Русская версияFrom Aug.
20-22 the eastern German city of Leipzig expects 200,000
visitors as it hosts the Gaming Convention for the seventh time.
Apart from Nintendo, all major games producers will be exhibiting
and promoting their latest products. 40 percent of the exhibitors
are from abroad, with over 30 countries represented.
"At this time Leipzig is the center of gravity for the European
game industry," said chief executive of the Leipzig Trade Fair
Wolfgang Marzin. "The industry looks to Leipzig, waiting eagerly
for the signals for the German and European market from the year's
most important fair."
Gaming thrives in Germany
Bildunterschrift:
Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift:
Video games attract old and young as sales rise in Germany
The sales of consoles and games in Germany is expected to increase
by 13 percent this year, with German gamers set to spend an
estimated 2.6 billion euros ($3.8 billion) on video game products,
according to German tech industry association Bitkom.
But video games are not just making financial progress in Germany.
The German game development association GAME was recently granted
membership from the German Cultural Council -- a gesture that made
the game industry's a part of the cultural mainstream.
German cultural ministers also expressed respect for gaming with
the decision to create a video game "Oscars" award ceremony,
starting in 2009, with 600,000 euros worth of prizes available.
"Of course some games are bloody and they should not be in the
hands of children," cultural council head Olaf Zimmermann told the
AFP news agency. "But that does nothing to change their aesthetic
qualities."
Fair pays tribute to 'Space Invaders'
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Großansicht des Bildes mit der Bildunterschrift:
Visitors will be able to try out the latest games
Much of the excitement around this year's Leipzig fair is owed to
the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the arrival of "Space
Invaders." Organizers of the fair have called the game where
players must shoot down hoards of descending spaceships
"revolutionary."
The organizers emphasize the multi-player nature of the game.
"This might appear a simple feature to a modern audience but ...
from then on, you didn't only play against the machine but also
against human opponents," organizers said.
(Deutsche Welle)
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