FOR A NEW London trade show
launched in something of a hurry,
Games Market Europe can consider
its debut last month a success ? but
more support, particularly from the
retail community, is needed if it is to
flourish.Amongst the senior industry executives who enjoyed the sane environment, where people?s voices could be heard and focus could be put on Q4 products and local issues, was Lisa Morgan, the UK CEO of specialist retail giant GAME.
?The show was completely different from E3 in the US, but I actually got a good feeling from it,? she told games industry trade weekly MCV.
?Even though it was a small-scale event, I bumped into a lot of people while I was there. For networking, it was excellent. You only need two or three good conversations and the thing is worthwhile. It was not a bells and whistles show, but there is the opportunity there to build on the event for next year.?
More than 40 companies exhibited at the two-day event, held in the popular Business Design Centre, Islington, with total visitor numbers estimated to be around 1,800.
Most exhibitors were cautiously optimistic about the event?s future, but turnout from those working in retail was clearly disappointing.
?There are a fair number of visitors, but the people that it?s for haven?t turned up. The will is there to make this show a success, but there aren?t enough retailers,? said Gem?s marketing director Dean Van Velsen.
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