Platform holders applaud success of Leipzig GC

All three console manufacturers have praised the success of the Leipzig Games Convention after the organisers revealed that a record 183,000 visitors attended this year's show.

"So far, GC has been a great success for us," offered Martin Bachmayer, Microsoftâs head of sales and marketing.

"Weâve had an opportunity to discuss the games and accessories for the Christmas period with all our dealers. Moreover, weâve managed to do business with the main decision-makers, businesses and individual branches, and have made great headway," he continued.

Dr Bernd Fakesch, general manager of Nintendo Germany, commented: "We are more than satisfied with how GC has gone. The interest shown by the trade press in our new Wii console is enormous, and weâre delighted.

"The atmosphere in the pavilions is very harmonious. Thereâs a real cross-section of society here, including visitors of all generations."

Uwe Bassendowski, MD for SCE Germany, said: "Weâre delighted at the extremely positive response to our innovative stand concept and our products in all genres.

"The record number of visitors shows once again that GC has evolved into the leading European show for interactive entertainment. And following talks with the press and the retail sector, we are very excited about the upcoming Christmas trade."

More than 90 per cent of the 368 exhibitors from 25 countries announced that they would be returning to take part in next year's event, with

89 per cent of exhibitors claiming their aims for the show had been âwellâ or âvery wellâ met.

Leipzig Fair CEO Josef Rahmen said the show "has clearly demonstrated that itâs the European number one not just among the general public but also in the media and business sector - making it one of the leading events in the industry anywhere in the world.

"Success on this scale is unique ever since the Leipzig Fairâs new exhibition centre was opened ten years ago," he added.

And speaking of 2007âs offering, Rahmen commented: "Weâll sit down with our exhibitors to build up the programme further so that next year we can give people even more gaming fun on days with peak numbers of visitors."

Forty two per cent of visitors were aged over 20, while 17 per cent of visitors were female, according to research carried out by the IM Institute of Market Research.

Project Director Angela Schierholz offered: "The larger displays put together by exhibitors for older visitors and the female target group as well as the expansion of GC family and the new section GC Art have resulted in more visitors from different generations.

"GC has hence met one of its key aims by showing that interactive entertainment and education is relevant for society as a whole."

More than 2600 journalists attended the event, coming from 38 countries, compared to 2000 journalists last year.