GAMES CONVENTION ONLINE (English)

GAMES CONVENTION ONLINE - get-together for games experts starts today

Thu, 08 Jul 2010 10:55:00 +0200

Opening today, over 80 well-known speakers from the online, mobile and social games sectors are at the GCO in Leipzig taking part in talks and panel discussions to pass on insider knowledge on current trends, and to provide information on topics of concern for the future. The three days of this business and networking platform are dedicated to the tracks Social Gaming, Internationalisation/Markets, Trends & Challenges, Mobile Gaming and Financing. In addition, 32 exhibitors from 13 nations (2009: 27 from five countries) introduce themselves in the Business Forum, among them developers, publishers and service providers.

Besides the Business Talks and the exhibition, trade visitors can take advantage of the Business Matching System and set up and coordinate personal appointments with currently over 140 international companies. The world's first ever Community Manager Conference on Friday, 9 July 2010, presents diverse panels and talks around the topic of community management. During the GCO, the first IeSF Conference in Europe in 2010 and the World Cyber Games German finals also take place in Leipzig.

Opening discussion on social games and social networks with distinguished panellists

Mon, 05 Jul 2010 17:20:00 +0200

The business and networking platform GCO begins on Thursday at 11.00 in Room 2 with a high-calibre panel discussion of one of the most important issues facing the industry: the growing process of networking between social games and social networks. The debate focuses on the question of the consequences to be drawn by users, developers and politicians from this coalescence. The panellists examine, for example, the current relationship between the operators of social network platforms and the producers of the games put onto them. Headlined “Still the same game!? Implications of social networks and games growing together”, the international discussion is organised by the Hans Bredow Institute, Hamburg.

Those taking part on the panel include among others Tony Pearce, CEO of TeePee Games, and experts from the mobile games sector. Nils-Holger Henning, chief communications officer at Bigpoint, speaks from a developer's perspective. As a marketer of social games, Mickey Maher from Sometrics knows about the opportunities offered by social games and social networks. The view from the social network platforms is presented by Axel Toelke who is responsible for games on the VZnet networks. The discussion panel is rounded off by the presence of Thomas Jarzombek, a CDU member of the German parliament who has experience in technology and gaming.

New study on demography and consumer behaviour of online and mobile casual gamers

Thu, 01 Jul 2010 14:01:00 +0200

Who plays online and mobile casual games? Who plays what kind of games? Which activities are important to casual gamers? What is their consumer behaviour like? Where do they spend their money? Answers to these questions are provided by the survey on the demography and user behaviour of online and mobile casual gamers. The study’s results are presented at the panel “Online and Mobile Casual Gamers: What are the Differences and What Can Mobile Learn from Online?” on Friday, 9th July, at 11 am.

Fritz Weinke and Jennifer Smith from the Austrian games developer and publisher Greentube as well as Malte Prien from TIC-mobile are speaking at the panel. Greentube developed and organised the survey in cooperation with the research institute gamematrix. Thanks to latest data by scientists and industry representatives, business visitors will gain important insights into the target group of online and mobile gamers.

International e-Sports Federation (IeSF) holds first IeSF Conference 2010 in Europe at the Games Convention Online

Thu, 01 Jul 2010 12:13:00 +0200

A European premiere at the Games Convention Online: On 9 July, 12 national e-Sports associations gather for the first IeSF 2010 Euro Conference held at the Congress Center Leipzig (CCL) in Germany. The organizer is the International e-Sports Federation (leSF), an association of 15 member countries with the aim of promoting electronic sports.

At the conference, current important issues in the e-Sports section will be discussed: policies on countermeasures in response to the games ban law in Switzerland, how to solve intellectual property problems among game publishers and e-Sports organizers, and international e-Sports standardization (referee committee, e-player committee).

Increasingly international and stable exhibitor numbers

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 09:10:00 +0200

The business forum GAMES CONVENTION ONLINE from 8 to 10 July 2010 is showing increasing numbers of exhibitors and speakers. So far, 32 exhibitors from 13 countries have registered (2009: 27 from five countries). Exhibitors include publishers, developers and service providers such as Ambergames, Beijing Baiyou Huitong Network Technology Co. Ltd., Bigpoint, CPMstar, Electrotank Inc., Gamigo, Greentube, MO Group International, Partnertrans, Playdom, SevenGames, Sometrics, SupersonicAds, Travian, Two-Pi Team, V-Gate, Wayi International Digital Entertainment and XS Software.

