GC 2007 set to expand: bigger area, more trade fair, more fun & games

GC takes up new topics: education, training and careers, art and culture

News by GamesIndustry International Contributor

Published on April 12, 2007

GC (GAMES CONVENTION) 2007

(23 - 26 August 2007)

Press & Trade Visitor Day: 22 August 2007

Leipzig, 12 April 2007

Only a few months to go till the start of the GC, Europe's summer experience of the year. All the industry's leading companies have already announced their participation at the GC. 390 exhibitors (2006: 368 exhibitors) are expected to be at Europe's leading fair for interactive entertainment, info and edutainment. The GC's area is expected to expand by 28 per cent to 115,000 square metres (gross). "The GC has grown steadily in recent years, both in its area and in exhibitor and visitor numbers. The current level of trade visitor and exhibitor registrations confirms our assumption that we will achieve considerable increases again at the next fair. We have responded to this with a change in our hall concept", says Josef Rahmen, managing director at Leipziger Messe GmbH.

Adding to the gaming fun, the outdoor area is being actively included for the first time as a display and event space. The opening hours are also changing this year. The exhibition halls are open on Thursday (23 August) and Sunday (26 August) from 9.00 to 18.00, and on the Friday and Saturday from 9.00 to 20.00.

GC Games + Entertainment is on show in the exhibition halls 2, 3 and 4. Visitors can again try out and experience fantastic innovations and numerous German, European and world premieres from the world of interactive entertainment. Hall 5 is a little quieter with GC family and GC art.

This year, furthermore, the Congress Center Leipzig (CCL) and Hall 1 together with the GC Business Center provide the meeting place for national and international exhibitors, retailers, developers and journalists. Businesses have ideal facilities and enough space to offer information on their own products and to make new business contacts.

Tickets now on sale for computer game music concert

Fans of computer game music can look forward to 90 minutes non-stop music this year. The concert will not be part of the official GC opening, but a public performance to be given at 20.00 on 22 August in the Gewandhaus in Leipzig. Conducted by Maestro Andy Brick, the FILMharmonic Orchestra Prague is this time including soundtracks from StarCraft, Final Fantasy IX, Ragnorak 2, Stranglehold, Metal Gear Solid 2: Snake Eater, Secret of Mana, The Abbey, Turrican 2, as well as popular classics in a Commodore 64 and Commodore Amiga medley.

The absolute highlight: appearances by the Japanese star opera singer Izumi Masuda and singer Conny Kollet from Germany. Tickets at prices from 14.50 euros to 41.50 euros are available at www.gewandhaus.de and www.gc-germany.com.

GC family: playing to learn made easy

Interactive experience together with play, fun and information all about media literacy are at the heart of the GC family, the forum for entertainment, learning and know-how for the whole family.

The exhibition's key subject sections "Children/Family Games", "Learning and Knowledge" as well as "Media Literacy" are brought together in the "Family Entertainment" area. New features are the sections on "Multimedial Education", "Art and Culture" and "Training and Careers".

"We want this new concept to link together more strongly our target groups and educational contents. The new section "Multimedial Education" includes training events, discussions and information material on subjects such as classroom and learning software", explains project director Peggy Schönbeck. "Art and Culture" builds on the special "GC Art" exhibition introduced in 2006, aiming in various events to show the "digital game" as a modern cultural asset. Finally, "Training and Careers" will introduce job opportunities in the games and multimedia industry.

As in 2006, visitors to the "Family Entertainment" section can again expect a 5,000 square metre 3D board game with themselves as the pieces in the game. The individual exhibitors' stands act as "playing courts", games and educational software can be tested on 50 PCs in six play zones, the "Family LAN" is again networked for games played together and in competition.

Once again, the central feature is the stage, presenting many game shows, talks on protection of the young as well as informative entertainment and edutainment. Several times a day, an interactive show introduces different game genres and their development.

For teachers from Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia, attendance at the GC family 2007 is once again officially recognised as a careers training measure and comes with a special certificate. Last year saw many teachers make use of this different kind of post-entry careers training event.

The train now departing: Deutsche Bahn to the GC

Special trains for exhibitors and visitors

For the Games Convention 2007, the German rail company Deutsche Bahn is offering a special service for exhibitors and trade visitors to Leipzig. It's easy and affordable to get to the trade fair city from any DB station in Germany. And at a one-off special price: return fare to Leipzig is 89 euros 2nd class and 139 euros 1st class.

The Deutsche Bahn offer has been available since 1 March on the hotline 01805 311153 taking the keyword "Games Convention". Payment is simply part of the same process by direct debit or by credit card. The ticket can then be obtained at a ticket machine or sent by post to a home address. The special feature: tickets are valid between 19 and 28 August 2007, giving exhibitors and trade visitors flexibility to plan their stay in Leipzig without depending on specific trains.

The Deutsche Bahn is again providing special trains for visitors. On 23 August, a train takes GC fans quickly and easily from Munich to Leipzig and on 25 August, a special train is added from Cologne and Wiesbaden respectively for the journey to Leipzig. Tickets including admission vouchers start at 56 euros for the Munich-Leipzig route, and at 53 euros for Cologne - or Wiesbaden - to Leipzig.

GC Developers Conference - the international developer industry meets again in Leipzig

>From 20 to 22 August 2007, the internationally leading experts from the publisher and developer industry get together at Europe's most important and biggest developer conference, the GC Developers Conference (GCDC). Last year's GCDC was attended by 650 conference delegates from 20 countries.

International keynote addresses, workshops, panel discussions and well-known speakers from the computer, console and mobile device sectors provide insider know-how on the current trends, together with information on future issues. The three days of the GCDC are dedicated to the programme streams "Development", "Business" and "Science" and also give attendees many opportunities for networking. The key topics include "Mobile Gaming", "Server Technology" "Expert Meets Students", "Made in Europe" and the premiere of "Games Meet Movies". Developers, publishers and service providers also introduce themselves at the conference, providing a wide-ranging overview of the industry and direct contact opportunities.

"The specialisation of GCDC is consistently subject to development. This means that this year for the first time, the conference offers extended business solutions such as workshops and concepts on start-up opportunities on the European and North American market", explains project director Frank Sliwka. Registration for the conference is available as of now at www.gcdc.eu.

Exclusive day for the media and trade visitors

On 22 August, a day before the exhibition halls open to the general public, representatives of the media and the industry discover all the innovations and try out all the products in peace and quiet.

GC 2007:

Exhibitors (expected): 390

Area: 115,000 sq m

Dates (general public):

23. - 26.8.2007

Exclusive Press & Trade

Visitor Day: 22.8.2007

Contacts for the press:

Susanne Tenzler-Heusler, Press Officer

Phone: +49 (0) 341 678 8184

Fax: +49 (0) 341 678 8182

E-mail: s.tenzler-heusler@leipziger-messe.de