The 4-1-1 on Leipzig

Numbers are a very reliable source of data because they have a fixed value. Like how the number one can never be the number two and vice versa. Using numbers, we can immediately tell how the Games Convention at Leipzig is going.

This year there are 32% more exhibitors; 13% more exhibition space; 200 World, European and German premieres; 150, 000 expected visitors and over 2,500 journalists from 30 countries. Needless to say,  Europe’s leading exhibition devoted to interactive entertainment, infotainment and edutainment is opening with some record-breaking figures. “Over the next four days we expect to welcome far more than 150,000 visitors from all over Europe.” says Josef Rahmen, CEO of the Leipzig Fair.

In August 2005, 136,000 visitors came to Leipzig to size up 189 European and German premières presented by 280 exhibitors from 15 countries. GC 2005 certainly hit the headlines with some 2,000 journalists from 28 countries (up from 1,700 journalists from 21 countries in 2004) reporting from Europe’s leading public exhibition and trade show focusing on interactive entertainment.

The full article awaits after the jump!

Numbers are a very reliable source of data because they have a fixed value. Like how the number one can never be the number two and vice versa. Using numbers, we can immediately tell how the Games Convention at Leipzig is going.

This year there are 32% more exhibitors; 13% more exhibition space; 200 World, European and German premieres; 150, 000 expected visitors and over 2,500 journalists from 30 countries. Needless to say,  EuropeÂ’s leading exhibition devoted to interactive entertainment, infotainment and edutainment is opening with some record-breaking figures. “Over the next four days we expect to welcome far more than 150,000 visitors from all over Europe.” says Josef Rahmen, CEO of the Leipzig Fair.

In August 2005, 136,000 visitors came to Leipzig to size up 189 European and German premières presented by 280 exhibitors from 15 countries. GC 2005 certainly hit the headlines with some 2,000 journalists from 28 countries (up from 1,700 journalists from 21 countries in 2004) reporting from Europe’s leading public exhibition and trade show focusing on interactive entertainment.

Stellar figures aside, there are other things you can look forward at Leipzig. Will Wright, the creator of Sims, SimCity and SPORE, and one of the most successful designers of interactive entertainment in the planet, will deliver the opening speech at GC. “GC has by now become one of the most important shows for interactive entertainment in the world. IÂ’m absolutely thrilled by the prospect of meeting the expected 150,000 fans at the Leipzig Fair. Moreover, I feel very honoured to be holding the speech, in which I plan to put to the audience some of my ideas regarding the future of digital entertainment,” he said.

There’s also the matter of the sell-out opening concert of what else but computer game soundtracks at the Gewandhaus concert hall. The famous Prague FILMharmonic Orchestra will be performing under the baton of conductor Andy Brick. Visitors will be treated to a world première performance of Final Fantasy as well as Two Worlds and Anno 1701, not to mention the classic The Revenge of Shinobi. While soloist Daniela Kosinova on the GewandhausÂ’s magnificent Schuke organ will perform the soundtrack of Castlevania.

If classical music is not your cup of tea, you can also drop by the Honky Tonk music festival happening on the 26th. It will happen around 50 venues as well as on three open-air stages, bands and DJs will be performing live music in a plethora of styles ranging from pop, rock, Latin, funk and beat to soul, jazz and party hits. But if you simply must go to every party there is to satisfy the party animal in you, then you can rub elbows with international stars from the worlds of music and show business at The Dome 39 – the superstars’ megaparty – will be held on the Friday in Hall 1 at the Leipzig Fair exhibition centre. Tickets for The Dome can also be used to enter GC on Friday. To receive their exhibition passes, ticket holders simply need to report to the info counters in the Glass Hall.

In its fifth year, GC is turning its attention to art. This year the exhibitions Pong.Mythos, Machinima and Digital Beauties/Character Design are being added to the programme, together with a display on the Burg Giebichenstein College of Art and Design in Halle and an artist capturing a motif from Unreal on an area of the pavilion floor 12 square metres in size. As in many areas of GC, visitors can take a hands-on approach here too: each day workshops will be held in the Machinima and Character Design areas, offering interested newcomers the opportunity to take up a new hobby.

While we’re on the subject of hobbies, on 26 and 27 of August, GermanyÂ’s best case modders will be competing in the 3rd GC CasemodMasters. The competition is being organised by the Leipzig Fair in conjunction with the two biggest community websites in Germany: casemodder.de and easy-mod.de. Those that want a different kind of thrill can try the many fun sport areas and special shows that include the Formula One simulator, the electric go-kart track, beach volleyball and the halfpipe.

The Games Convention at Leipzig goes beyond games as it brings families together through GC family 2006, the entertainment, education and knowledge forum for all the family. Moms and dads will have a lot of fun with their kids playing in the  5,000 square metre 3D board game in which they themselves become the pieces on the board. Exhibitors are divided into themes of Children/Family Games, Learning and Knowledge, and Media Literacy. Parents can also instill the value of charity into their kids by participating in “You can get it on eBay” this yearÂ’s GC/eBay Charity Auctions.

GC visitors will be feverishly bidding in a series of tense auctions held on the stages of Activision, Nintendo, GIGA Television and Microsoft, where some valuable items put up by the exhibitors will be coming under the hammer. During the closing minutes of the auctions, GC visitors will be bidding against eBay members at home. The proceeds this year will be donated to the Berlin-based charity Verein Arche (Ark Association).

If there’s any number that best describes the Games Convention at Leipzig, it will be 100 – as in 100% success.