View source for Games Convention

{{redirect|GamesCon|the [[trade fair]] for [[interactive games]] in [[Cologne]]|Gamescom|other uses|Games Convention (disambiguation)}}
{{short description|Former annual video game event}}
{{Infobox Convention
| name               = Games Convention
| image              = [[File:Games Convention Logo.png|256px]]
| caption            = Logo
| status             = Inactive
| genre              = [[Video games]]
| venue              = 
| location           = [[Leipzig]], [[Germany]]
| country            = Germany
| first              = 2002
| last               = 2008 (online until 2010)
| organizer          = Leipziger Messe, Bundesverband für Interaktive Unterhaltungssoftware
| attendance         = 203,000 (2008)
| website            = 
}}
The '''Games Convention''' ('''GC'''), sometimes called the '''Leipzig Games Convention''',  was an annual [[video game]] event held in [[Leipzig]], [[Germany]], first held in 2002. Besides video games, the event also covers [[Infotainment]], Hardware, and [[Edutainment]]. Its concept was created by the ''Leipziger Messe'' (Leipzig Fair) in cooperation with ''Bundesverband für Interaktive Unterhaltungssoftware'' (German Federal Association for Entertainment Software) amongst others.  The 2010 Gamescon was held August 18 to August 22. 

With 183,000 visitors, 2,600 journalists, and 368 exhibitors from 25 countries in 2006, the Games Convention was the second biggest gaming event in the world, together with the [[Tokyo Game Show]], later only superseded by [[Gamescom]], which is also held in [[Cologne|Germany]]. By comparison, both the Leipzig and [[Tokyo]] shows, where gamers of all ages could visit the show floor, are three times the size of the trade-only 2006 [[Electronic Entertainment Expo|E3]] show in [[Los Angeles]]. The Business Centre at Leipzig was reserved for professional visitors. In 2008, the Games Convention had a record of 203,000 visitors.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080828230508/http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=19964 Gamasutra: Attendance Up For Leipzig’s Games Convention 2008]</ref> The conference took place in a sprawling modern complex of exhibition halls in Leipzig.

To help identify younger visitors, coloured bracelets were handed out to attendees, indicating their age: "12 years and older" (green), "16 years and older" (blue), and "18 years and older" (red). These colours corresponded to the age indicators used by the [[Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle|USK]], the German version of [[Pan European Game Information|PEGI]] or [[Entertainment Software Rating Board|ESRB]].

In April 2011, it was announced that GCO 2011 would not take place.

== History ==
[[Image:Leipzig Neue Messe.jpg|thumb|256px|The western wings and central hall of the new ''Leipziger Messe'' Fairgrounds. The east wings and business centre are off-camera to the right. The central hall alone has been described as being large enough to enclose a World Cup football pitch.]]
The Leipzig Games Convention was first held in 2002. In 2005, the convention achieved visitor numbers of 134,000, which had risen to 185,000 by 2007.

The Games Convention was usually held in the last week of August. The Games Convention 2007 took place from 23 August to 26 August 2007. It started one day earlier for press members, exhibitors, and professionals.

In 2008, the Industry consortium BIU announced not to back a Games Convention in 2009 in Leipzig, preferring a newly to be established convention held in [[Cologne]] under the name of [[Gamescom]]. [[Sony]], [[Nintendo]], and [[Microsoft]] are members of the BIU, representing 12 companies.

On 29 January 2009, the ''Leipziger Messe'' (Leipzig Fair) announced that in 2009 there would be no Games Convention as in 2008, but a new fair called "Games Convention Online" from 31 July to 2 August 2009. It featured mainly browser games and other online and casual games.<ref>[http://www.spiegel.de/netzwelt/spielzeug/0,1518,604284,00.html Spiegel.de: Games Convention Online in 2009 (german)]</ref>

=== Asian expansion ===
An [[Asia]]n edition of the Games Convention, called [[Games Convention Asia]] was first held in 2007. It was a yearly convention held in [[Singapore]], starting on 6 September 2007. However, it has since become defunct as of 2010 when it was officially announced that the convention would no longer be held.

