In the industry many people don’t call the Games Convention in Leipzig anything but Leipzig. When someone first said to me that they are considering moving Leipzig, I said ’you can’t move a whole city!’ They obviously meant the GC show but this is how others have reacted as well.

From feedback collected during the show an overwhelming 90% of exhibitors and about 86% of other trade visitors (including myself) stated that the show should not be moved from Leipzig. Add to that the record 203,000 visitors to the show and you get an idea that the show cannot move.

So yesterday it was announced by Wolfgang Marzin, CEO at the Leipziger Messe GmbH, that they would in fact not move it. Additionally, he also named 19 to 23 August 2009 as the dates for the next GC – Games Convention.

As a show of support the major of Leipzig, Burkhard Jung, promised his support to the games industry. An additional 4 hotels are being planned that will include an extra 1,500 beds which are sorely needed.

Other highlights:

• 3,800 journalists from 48 countries
• Video Games LIVE event was hugely successful
• GC Freestyle area (camping and events at the show) had over 4,000 residents
• 77% of all visitors had some interest in the GC Family section

The GC Developer’s Conference will also make a return next year from august 17 to 19.

See you at Leipzig 09.