Leipzig and Köln make a messe of things

LAST WEEK SAW Leipzig host the 2008 edition of its Games Convention. The tradeshow drew a crowd – 203,000 according to the organisation - which doesn’t sound at all bad considering it’s an independent production that's being labeled a major success by attending hacks.

This week, however, Leipziger Messe, the masterminds behind the Games Convention, have announced the date for the GC 2009 (Aug 13th 2009) and this seems to have peeved Kölnmesse who’d scheduled their own gaming tradeshow – GAMESCom - for September 9th 2009.

Reacting to Leipzig’s announcement, Oliver Kuhrt, managing director of Kölnmesse, has made some blunt comments regarding the future of its competitor’s tradeshow. The manager says that the BIU, Germany’s videogame trade association, has thrown its weight behind its tradeshow and that GC 2009 is dead in the waters: “Whatever happens in Germany in 2009 outside of Cologne cannot claim to represent this sector”.

You’d get a far different impression from all the coverage that Leipzig Games Convention got this year.

Right now you're shaking your head and thinking "Why mess with something that’s in perfect working order?"

Well, while the Leipzig organization owns the “Games Convention” IP, Kölnmesse was a bit more devious and hooked the BIU by offering it free-of-charge ownership of the GAMESCom event. So not only can Kölnmesse claim the backing, it will be the de facto official gaming entertainment tradeshow in Germany because it’s owned by BIU and regardless of whether it turns out to be a steaming pile of you-know-what.

So now, much like what happened in the UK, there’ll be two major gaming tradeshows in Germany that will eat each other up and ruin the fun for everyone.

Way to go, guys. µ