== Statistics ==

=== Games Convention ===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%"
! Year !! Visitors !! Exhibitors !! Professional visitors !! Journalists !! Exhibition size
|-
|2002||80,000||166||3,000||750||30,000m²
|-
|2003||92,000||207||3,500||1,300||42,000m²
|-
|2004||105,000||258||4,200||1,700||55,000m²
|-
|2005||134,000||280||6,200||2,000||80,000m²
|-
|2006||183,000||367||7,000||2,400||90,000m²
|-
|2007||185,000||503||12,300 ||3,400 ||112,500m²
|-
|2008||203,000||547||14,600||3,800||115,000m²
|}

=== Games Convention Online ===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:90%"
! Year !! Visitors !! Exhibitors !! Professional visitors !! Journalists !! Exhibition size
|-
|2009||43,000||74||1,000||500||40,000m²
|-
|2010||-||-||630||-||-
|}

== International ''Games Convention Developers Conference'' ==
The ''Games Convention Developers Conference'' (GCDC) was the largest game design and development conference in Europe, with 950 attendees in 2008.[https://web.archive.org/web/20061025064311/http://www.leipziger-messe.de/LeMMon/PRESSE.NSF/messewebeng_gc/CEDF72E7B7422CA7C12571D7004CC4A9?OpenDocument&lang=en&style=gc]{{Failed verification|date=November 2013}}

The GCDC was held in a building in the same complex in Leipzig where the GC took place, typically just before the opening of the main show. During the conference attendees gained ideas and inspiration from the presentation of new tools and methods, and from a variety of sessions discussing both the craft and the business of game design and development. The conference was open to both game professionals, students and press.

As the major European conference, GCDC drew top speakers from all over the world. Presenters in recent years included [[Bob Bates]], [[Louis Castle]], [[Don Daglow]], [[Peter Molyneux]], [[Bill Roper (video game producer)|Bill Roper]], [[Bruce Shelley]], [[David Perry (game developer)|David Perry]] and [[Will Wright (game designer)|Will Wright]].

=== Speakers ===

==== 2007 ====
Notable speakers from the GCDC 2007.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.beyond3d.com/content/news/359 |title=Beyond 3D speaker list |access-date=2007-12-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110110110932/http://www.beyond3d.com/content/news/359 |archive-date=2011-01-10 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

* [[Julian Eggebrecht]], from [[Factor 5]], [[United States]]
* [[Peter Molyneux]], from [[Lionhead Studios]], [[England]]
* [[Mike Capps (executive)|Michael Capps]], [[Mark Rein (software executive)|Mark Rein]] from [[Epic Games]], United States
* [[Mark Morris (game designer)|Mark Morris]], from [[Introversion Software]], England
* [[Ken Rolston]], from [[Big Huge Games]], United States
* Cathy Campos, from [[Panache]], England
* Doug Whatley, from [[BreakAway Games|BreakAway]], United States
* [[Michael Lewis (game developer)|Michael Lewis]], from [[Cryptic Studios]], United States
* George Bain, England
* Christopher Schmitz, from 10Tacle Studios, [[Germany]]
* Michael Wimmer, from [[University of Vienna|The University of Vienna]], [[Austria]]
* Alexander Fernández, from [[Streamline Studios]], [[Netherlands]]
* [[Amir Taaki]], from [[Crystal Space]], England
* [[Jeff Strain]], from [[ArenaNet]], United States
* Vlad Ihora, from [[Telia Sonera]], [[Sweden]]
* Barbara Lippe, from Avaloop, Austria
* Pamela Kato, from The GamerX, United States
* Uwe Nikl, from [[Level 3 Communications|Level 3]], England
* Matt Firor, from Ultra Mega Games, United States
* Konstantin Ewald, from Osborne Clark, Germany
* [[John Smedley (video games)|John Smedley]], from [[Sony Online Entertainment]], United States
* Cindy Armstrong, from [[Webzen]], United States
* [[Jennifer MacLean]], from [[Comcast Interactive Media]], United States
* [[Chris Mottes]], from [[Deadline Games]], [[Denmark]]
* [[Jeff Hickman]], from [[EA Mythic]], United States
* [[Jeffrey Steefel]], from [[Turbine, Inc.]], United States
* [[Don Daglow]], from [[Stormfront Studios]], United States
* Matt Firor from the United States
* Jason Manley, from Massive Black, United States
* Patric Palm, from Hansoft, Sweden
* [[Jonathan Wendel]], from [[Fata1ity]], United States

==== 2008 ====
* [[David Perry (game developer)|David Perry]], from [[Acclaim Games]], United States
* [[Cevat Yerli]], from [[Crytek]], Germany
* [[Mike Capps (executive)|Mike Capps]], from [[Epic Games]], United States
* [[Paul Barnett (video game designer)|Paul Barnett]], from [[Mythic Entertainment]], United States

== Press day and press conferences ==
The Games Convention opened for professional visitors, such as developers and members of the press, one day before the event opened to the public. Many developers and publishers held official press conferences on this day.

