The Games Convention (sometimes called the Leipzig Games Convention, and abbreviated as GC) is an annual video game event in Leipzig, Germany, first held in 2002. Besides videogames, the event also covers Infotainment, Hardware and Edutainment. Its concept was created by the Leipziger Messe (Leipzig Fair) in cooperation with Bundesverband für Interaktive Unterhaltungssoftware (German Federal Association for Entertainment Software) amongst others.

With 183,000 visitors, 2,600 journalists and 368 exhibitors from 25 countries in 2006, the Games Convention rivals the Tokyo Game Show as the biggest games event in the world. By comparison, both the Leipzig and Tokyo shows, where gamers of all ages can visit the show floor, are three times the size of the trade-only 2006 E3 show in Los Angeles. The Business Centre at Leipzig is reserved for professional visitors. In 2008, the Games Convention had a record of 203.000 visitors.

The conference takes place in a sprawling modern complex of exhibition halls in Leipzig, Germany.

To help identify younger visitors, coloured bracelets are handed out to attendees, indicating their age: "12 years and older" (green), "16 years and older" (blue) and "18 years and older" (red). These colours correspond to the age indicators used by the USK, the German version of PEGI or ESRB.

History

The Leipzig Games Convention was first held in 2002. In 2005 the convention achieved visitor numbers of 134,000, which had risen to 185,000 by 2007.

The Games Convention is usually held in the last week of August. The Games Convention 2007 took place from August 23 to August 26, 2007. It started one day earlier for press members, exhibitors and professionals.

In 2008, the Industry consortium BIU announced not to back a Games Convention in 2009 in Leipzig, preferring a newly to be established convention held in Cologne under the name of GAMESCom. Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft are members of the BIU representing 12 companies. Nevertheless there will be a Games Convention in 2009 supported by the Free State of Saxony and the city of Leipzig.

The 2009 Games Convention will take place from August 19-23.

Asian expansion

An Asian edition of the Games Convention was announced for 2007. It was held in Singapore starting September 6, 2007. The current title of the expo is Games Convention Asia 2007.

The Games Convention is facing a rising demand in Asia.

Statistics

Year	Visitors	Exhibitors	Professional visitors	Journalists	Exhibition size
2002	80,000	166	3,000	750	30,000m²
2003	92,000	207	3,500	1,300	42,000m²
2004	105,000	258	4,200	1,700	55,000m²
2005	134,000	280	6,200	2,000	80,000m²
2006	183,000	367	7,000	2,400	90,000m²
2007	185,000	503	12,300	3,400	112,500m²
2008	203,000	547	14,600	3,800	115,000m²

International Games Convention Developers Conference

The Games Convention Developers Conference (GCDC) is the largest game design and development conference in Europe, with 950 attendees in 2008.

The GCDC is held in a building in the same complex in Leipzig where the GC takes place, typically just before the opening of the main show. During the conference attendees gain ideas and inspiration from the presentation of new tools and methods, and from a variety of sessions discussing both the craft and the business of game design and development. The conference is open to both game professionals, students and press.

As the major European conference, GCDC draws top speakers from all over the world. Presenters in recent years include Bob Bates, Louis Castle, Don Daglow, Peter Molyneux, Bill Roper, Bruce Shelley, David Perry and Will Wright.

Speakers

2007

Notable speakers from the GCDC 2007.

• Julian Eggebrecht, from Factor 5, USA
• Peter Molyneux, from Lionhead Studios, UK
• Michael Capps, Mark Rein from Epic Games, USA
• Mark Morris, from Introversion Software, UK
• Ken Rolston, from Big Huge Games, USA
• Cathy Campos, from Panache, UK
• Doug Whatley, from Break Away, USA
• Michael Lewis, from Cryptic Studios, USA
• George Bain from the UK
• Christopher Schmitz, from 10Tacle Studios, Germany
• Michael Wimmer, from The University of Vienna, Austria
• Alexander Fernandez, from Streamline Studios, The Netherlands
• Amir Taaki, from Crystal Space, Finland
• Jeff Strain, from ArenaNet, USA
• Vlad Ihora, from Telia Sonera, Sweden
• Barbara Lippe, from Avaloop, Austria
• Pamela Kato, from The GamerX, USA
• Uwe Nikl, from Level 3, UK
• Matt Firor, from Ultra Mega Games, USA
• Konstantin Ewald, from Osborne Clark, Germany
• John Smedley, from Sony Online Entertainment, USA
• Cindy Armstrong, from Webzen, USA
• Jennifer MacLean, from Comcast Interactive Media, USA
• Chris Mottes, from Deadline Games, Denmark
• Jeff Hickman, from EA Mythic, USA
• Jeffrey Steefel, from Turbine, Inc., USA
• Don Daglow, from Stormfront Studios, USA
• Matt Firor from the USA
• Jason Manley, from Massive Black, USA
• Patric Palm, from Hansoft, Sweden

2008

• David Perry, from Acclaim Games, USA
• Cevat Yerli, from Crytek, Germany
• Mike Capps, from Epic Games, USA

Press day and press conferences

The Games Convention opens for professional visitors, such as developers and members of the press, one day before the event opens to the public. Many developers and publishers hold official press conferences on this day.

Symphonic Game Music Concert

As part of the Games Convention, on the evening of the first day of the Games Convention, a grand Symphonic Game Music Concert is held in the Leipzig Gewandhaus. Well-known game music composers such as Nobuo Uematsu, Michiru Yamane, Akira Yamaoka, Jason Hayes, Rob Hubbard, Chris Hülsbeck and Yuzo Koshiro are among those who have attended.

See also

• Leipziger Messe
• Tokyo Game Show
• E3
• Penny Arcade Expo
• Entertainment for All
• GAMESCom

External links

• Official website of the Games Convention
• Games Convention Developer Conference
• Site of the Symphonic Game Music Concerts
• Leipziger Messe
• Games Convention Asia official website
• Video Games Convention 23rd August 2008 in Leipzig, Germany.

References

• Roads lead to Singapore in September for videogame industry
• Suggested CICC events
• Gamasutra.com: Games Convention Asia 2007 Details Revealed
• Heise.de: Facts about the Games Convention 2007 (german)