Joystiq

'Notgames Fest' to fill IGF-sized hole at GDC Europe [update]

Ben Gilbert — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 20:15:00 EST

Between GDC Europe and Gamescom in August, you've got more than enough gaming news to read about in the coming months. But Germany's Notgames Fest organizers clearly disagree, with the Cologne Game Lab creating an indie (or "Notgames") festival during the first two days of GDC Europe (August 15 and 16).

Like the Independent Game Festival at GDC's main annual gathering in San Francisco, NGF at GDC Europe will feature indie developers showing off their wares, talking to other devs, and giving demonstrations to attendees. Also like the IGF, developers who hope to bring their games must apply ahead of time, only rather than a panel of IGF judges, Tale of Tales' Auriea Harvey and Michaël Samyn will be "curating" the event. If all that weren't enough for you, the event's organizers promise "BBQ and beer in an open air atmosphere." Sold! Head to the NGF main page for all the pertinent details (like ... uh ... where it is in Cologne).

Update: To be clear, the Indie Games Summit takes place at GDC Europe, and the Notgames Fest is not associated with GDC Europe, it just takes place during the event. Head over to the official GDC Europe page for more info.

'Notgames Fest' to fill IGF-sized hole at GDC Europe [update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 17 Jun 2011 20:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gamescom 2011 advance tickets on sale now

Mike Schramm — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 05:00:00 EST

Advanced ticket sales for the upcoming Gamescom 2011 convention in Cologne, Germany are now on sale, so if you're planning to be in the area then (or have the money and time to flit over to the continent whenever you want -- lucky duck), you can see the sights for just a few Euros. The cheapest day passes, at just €6 ($9), are for students and senior citizens, while standard passes are around €10-15 ($14-21).

Note that these tickets are for the public -- they'll let you in the "entertainment area" of the show, but the business side of the event is only for trade and media attendees. But that's no problem. You can still go over there and have yourself a big ol' partyzeit anyway. The convention kicks off on August 17, 2011.

Gamescom 2011 advance tickets on sale now originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 22 Mar 2011 05:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GDC Europe 2010 reports record attendance, 2011 dates announced

Mike Schramm — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

We've had plenty of news out of Gamescom this week, but don't forget about that other European games conference that went down recently. GDC Europe, which took place earlier this week also in Cologne, Germany, reports that it experienced record attendance. This was the second year of the conference, and organizers have already announced that the show will be back again next year, the same week of Gamescom on August 15-17, 2011.

Warren Spector gave the keynote at the conference this year, and while next year's keynote speaker hasn't yet been announced, we're putting our vote in for Ubisoft Creative Director Jason VanderBerge and his trusty cane. That's a show we'd pay to see live again.

GDC Europe 2010 reports record attendance, 2011 dates announced originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 21 Aug 2010 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GamesCom 2010 takes aim at 'Games Convention Online,' first details revealed

Alexander Sliwinski — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 04:00:00 EST

Europe's ginormous GamesCom in Cologne, Germany looks like it's trying to eliminate whatever possible competition it may have from Games Convention Online in Leipzig this year. The first details about the 2010 convention reveal that organizers are planning an "area dedicated to online and browser games," which was kinda Leipzig's thing for its 43,000 visitors that attended GCO last year.

Beyond that, GamesCom already has its website set up for companies to start registering for the show and for people to start booking their travel arrangements. Last year's inaugural edition of GamesCom welcomed an astounded 245,000 attendees and event organizers are planning on having even more people this year.

GamesCom 2010 takes aim at 'Games Convention Online,' first details revealed originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 23 Jan 2010 04:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony announces new PS3 Slim, coming first week of Sept. [update: now with pics!]

Justin McElroy — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 14:20:00 EST

click for high-res PS3 Slim gallery

We know, we're as shocked as you are! Sony has used the GamesCom stage in Cologne to announce the oh-so-tiny PS3 Slim. The good news is that the system sports both a slimmer form factor (33 percent smaller, 36 percent lighter and 34 percent less power use) a 120GB hard drive and the tidy price tag of $299 (or €299, £249, and ¥29,980). It boasts all the same features as the current PS3, which means still no backwards compatibility with your PS2 games.

If you've been holding off on buying a chunkier PS3 until the inevitable release of its slimmer little brother, your wait will finally end in September.

Gallery: PlayStation 3 Slim

Sony announces new PS3 Slim, coming first week of Sept. [update: now with pics!] originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 18 Aug 2009 14:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony, EA and Activision reveal Gamescom lineups

JC Fletcher — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 21:29:00 EST

For those of you headed to Gamescom and wondering what you'll be waiting in line to play (or standing on tip-toes to watch as a trailer), VG247 has posted the announced lineups for three major publishers: Sony, EA and Activision. Square Enix hs also reiterated its lineup.

Sony will be showing the PSP Go, of course, along with Gran Turismo, LittleBigPlanet, Jak and Daxter: The Lost Frontier, and more on PSP, and God of War III, Uncharted 2, Heavy Rain, MAG, and lots of other big stuff on PS3. Activision will have a pile of plastic-instrument (and skateboard) games, as well as Modern Warfare 2, Blur, and Bakugan. EA's bringing basically everything ever. Head past the break for a full list.