== Symphonic Game Music Concert ==
{{main article|Symphonic Game Music Concert}}
As part of the Games Convention, on the evening of the first day of the Games Convention, a grand [[Symphonic Game Music Concert]] was held in the Leipzig [[Gewandhaus]]. Well-known game music composers such as [[Nobuo Uematsu]], [[Michiru Yamane]], [[Akira Yamaoka]], [[Jason Hayes]], [[Rob Hubbard]], [[Chris Hülsbeck]] and [[Yuzo Koshiro]] were among those who have attended.

==European Nations Championship==
{{update|date=June 2016}}
The European Nations Championship has taken place since 2004. It is a national team competition, where it determines which European nation has the best e-athletes. The ENC holds events in ''Counter-Strike'', ''Counter-Strike: Source'', ''Warcraft III'', ''FIFA'', ''Call of Duty 4'', and ''DotA''. The final takes place every year in August at the Games Convention in [[Leipzig]], [[Germany]].

{| class="wikitable" 
! colspan="4" style="background:#efefef" | '''ESL European National Championship''' 
|-
! Discipline
! width="180px" | Winner
! width="180px" | Second
! width="180px" | Third
|- 
| colspan="4" style="background:#ffffff" align="center" | '''2004'''
|- style="background:#ffffff"
| ''[[Counter-Strike]]''
| style="background:#F7F6A8;" | '''{{SWE}}'''
| style="background:#DCE5E5;" | '''{{AUT}}'''
| style="background:#FFDAB9;" | '''{{GER}}'''
|- style="background:#ffffff"
| ''[[Warcraft III]]''
| style="background:#F7F6A8;" | '''{{SWE}}'''
| style="background:#DCE5E5;" | '''{{FRA}}'''
| style="background:#FFDAB9;" | '''{{DNK}}'''
|- 
| colspan="4" style="background:#ffffff" align="center" | '''2005'''
|- style="background:#ffffff"
| ''[[Counter-Strike]]''
| style="background:#F7F6A8;" | '''{{GER}}'''
| style="background:#DCE5E5;" | '''{{BUL}}'''
| style="background:#FFDAB9;" | '''{{AUT}}'''
|- style="background:#ffffff"
| ''[[Warcraft III]]''
| style="background:#F7F6A8;" | '''{{SWE}}'''
| style="background:#DCE5E5;" | '''{{FRA}}'''
| style="background:#FFDAB9;" | '''{{GER}}'''
|- style="background:#ffffff"
| ''[[FIFA (video game series)|FIFA]]''
| style="background:#F7F6A8;" | '''{{GER}}'''
| style="background:#DCE5E5;" | '''{{RUS}}'''
| style="background:#FFDAB9;" | '''{{AUT}}'''
|- style="background:#ffffff"
| ''[[Unreal Tournament 2004|UT 2004]]''
| style="background:#F7F6A8;" | '''{{GER}}'''
| style="background:#DCE5E5;" | '''{{NLD}}'''
| style="background:#FFDAB9;" | '''{{SWE}}'''
|- 
| colspan="4" style="background:#ffffff" align="center" | '''2006'''
|- style="background:#ffffff"
| ''[[Counter-Strike]]''
| style="background:#F7F6A8;" | '''{{SWE}}'''
| style="background:#DCE5E5;" | '''{{NOR}}'''
| style="background:#FFDAB9;" | '''{{POL}}'''
|- style="background:#ffffff"
| ''[[Warcraft III]]''
| style="background:#F7F6A8;" | '''{{SWE}}'''
| style="background:#DCE5E5;" | '''{{BUL}}'''
| style="background:#FFDAB9;" | '''{{GER}}'''
|- style="background:#ffffff"
| ''[[FIFA (video game series)|FIFA]]''
| style="background:#F7F6A8;" | '''{{GER}}'''
| style="background:#DCE5E5;" | '''{{HUN}}'''
| style="background:#FFDAB9;" | '''{{RUS}}'''
|- 
| colspan="4" style="background:#ffffff" align="center" | '''2007'''
|- style="background:#ffffff"
| ''[[Counter-Strike]]''
| style="background:#F7F6A8;" | '''{{POL}}'''
| style="background:#DCE5E5;" | '''{{GER}}'''
| style="background:#FFDAB9;" | '''{{DNK}}'''
|- style="background:#ffffff"
| ''[[Warcraft III]]''
| style="background:#F7F6A8;" | '''{{FIN}}'''
| style="background:#DCE5E5;" | '''{{SWE}}'''
| style="background:#FFDAB9;" | '''{{GER}}'''
|- style="background:#ffffff"
| ''[[FIFA (video game series)|FIFA]]''
| style="background:#F7F6A8;" | '''{{GER}}'''
| style="background:#DCE5E5;" | '''{{UKR}}'''
| style="background:#FFDAB9;" | '''{{HUN}}'''
|- 
| colspan="4" style="background:#ffffff" align="center" | '''2008'''
|- style="background:#ffffff"
| ''[[Counter-Strike]]''
| style="background:#F7F6A8;" | '''{{SWE}}'''
| style="background:#DCE5E5;" | '''{{GER}}'''
| style="background:#FFDAB9;" | '''{{DNK}}'''
|- style="background:#ffffff"
| ''[[Warcraft III]]''
| style="background:#F7F6A8;" | '''{{GER}}'''
| style="background:#DCE5E5;" | '''{{FIN}}'''
| style="background:#FFDAB9;" | '''{{SWE}}'''
|- style="background:#ffffff"
| ''[[FIFA (video game series)|FIFA]]''
| style="background:#F7F6A8;" | '''{{POL}}'''
| style="background:#DCE5E5;" | '''{{GER}}'''
| style="background:#FFDAB9;" | '''{{ROM}}'''
|- style="background:#ffffff"
| ''[[Counter-Strike: Source]]''
| style="background:#F7F6A8;" | '''{{CZE}}'''
| style="background:#DCE5E5;" | '''{{FRA}}'''
| style="background:#FFDAB9;" | '''{{SVN}}'''
|- 
| colspan="4" style="background:#ffffff" align="center" | '''2009'''
|- style="background:#ffffff"
| ''[[Counter-Strike]]''
| style="background:#F7F6A8;" | '''{{SWE}}'''
| style="background:#DCE5E5;" | '''{{GER}}'''
| style="background:#FFDAB9;" | '''{{POL}}'''
|- style="background:#ffffff"
| ''[[Warcraft III]]''
| style="background:#F7F6A8;" | '''{{DNK}}'''
| style="background:#DCE5E5;" | '''{{NLD}}'''
| style="background:#FFDAB9;" | '''{{GER}}'''
|- style="background:#ffffff"
| ''[[FIFA (video game series)|FIFA]]''
| style="background:#F7F6A8;" | '''{{GER}}'''
| style="background:#DCE5E5;" | '''{{UKR}}'''
| style="background:#FFDAB9;" | '''{{AUT}}'''
|- style="background:#ffffff"
| ''[[Counter-Strike: Source]]''
| style="background:#F7F6A8;" | '''{{GER}}'''
| style="background:#DCE5E5;" | '''{{FRA}}'''
| style="background:#FFDAB9;" | '''{{ITA}}'''
|- style="background:#ffffff"
| ''[[Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare]]''
| style="background:#F7F6A8;" | '''{{GER}}'''
| style="background:#DCE5E5;" | '''{{FIN}}'''
| style="background:#FFDAB9;" | '''{{POL}}'''
|- style="background:#ffffff"
| ''[[Defense of the Ancients|DotA]]''
| style="background:#F7F6A8;" | '''{{UKR}}'''
| style="background:#DCE5E5;" | '''{{ROM}}'''
| style="background:#FFDAB9;" | '''{{BUL}}'''
|}

