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| GC 2007: Closing Report The GC - Games Convention drew to a close on Sunday evening with a further increase in visitor figures. A total of 185,000 visitors (2006: 183,000 visitors) came to the Leipzig Exhibition centre site over the course of the past four days to see and test the innovations displayed by 503 exhibitors (2006: 374). These included 12,300 registered trade visitors (2006: 8,700). One significant point of note was the internationalisation of the fair. The share of foreign trade visitors rose to 43 percent (2006: 24 percent). The exhibitors at the GC Business Center declared themselves highly satisfied with the turnout. For 85 percent of exhibitors (2006: 75 percent) their participation at the GC Business Center had a great significance or significance in the scope of their overall marketing activities. 91 percent of exhibitors (79 percent) plan to take part in the GC Business Center again next year. According to a survey conducted by the Leipziger Institut f?r Marktforschung 52 percent of visitors (2006: 45 percent) were over 20 years old. The share of female visitors this year stood at 20 percent (2006: 17 percent). A rise in the number of casual gamers was also noted, reaching 45 percent (2006: 41 percent). In addition, the survey also revealed that 92 percent of visitors also plan to attend the GC in 2008. 40 percent of visitors had a journey of over 300 kilometres to attend the GC this year, compared to 36 percent in 2006. The GC - Games Convention was in the spotlight of the international media more than ever. Over 3,300 journalists from 46 countries (2006: 2,610 journalists from 38 countries) filed reports from this year's principal games industry event in Europe. Satisfied faces could also be seen amongst the exhibiting companies: By the end of the fair 96 percent of the total of 503 exhibitors from 31 countries had already declared their intention to exhibit at the GC 2008 in Leipzig. 94 percent of exhibitors stated that they had achieved their fair target very well and well (2006: 89 percent) - an excellent result. A total of 88 percent of exhibitors (2006: 78 percent) assessed the number of trade visitors at the GC as very good or good. The open-air GC Freestyle summer festival saw the Leipziger Messe provide its guests with a broad range of entertainment after closing time at the GC - the first time this has been offered. At the Stadion des Friedens exclusive live concerts awaited visitors, together with numerous sporting activities and an open-air swimming pool. With over 3,000 overnight stays, the festival concept was very well-received on its premiere. Surveys showed that the visitors to the GC Freestyle reacted to the new offer with enthusiasm. In addition to the reasonably-priced accommodation, they also enjoyed the festival feeling that extended beyond the opening hours of the GC itself. This year's GC family was presented under the motto "Learning through play and learning to play". The specialised area for media skills in the family, learning and school software and child-friendly media provides information to parents, teachers and children on all questions regarding interactive play and learning. New this year: for the first time, the GC family had a hall of its own. The interest in the GC family was also very high this year: 75 percent of all fair visitors were interested in this special area of the GC. In addition, the visitor survey in the GC family revealed that the visit to the GC family was a rewarding one for 75 percent of the visitors. 88 percent wish to return to the GC family next year. 87 percent of visitors were so impressed that they would recommend the GC family to others. The fifth GC Developers Conference (GCDC) ended with a record attendance. Over 900 conference attendees took part in the event, held from 20 to 22 August at the Leipzig Exhibition Centre, where they obtained information on the latest trends in the developer sector. "The concept of the conference was that of providing a forum by developers for developers, offering international experts and stars of the industry with a high-quality forum for the exchange of information and networking, and that concept worked perfectly. The GCDC was able to stake a clear claim as the most significant European developer conference", said Frank Sliwka, GCDC Project Director. Focal points were Online Gaming, Outsourcing and Business Development. Speakers included Julian Eggebrecht (Faktor 5), Michael Capps (President, Epic Games) and Hector Fernandez (CEO, Streamline Studios B.V.). The GC 2008 will take place in Leipzig from 20 to 24 August; the GCDC developer conference from 18 to 20 August. write your comments about the article :: © 2007 Game News :: home page |