The GCO is also expecting over fifty top-class speakers, among them Lloyd Melnick (Playdom), Nils-Holger Henning (Bigpoint), Patrick Warnking (Google) and Marco Arcordi (AIOMI). In the numerous talks and panels, trends, new developments and the exchange of knowledge for the establishment of the dynamic market will be prominent topics.

The list of exhibitors and the programme can be viewed in full on the website.

The world's first Community Manager Conference with top-class speakers

Wed, 30 Jun 2010 09:02:00 +0200

In cooperation with the Leipziger Messe, Two Pi Team holds the world's first ever Community Manager Conference (CMC) during this year’s GAMES CONVENTION ONLINE. On Friday, 9 July, the CMC will give experts the opportunity to share their knowledge on community management with talks, discussions and meetings. Among the renowned experts who speak in the Congress Center Leipzig are Sean Kauppinen, Donna Prior, Martin Rabl and Jörg Koonen.

The talks and discussions cover all relevant aspects such as legal questions or the psychology of communities. Another facet, the word-of-mouth marketing, is discussed by games veteran Sean Kauppinen, founder and CEO of the International Digital Entertainment Agency. His keynote also discusses different ways of motivating players to participate in communities.

More than 140 registered companies: GCO Business Matching enjoys great popularity

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 16:34:00 +0200

The GCO Business Matching, an online networking system that allows GCO exhibitors and trade visitors to set up and organize business meetings prior and during the GCO, has already received more than 140 registrations by renowned companies. Among the participants are GameForge Productions (Germany), Greentube (Austria), Kalicanthus Entertainment (Italy) MO Group International (Belgium), Playdom (USA), Tencent (China) and Travian (Germany). The visitors and exhibitors ticket automatically gives access to an own Business Matching account with numerous features.

Registration for the GCO Business Matching is available here.

Business Talk and international panel discuss trends and challenges in online games

Fri, 11 Jun 2010 12:15:00 +0200

Constantly changing trends dominate the up-and-coming online games industry unlike almost any other on the game sector. The specific developments that companies should expect and how they can profit from them is the central theme for the GCO Trends & Challenges Business Talks and Panels. Nils-Holger Henning, Chief Communications Officer at Bigpoint, speaks on Friday 9 July, firstly on the future of online gaming. His presentation is headlined “Trends in a rapidly changing gaming world – how to successfully keep up with the speed.”

Following on from that, he is part of a panel with the title “Reinventing a broken wheel: online properties that re-launch successfully.” Dr. Pascal Zuta, Managing Director of Aeria Games Europe, and Doki Tops, Managing Director of the Dutch 3D-online games developer Eximion, and Nils-Holger Henning will be analysing the challenges concerning the new and further development of online games.

GCO Business Talk to focus on social games

Thu, 03 Jun 2010 18:06:00 +0200

Increasing player numbers which have impacted the industry’s growth indicate that social games have been gaining in importance. Llyod Melnick, General Manager European Operations of Playdom, is one of the experts who will speak about this issue at the trade show GAMES CONVENTION ONLINE. In his talk entitled “Pivoting to Social Media”, he will discuss, among other things, how developers of MMO, core and casual games can profit from social games.

Aside from Playdom, the leading management consultancy in the German-speaking area of the TIME market (telecommunication, information technology and media), Muecke, Sturm & Company will hold a talk in the Social Games business talk track. In the presentation “Social Gaming – a trend and a gold mine”, Achim Himmelreich, Manager of MS&C will give insights into the trends of social games.

GAMES CONVENTION ONLINE will be a trade show

Thu, 03 Jun 2010 14:41:00 +0200

For online and mobile games, Leipziger Messe and the advisory council decided on Tuesday to focus exclusively on a business forum (B2B). This means that there will be a continued push for the successful Business Center at the GAMES CONVENTION ONLINE (GCO). The industry exhibition is bigger than last year, with more than 30 companies having announced their presence so far (2009: 27). It is accompanied by a wide-ranging programme of talks and panels on the new developments and trends in the industry.

