LON 04: Games shows clashed — as consumers added to the mix

The London-based historic games industry trade show Ects has
suffered at the hands of the trade show, and consumer show European
Games Network, and Games Stars Live run by the UK games industry body
Elspa.

The once main attraction Ects is now all-but deserted of the
‘big-name’ publishers — all of whom have floated over from the
Earl’s Court to the docklands for Egn, and Gsl at the huge conference
center ExCel.

One Irish retailer gave us the blunt description of Ects been
“shit”, some commented that the Irish Government development
origination the IDA should have been at Egn — the phrase
‘tumbleweed rolling by’ was used by a number of people we talked
to. Logical speculation of this been Ects’ last year running was
widespread — “play it cool” read the front cover of the events’
guide.

While Games Stars Live has opened its doors to the general public,
Sony abandoned the so-called ‘London games week’, moving its public
event the PlayStation Experience to a later date at the theme park
Alton Towers.

Games Stars Live is a mixture of playable console and PC games
(including Halo, the Sims 2, Fight Club, and Metroid Prime),
multiplayer events, stage performances, and “booth babes”, along
with an attendance mixture of children, teenagers, parents,
journalists, retailers, developers, publishers, and other various
gaming and industry persons.

Meanwhile the two developer’s conferences, Games Developer
Conference Europe at Earl’s Court, and the Games Developer Forum at
ExCel have been seen as to slight harm each other.

Cian Ginty