The UK retail giant, GAME, has announced a new consumer show for video games. The three day show, entitled “Gamefest”, will take place between the 16th and 18th of September this year, pre-dating the Eurogamer Expo by a week.
GAME have promised that the show is not a money making venture, it is aimed at getting product in front of consumers as early as possible. With a more central location at the NEC in Birmingham and, we assume, the backing of all major publishers who will already have deep-set relationships with GAME, this could be quite a show.
We’re already making arrangements for the Eurogamer Expo this year but we have to say, a major UK show that isn’t run by – and largely for – a competing media outlet has the potential to be so much more useful to us as reporters. Whether it gains traction with consumers is going to be a matter of great interest.
Source: CVG
ibu
I may well be able to make this one, just need to sort out where I will stay if it is going to be for the weekend. I liked Eurogamer but more is competition better :-)
moshi
Only a 30 min train ride for me so I’m going, now do I ask the wife if she wants to come.
Lordfloyd
Are developers and publishers really going to support this? With GAME’s focus purely on trade-in will publishers not want to avoid a GAME event?
gamerman
you’d be surprised at the level of relationship between the company and publishers despite preowned. for the past lord knows how many years, game have held an event each year behind closed doors for staff, all paid/sponsored for by one of the big three formats, and all supported by developers with games. think mini e3. not as large in sq foot but everything else near enough the same, show pieces, sets, models, hands on, flashing neon lights etc no matter what goes on in debates of preowned. game is simply the market for Europe whether we like it or not. publishers will support who ever pays the bills as a largest percentage. and that is game for the most part. if you get chance you should check it out. will be free for reward card holders.
The Lone Steven
but publishers may want to get a chance to punch them in the face.:OP
gazzagb
Planning on going Eurogamer this year, depends where I go for Uni.
hazelam
if i go to either it’ll be the eurogamer one, simply because i live in london, but it’s good to see something for northern gamers.
donotfeedthebears1690
Funny game and gamestation would have a conference every year for their store managers around the middle of september called ‘gamefest’ seems to me they are trying to get the public to pay for it now
The Lone Steven
Let me guess. It will have employees who know nothing about games, will try to flog you a preowned game for double the price of a new one and will try to sell you the console they have been told to everyone even if they already have said console. And to make it much better, any gamer that corrects them will be banned from the show.and it will be like you are in a game store. It’s not going to work Game. We know you are overpriced as hell but if they mean try the product then it could work as long as it is free.
gideon1451
Why’s there never stuff like this in Manchester? D:
jonny_bolton
I hope employees get some sort of ticketing priority, that’s be sweeeeet.
Charmed_Fanatic
I livei n Birmingham good news if the price is right