spanish companies abroad. Under the brand of Games from Spain, the institution is supporting the participation of Spanish developers, publishers and services providers at gamescom 2018 in collaboration with AEVI, the Spanish video games association. Also DEV, the Spanish association for the development and publication of games and entertainment software is supporter of the initiative.
About the Spanish games industry:
The video game sector in Spain is a young and innovative industry with global vision and high growth potential. More than 5,000 programmers, artists, game designers and entrepreneurs work here in 450 companies and 130 new studios. The industry turnover reached 617 million euros in 2016 – a 21 percent increase over 2015. Annual growth of 23.6 percent and the achievement of a turnover of 1.44 billion Euro in 2020 is thus forecast for the coming years (Source: ICEX).
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 – The Global Business and Innovation Platform, 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
Related: gamescom Saturday Tickets Sold Out for Private Visitors
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