{| class="wikitable" 
|----- bgcolor="#efefef" 
| colspan=7 align="center" | '''Perpetual Medal'''
|- style="background:#efefef" align="right"
! align="center" | Space
! align="left" | Land 
! Gold
! Silver
! Bronze 
! Total
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" align="right"
| align="center" | 1.
| align="left" | {{GER}}
| style="background:#F7F6A8;" | 9
| style="background:#DCE5E5;" | 4
| style="background:#FFDAB9;" | 5
| 18
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" align="right"
| align="center" | 2.
| align="left" | {{SWE}}
| style="background:#F7F6A8;" | 7
| style="background:#DCE5E5;" | 1
| style="background:#FFDAB9;" | 2
| 10
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" align="right"
| align="center" | 3.
| align="left" | {{POL}}
| style="background:#F7F6A8;" | 2
| style="background:#DCE5E5;" | 0
| style="background:#FFDAB9;" | 3
| 5
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" align="right"
| align="center" | 4.
| align="left" | {{FIN}}
| style="background:#F7F6A8;" | 1
| style="background:#DCE5E5;" | 2
| style="background:#FFDAB9;" | 0
| 3
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" align="right"
| align="center" | 5.
| align="left" | {{CZE}}
| style="background:#F7F6A8;" | 1
| style="background:#DCE5E5;" | 0
| style="background:#FFDAB9;" | 0
| 1
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" align="right"
| align="center" | 6.
| align="left" | {{BUL}}
| style="background:#F7F6A8;" | 0
| style="background:#DCE5E5;" | 2
| style="background:#FFDAB9;" | 1
| 3
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" align="right"
| align="center" | 7.
| align="left" | {{FRA}}
| style="background:#F7F6A8;" | 0
| style="background:#DCE5E5;" | 3
| style="background:#FFDAB9;" | 0
| 3
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" align="right"
| align="center" | 8.
| align="left" | {{AUT}}
| style="background:#F7F6A8;" | 0
| style="background:#DCE5E5;" | 1
| style="background:#FFDAB9;" | 3
| 4
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" align="right"
| align="center" | 9.
| align="left" | {{RUS}}
| style="background:#F7F6A8;" | 0
| style="background:#DCE5E5;" | 1
| style="background:#FFDAB9;" | 1
| 2
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" align="right"
| align="center" | 10.
| align="left" | {{HUN}}
| style="background:#F7F6A8;" | 0
| style="background:#DCE5E5;" | 1
| style="background:#FFDAB9;" | 1
| 2
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" align="right"
| align="center" | 11.
| align="left" | {{NLD}}
| style="background:#F7F6A8;" | 0
| style="background:#DCE5E5;" | 2
| style="background:#FFDAB9;" | 0
| 2
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" align="right"
| align="center" | 12.
| align="left" | {{NOR}}
| style="background:#F7F6A8;" | 0
| style="background:#DCE5E5;" | 1
| style="background:#FFDAB9;" | 0
| 1
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" align="right"
| align="center" | 13.
| align="left" | {{UKR}}
| style="background:#F7F6A8;" | 1
| style="background:#DCE5E5;" | 2
| style="background:#FFDAB9;" | 0
| 3
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" align="right"
| align="center" | 14.
| align="left" | {{DNK}}
| style="background:#F7F6A8;" | 1
| style="background:#DCE5E5;" | 0
| style="background:#FFDAB9;" | 3
| 4
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" align="right"
| align="center" | 15.
| align="left" | {{ROM}}
| style="background:#F7F6A8;" | 0
| style="background:#DCE5E5;" | 0
| style="background:#FFDAB9;" | 1
| 1
|- bgcolor="#FFFFFF" align="right"
| align="center" | 16.
| align="left" | {{SVN}}
| style="background:#F7F6A8;" | 0
| style="background:#DCE5E5;" | 0
| style="background:#FFDAB9;" | 1
| 1
|}

