MCV/DEVELOP News, events, research and jobs from the games industry
Congratulations: you survived gamescom! It’s been a brilliant show, with early indications showing that its bigger and better than ever. You can now read our third (and last) MCV@gamescom issue, featuring Bandai Namco, Ubisoft, Koch Media, Sega and much more.
For many our jobs are done, but our thoughts are with those who stay on for the weekend to both herd and serve the masses who will descend on the Koelnmesse.
The industry is far better than ever at recognising that it’s ‘For the Players’ or similar such sentiments. But compared to say football with its stadiums, it’s an often unseen audience. A morning spent in gamescom’s consumer halls soon puts paid to that illusion. And it’s now certain that we’ll all be back here next year as the deal has been signed between the German trade association Game and Koelnmesse for the next three years. It’s great news – while the idea of a new venue and city might be seductive, the consistent growth of the show here in Köln should be rewarded. It’s now the second largest consumer show in Germany.
Next year’s show appears to be moving a week later in the calendar. This moves it out of the school holidays locally, and should ease somewhat the pressure on tickets.
Last but not least, we awarded the UK game of the show yesterday, at the fantastic Ukie stand, supported by Wicked Sick. This job is usually pretty tough, but this year there was an obvious standout winner. It’s a truly inspired title, one that hides incredible depth behind a welcoming facade, one that lets you simply and easily build ingenious worlds to your own design by taking command of an army of robot helpers.
It’s educational in the best possible way, because it’s both engaging and fun in its own right, while teaching some of the nuts and bolts of programming.
It’s violence free and even has love as a resource, making it an antidote to some of our industry’s critics.
This year’s UK game of the show, by developer Denki, published by Curve Digital, is Autonauts! Congratulations to the team!
We look forward to seeing you next year for another great gamescom and wish you a safe journey home!
Read our MCV@gamescom issue for Day Three right here or just below:
