Play it's your nature: the GC with a new look

GC
(24 - 27 August 2006)
Press and Trade Visitor Day: 23 August 2006




The rate of registrations for GC 2006 is excellent, with considerably more exhibitors already having notified their attendance than in the same period for 2005. Overall, the display area is expanding by six per cent to 85,000 square metres (gross). As the meeting place for retailers, developers, publishers, manufacturers and service providers, the GC Business Center (b2b) is already almost booked out.

"We're extremely happy with this interim result four months before the event begins. It confirms our position as the industry's leading event in Europe", says project director Angela Schierholz.

In 2005, 134,000 people flocked to the Exhibition Centre from all over Europe to try out the latest products from the year's total of 280 exhibitors.

Play it's your nature. The GC is given a new look

"Playing is in people's nature - whether young or old, male or female. We want to make even more people enthusiastic about the GC and introduce them to the diversity of interactive digital entertainment. That's why we have completely reworked the look of the GC and are putting fun, adventure and emotions at the heart of the new campaign", says Angela Schierholz. The new slogan for the fair is "Play it's your nature".

Exclusive day for the media and trade visitors

On 23 August, a day before the exhibition halls open to the public, representatives of the media and business can find out about all the new innovations in peace and try out all the products at their leisure.

On 24 August at 9.00, the fair begins for all those who enjoy playing and gaming. From 9.00 to 18.00, the exhibition halls will draw the crowds with numerous world and European premieres and a huge programme of events. In fact on Saturday, the GC stays open till 20.00.

Experience the game at GC family 2006!

Interactive experiences combined with play, fun and information on media literacy are at the heart of the GC family as the entertainment, education and knowledge forum for the whole family. A new lay-out concept awaits visitors with a 5,000 square metre 3D board game in which they themselves become the pieces on the board. Indicators on the hall floor and from the hall ceiling take visitors into the theme-based exhibition sections "Children/Family Games", "Learning and Knowledge" as well as "Media Literacy". The individual exhibitor stands function as "playing courts" with KidsGames, family entertainment, education and knowledge software, application programmes and hardware. The hall game is supplemented by action areas where, for example, sport moves from virtuality back to reality and the whole family are invited to join in.

"We particularly want to offer parents and teachers the opportunity to use the many action areas or hands-on options to familiarise themselves with games, educational and school software and hardware - in a simple, accessible and entertaining way. We want to facilitate media literacy playfully", explains Angela Schierholz. The show stage will be a key element here as the venue for a large number of games shows, talks on the subject of protection of the young and on informative entertainment as well as the event "What is actually ". Several times a day, the various games genres and their development will be introduced during an interactive show. Using PC and video games, developers and publishers will explain what is typical of a genre and how it can be distinguished from other types of games.

For teachers from Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia, attendance at the GC family 2006 is again officially recognised as a careers training measure for which a certificate will be issued. Last year, about 300 teachers took advantage of this rather different kind of careers training.

Parents can save money: when accompanied by their children, the parent ticket costs parents only 7 euros instead of 10.

Developer sector from all over the world meets up at the GCDC

This year's GCDC - Europe's leading developer conference - is even bigger and more international. From 21 to 23 August 2006, hundreds of conference delegates and speakers are expected from at home and abroad. "Within the last four years, the GCDC has established itself as the industry's most important European platform. The number of attendees from both Germany and abroad has risen steadily", explains Angela Schierholz.

The key topics are the areas of development, business and science for which a specific international keynote address will be presented in each case. Games guru Bob Bates (chairman IGDA) has again agreed to take part as one of the speakers. Others who will be sharing their experiences with conference delegates include David Freeman (president, Freeman Group) and Don L. Daglow Stormfront (president, CEO, Stormfront Studios).

As from 18 April 2006, attendees can register for the conference online at www.gcdc-germany.com.

Honky Tonk® Music Festival meets GC

On 26 August, all those who fancy shaking a leg after their day at the fair will have plenty of opportunities this year. For the first time during the GC, there will be a special edition in 2006 of the legendary Leipzig Honky Tonk® Music Festival. At around 50 venues and on three open-air stages, bands and DJs will be presenting handmade music in all possible style genres: from pop, rock, Latin, funk, beat to soul, jazz and even party hits. All information on the Music Festival will be available on the Internet from the end of July at www.honky-tonk.de.

Contact for the press:
Susanne Heusler
Press Officer
Phone: +49 (0) 341 678 8184
Fax: +49 (0) 341 678 8182
E-mail: s.heusler@leipziger-messe.de

Contact for exhibitors/visitors:
Angela Schierholz
Project Director
Phone: +49 (0) 341 678 8281
Fax: +49 (0) 341 678 8282
E-mail: a.schierholz@leipziger-messe.de

Internet:
GC on the Internet:
http://www.gc-germany.com
http://www.gcdc-germany.com

The Leipzig Fair on the Internet:
http://www.leipziger-messe.de