== See also ==
* [[Leipzig Trade Fair|Leipziger Messe]]
* [[Gamescom]]
* [[Tokyo Game Show]]
* [[Brasil Game Show]]
* [[Gamercom]]
* [[Electronic Entertainment Expo|E3]]
* [[Penny Arcade Expo]]
* [[Entertainment for All]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
*[http://www.gamesconvention.com/ Official website of the Games Convention] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100304063836/http://www.gamesconvention.com/ |date=2010-03-04 }}
*[http://www.gcdc-germany.com/ Games Convention Developer Conference]
*[http://www.vgmconcerts.com/ Site of the Symphonic Game Music Concerts]
*[http://www.leipziger-messe.de/ Leipziger Messe]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080918210018/http://www.gc-asia.sg/ Games Convention Asia official website]
*[http://www.vimeo.com/1592557 Video] Games Convention 23 August 2008 in Leipzig, Germany.

== External links ==
{{commons}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090203142717/http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/infotech/view_article.php?article_id=47145 Roads lead to Singapore in September for videogame industry]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070329004212/http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/ceb/2007/02/09/oped/richie.d..nolasco.banilad.cebu.city.html Suggested CICC events]
*[https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/games-convention-asia-2007-details-revealed Gamasutra.com: Games Convention Asia 2007 Details Revealed]
*[http://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/94934/from/rss09 Heise.de: Facts about the Games Convention 2007 (german)]

{{Video Game Trade Shows}}

{{coord|51|23|48|N|12|24|14|E|type:landmark_source:kolossus-frwiki|display=title}}

[[Category:Recurring events established in 2002]]
[[Category:Defunct gaming conventions]]
[[Category:Trade fairs in Germany]]
[[Category:2002 establishments in Germany]]