May 22nd, 2004
This April saw ExCeL London's London EventCo launch the website for Games Stars Live, the UK's biggest ever consumer gaming exhibition, which is set to take place at ExCeL London 1st-5th September.
Electronic Arts, the world's biggest publisher of video and computer games, has given its backing to the show by confirming that it is to have a significant presence at Game Stars Live. At the same time, it also confirmed a significant and exclusive trade presence at the industry-facing European Games Network, the trade-only event created by industry body ELSPA, which runs alongside Games Stars Live.
Electronic Arts creates and publishes some of the world's biggest games and entertainment franchises, including The Sim's FIFA Football, Tiger Woods PGA® TOUR, Harry Potter™, James Bond 007™, The Lord of the Rings™, Medal of Honor™ and Need for Speed™. Gamers from across the UK will be able to see many of the world's biggest games for Christmas 2004 before they hit the shelf, as well as get the chance to play the full range of EA titles across its EA GAMES, EA SPORTS and EA SPORTS BIG labels.
EA's support is a vital and important endorsement for this radical new combination of consumer and trade events and demonstrates the collective enthusiasm of the computer and video games industry to drive its consumer and trade exhibitions forward.
Rob Mackenzie, Managing Director at Game Stars Live and EGN event organisers, London EventCo, commented: "Electronic Arts shares our desire and commitment to build a major games show for the public in the UK. Its support, drive and enthusiasm will help us deliver a truly inspiring event for gamers as well as a major media opportunity at an important time of year for the games industry".
Paul Jackson, Vice President and Managing Director of Northern Region at Electronic Arts, said: "We believe that Game Stars Live can provide the industry with a strong platform to continue our goal of driving and increasing consumer uptake and acceptance of gaming as a major entertainment pastime. We are confident that with the backing and support of several major media partners and also the right levels of consumer marketing, Game Stars can become a regular and successful showcase in the entertainment calendar".
The brand new website www.gamestarslive.co.uk is expecting to get around 30,000 advanced sales tickets. Game Stars Live is the hottest new multi-platform consumer gaming event and is set to be the biggest and most important consumer gaming event and exhibition the UK has ever seen, with 100,000 consumers predicted to pass through the doors during the five day event. ExCeL London's vast entertainment halls will premier the hottest games, gadgets and consoles months before their public release, across a floor space the size of over three football pitches.
Game Stars Live is based on the ITV video and computer games show, Game Stars. It will be a multi-format consumer gaming event and will include a main stage area from which the media partners including ITV, Capital FM and XFM will broadcast. It will also include a series of features such as The Bear Pit games challenges, The Virtual vs. Reality Zone, The European Online Gaming Championships, and Get Into Gaming, a careers and education zone, amongst many others.
The structure for the trade-only sister show to Games Stars Live, European Games Network, will be a radical departure from traditional trade shows, with a highly cost-effective, standardised exhibiting format, and a heavy emphasis on pre-scheduled meetings and networking opportunities, supported by a comprehensive programme of seminars, workshops and executive briefings.
EGN's mix of components will include The Market Place, a show floor of exhibition space with no free build; The Waterfront Rooms, a series of over 60 dedicated meeting suites for private meetings and product presentations; The EGN Lounge, an area dedicated to delegates for meetings; The Conference and Workshop Programme and the TIGA International Content Market, an exclusive area for developers backed by industry body TIGA.
The event will be underpinned by The Meeting Planner, an online resource that allows all exhibitors, VIPs and higher registration tier delegates to plan and schedule their time efficiently whilst visiting EGN. A number of different delegate packages and rates will be available at EGN, whilst a pre-planned list of VIPs from retail, distribution, publishing and development will enjoy free entry and dedicated resources and services.
Ticket hotline number is 0870 272 0012 or order via the website at TheGame Stars Live Website
For more information, please contact Gemma Parkhouse at ExCeL London on 020 7069 4739 or email GemmaParkhouse@excel-london.co.uk