E-sport becomes mass phenomenon "Simply play together" - Gamescom to open in Cologne
Cologne · Gamescom is growing - and once again it will turn Cologne into a colorful castle of games for five days. This year the fair expects a very prominent guest: Chancellor Angela Merkel will open up the event for the first time.
More exhibitors, more space and more international: Gamescom is starting its next phase in the best possible way. From this coming Tuesday, Cologne will once again be transformed into a large playing field.
With an extensive supporting program and events scattered around the city, everything is going to revolve around the motto "Simply play together" - whether on a smartphone or a PC or laptop. With Canada on board, the fair has won a particularly strong partner.
Around 900 exhibitors from more than 50 countries will present their highlights in Cologne. Organizers say important trends are virtual reality and e-sport. No other sport has evolved into a mass phenomenon in such a short time, says Felix Falk, Managing Director of BIU.
New in virtual reality
It will be exciting to see what is new in virtual reality. Recently, market observers had noted a drop in interest among users but the games industry is considered a strong innovation driver and a measure for how the technology will establish itself in the future.
Angela Merkel opens Gamescom
Game specialist Stephan Freundorfer says it’s hard to spot the big highlights this year. In Cologne, there would hardly be a game that wasn’t already shown at the E3 Fair in Los Angeles. Still, game producers offer a full range of titles, for which gamers patiently wait in queues to play.
For the first time ever, the internationally renowned Gamescom will be opened by Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU). This underlines the growing economic and cultural importance of the industry, which has also been recognized recently in the political world.
When and where
Gamescom runs August 22 - 26 at the Koelnmesse (Cologne Exhibition Fairgrounds) in Cologne-Deutz. For visitors, tickets are now only available for Wednesday and Thursday. Tickets can be purchased at gamescom.de or at all Saturn home electronics stores. They can also be purchased at the Gamescom fair itself providing it is not sold out on that day. Afternoon tickets are available from 2pm.
For those traveling with German Rail, exit at the Köln Messe/Deutz stop. If traveling by car, from the autobahn ring around Cologne, there are green signs showing the way to the exhibition grounds where 14,500 parking spots are available. From there, shuttle buses take people to the exhibition hall. (Orig. text: dpa)