The planned parallel public event will not take place in 2010 as the number of registered public exhibitors was insufficient to maintain the usual high standard of GAMES CONVENTION shows. “That would neither guarantee the business success of the trade show, nor satisfy the interest of visitors whose past experiences bring them with high expectations to Leipzig”, said Strategy Director Silvana Kuerschner.

As a trade show, the GAMES CONVENTION ONLINE 2010 (GCO) will be held from 8 to 10 July in the Congress Center Leipzig.

The world's first Community Manager Conference at the GAMES CONVENTION ONLINE

Thu, 03 Jun 2010 14:41:00 +0200

During this year's GAMES CONVENTION ONLINE (8 to 10 July), Two Pi Team and Leipziger Messe will be holding the world's first ever Community Manager Conference (CMC). On Friday, 9 July, the CMC will give experts from the games industry the opportunity for interchange on the topic of "community", with talks, discussions and meetings. The professional conference not only gives scope for vigorous dialogue with colleagues in the German industry, but also encourages an international arena of speakers and interested delegates.

The event will be held at the Congress Center Leipzig (CCL), parallel to the Business Talks being organised by the Hans Bredow Institute and Leipziger Messe.

GAMES CONVENTION ONLINE: Registration for Business Matching and trade visitors started

Wed, 19 May 2010 16:52:00 +0200

From 8 to 10 July, the GAMES CONVENTION ONLINE provides a special business area with access for trade visitors only. For this, an international exhibition section and a Business Matching Lounge are being organised in the Congress Centre Leipzig (CCL), as well as numerous business talks. Over the three days of the trade show, international industry experts will meet to discuss new developments and trends. Registration for the trade visitor area is available here and registration for the Business Matching is available here as of now. Further information on the topics of Business Talks, ticket prices and Business Matching can be found under the Business section.

GAMES CONVENTION ONLINE: Cooperation with Hans-Bredow-Institute continues

Wed, 19 May 2010 16:54:00 +0200

Experts from the worlds of politics, academia and industry to be guests in Leipzig. In cooperation with the Hans-Bredow-Institute for media research at Hamburg University the GAMES CONVENTION ONLINE is organizing a dialogue panel. After its successful premiere at the first GCO in 2009, the Hans-Bredow-Institute again contributes to the business programme.

The opening panel will focus on networking in browser games and through social networks. In addition, during the following trade show days three Business Talks will be taking place. The topics are: "Why are social games so much fun – users, motivations and motivating factors?", "Design and persuasive power – What keeps a gamer playing?" and "Gradually the penny drops. Implications of micropayment on how things are valued".

Further information can be found here.

Call for Papers for GCO Business Talks

Thu, 22 Apr 2010 11:11:00 +0200

As part of the GAMES CONVENTION ONLINE, the Congress Center Leipzig (CCL) hosts Business Talks from July 8 to 10, dealing with online and mobile games. International industry experts are invited to submit their topics for special interest talks and panel discussions. The closing date for all interested parties is 7 May, 2010. To the registration...

The coverage of the Business Talks includes the following topics:

Business & Legal
Development & Production
Browser Based Games
Client Based Games
Social Games
Mobile Games
Internationalisation and International Markets.

Based on these key focuses, outcomes and perspectives of relevance in practice will be discussed with reference to business models, micropayment, the issues of start-up and investment, data security, game design, programming, open source and localization, international networks and community management.

GAMES CONVENTION ONLINE appoints advisory council

Wed, 07 Apr 2010 13:21:00 +0200

Preparations are in full swing for the second edition of the GAMES CONVENTION ONLINE. The heavyweights from the online games industry now backing the trade show include Big-point, Travian Games, SevenOne intermedia, InnoGames and gamigo, as well as opinion influentials such as nexxter interactive services and schülerVZ.

On 31 March, Leipziger Messe announced its first advisory council for the world’s first ever trade show for browser, client and mobile games. The committee of experts from the industry will be advising Leipziger Messe on questions of strategy and content for the GCO.

The members of the GCO advisory council are:

Lothar Eckstein, Chief Marketing Officer, Bigpoint
Marc Wardenga, Head of Games, SevenOne Intermedia
Gunter Schiblhut, Marketing Manager Games, SevenOne Intermedia
Dennis Heinert, PR Manager, InnoGames
Patrick Streppel, Board Member gamigo
Christoph Schmid, Head of schülerVZ
Thomas Brasch, Managing Partner, nexxter interactive services

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