The Gamescom is the most material interactive consumer electronics fair in Europe, especially video games. It has been held since 2009 at the Koelnmesse convention Centre in Cologne, Germany.
The Fair was born from the initiative of The Federal Association of Interactive Entertainment Software), the National Organization of interactive Leisure Software in Germany. Until 2008, the BIU had been in charge of collaborating in the organization of the Games Convention in Leipzig, until the decision to move to Cologne.
Numerous subjects et Les internments from all over the world present for this fair its novelties of logical and materiel of leisure. The Fair has a section open to the general public and an exclusive article for professionals in the sector (between them, topics and speakers, journalists, and developers), including technical conferences such as The Game Developers Conference Europe.
Gamescom 2019: the main announcements
For several years now, the Gamescom has been the most significant public exhibition dedicated to video games, ahead of the E3, which is primarily aimed at professionals, and the Paris Games Week, which is more commercial (pre-Christmas). For almost a week, The Trade Fair at the Cologne Exhibition Centre, Koelnmesse, welcomes several hundred thousand visitors (370,000 in 2018!) and allows us to discover many games in preview.
Gameplay for the big games already known
Above all, the Gamescom is a continuation of the E3: although there are not many AAA game ads, we often learn more about some of the headlines unveiled a few weeks earlier in Los Angeles. This 2019 edition confirms the trend, and we should discover more on Cyberpunk 2077, Gears 5, Jedi Fallen Order, Fifa 20, or the newly announced Need for Speed Heat, to name just a few. Although Sony will not hold more conferences at the Gamescom than at the E3, we can hope to discover a little more exclusive PS4 games like Death Stranding, Ghost of Tsushima or even, let’s dream a little, The Last of Us Part II.
Google Stadia
For its part, Google has a card to play with its cloud service gaming Stadia and will thus hold a special conference just before the opening of the salon. A stronger emphasis on the games may be expected.
Origin
The Gamescom was officially unveiled in February 20081, under the leadership of the BIU, the German union of video game publishers.
This exhibition was created following the 2007 Games Convention, which, despite a record attendance rate, left a mixed impression on the organizers and professionals who had come for the event. Indeed, as every year, the Games Convention took place in the city of Leipzig, whose hotel capacities are proving insufficient due to the popularity of the show. Also, due to the very high number of visitors (about 185,000 in 2007), the fairways were quickly saturated. The 2008 edition only confirmed this trend, with an even more significant number of visitors, 203,000 persons2.
When it was created, Gamescom planned to be held for the first time in Cologne in 2009, during the same week as the Games Convention. However, it was canceled in January 2009 to make way for a Games Convention Online3, supposed to be an interactive event taking place only on the Internet, and focusing on the online game.
Highlights
Sony Computer Entertainment Europe announced PlayStation 3 Slim, a version of its thinnest and lightest console that would be introduced to the market on September 1, 2009. Firmware 3.0 for PlayStation 3 was also announced, amplifying PlayStation Network functionality. Sony announced that le magazine video European would see the light in November 2009. Sony also announced that the PlayStation Portable would feature smaller games (below 100mb) in ‘mini’ format and could also download comics in December 2009. A promise was announced for the referee of a free match for PSP Go.
Microsoft Game Studios announced Fable III for 2010. Microsoft also gave like to its intention to offer Fable II Xbox Live Marketplace in five chapters, the first of which would be free.