Continue reading Sony, EA and Activision reveal Gamescom lineups

Sony, EA and Activision reveal Gamescom lineups originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 05 Aug 2009 21:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: PSP app store to be unveiled at Cologne Gamescom

Jem Alexander — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 17:45:00 EST

Is Sony working on an App store for the PSP Go, to be revealed at Gamescom in Cologne, this August? A source close to Destructoid suggests they might be doing just that -- unveiling a section of the PSP store which offers smaller games which could also be free-to-play. The source suggests that while file size will be limited at 100 megs, that's the only limit content will be given. Meaning non-game applications may also be on the cards.

These smaller games and apps are supposed to compliment the full PSP games made available digitally for the download-only PSP Go system. There are already a couple of games that fit this model, in the form of Super Stardust Portable and Everyday Shooter, both of which are under 100 megs. This sounds like a great idea to us. We'd love to see the PSP Store become as great a repository of quality downloadable-only games as the PS3 Store has become. This is still very much a rumor for now, but hopefully we'll see it come true at Gamescom in August.

Rumor: PSP app store to be unveiled at Cologne Gamescom originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 15 Jun 2009 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Leipzig Games Convention dead, long live Games Convention Online

Jem Alexander — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 08:30:00 EST

Or rather, GAMES CONVENTION ONLINE as the press release puts it. The Leipzig Games Convention, Europe's premier video games showcase, will be closing its doors in 2009 thanks to competition from Cologne's Gamescom, a new event which premieres this Summer. Gamescom boasts the full support of the industry, which it has snatched from Leipzig's grasp. This includes acting as host for GDC Europe, which had previously been hosted at Leipzig alongside the Games Convention.

The Leipzigger Messe isn't done with games, though, as it will play host to a new event this year. Games Convention Online will take part in Leipzig between July 31 and August 2, and will focus on "the most dynamic market in the gaming industry: browser, client and mobile games." An exciting prospect, by all accounts, but we suspect it may not see as great a turnout as Gamescom might.

As if the news couldn't get any sadder, Leipzig's CEO Wolfgang Marzin says the industry can come back any time (please!). "If the industry is again in search of a platform for console and PC games and hardware with the know-how of the GC - Games Convention, we will immediately be available."

Leipzig Games Convention dead, long live Games Convention Online originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 29 Jan 2009 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cologne and Leipzig, don't make us turn this car around

Ludwig Kietzmann — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 01:30:00 EST

Filed under: Business

Or, given that it's Germany we're talking about, it's the fancy bullet train we'll be turning around. Regardless, we've had it with our rowdy passengers, Cologne and Leipzig. Jostling for the title of premier European games convention in 2009, Cologne's Gamescom organizers have been quick to proclaim victory over the Leipzig Games Convention, citing better (nay, existing) trade support and location.

Speaking to MCV, Koch Media managing director Klemens Kundratitz declared that there "will not be another show of any relevance in Germany." He added, "[Leipzig] might try something, but the top 12 publishers are in the BIU and we are committed to take the show to the next level in Cologne." Even SCEE president David Reeves joined in, telling MCV, "Leipzig Games Convention has its limitations logistically in terms of getting there and the number of hotels available for visitors." Reeves also predicted that 400,000 attendees -- compared to Leipzig's 200,000 -- will stink up Cologne in September 2009.

Leipzig isn't going down without a fuss, however, with Leipziger Messe CEO Wolfgang Marzin rubbishing reports of weak trade support. "We've already proved that GC works, and we have trade backing - nobody wants a show in September. Another copy of GC in Germany is ridiculous; what is the benefit of holding another show? I am confident that the big show will be GC next year." Big? Or biggest?

Cologne and Leipzig, don't make us turn this car around originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 02 Sep 2008 01:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Leipzig's Games Convention challenged by Cologne's GamesCOM

Kyle Orland — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 13:45:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Business

In the wake of last year's severely scaled back E3, Leipzig's Games Convention emerged as a strong European alternative for game demos and announcements. That reputation might not lat long, though, as GamesIndustry.biz reports that a major German trade group is leaving Leipzig behind for a new show, Cologne's GamesCOM, in September 2009.

While the move has been rumored for a while, German industry association Bundesverband Interaktive Unterhaltungssoftware announced only this morning that the new show would effectively replace the Leipzig event. Games Convention owner Messe Leipzig, for their part, released a statement expressing regret and saying that it would be a "harsh blow" for the region. No word yet on whether Games Convention would still try to put on a competing show, but consensus seems to be that effort would be difficult without BIU support.

Leipzig's Games Convention challenged by Cologne's GamesCOM originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 25 Feb 2008 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumor: Leipzig Games Convention may move in 2008

Alexander Sliwinski — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 19:45:00 EST

Filed under: Culture

The German Games Convention, which is typically just referred to as "Leipzig," may need a different name. The event being held August 23 - 26, which grew 40% this year following the death of E3, is getting a little big for its east German britches and may go west. Wii Definitive Spec, run by a German journalist, says "several industry insiders" have said that the show may move in 2008.

Leipzig is apparently too small for some large exhibitors (due to the airport and location) and they are looking for the show to move to someplace a little bit more accommodating. The two cities likely to inherit the event would be Frankfurt and Cologne -- two larger cities that are easily accessible and already host large events. Speaking of large events, we'd prefer to see Munich in the running, and ask the event be moved from August to late September or early October. Oktoberfest and a gaming convention ... it would be fantastic.

Rumor: Leipzig Games Convention may move in 2008 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 02 Jul 2007 19:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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