Gen Con Indy Confirms Major Game Company Presence

Organizers of the annual Gen Con gaming hobbyist conventions have announced that next month’s 40th anniversary Indianapolis show will feature exhibitions from several major video game publishers and developers, including EA Mythic, Sony, Eidos, and Blizzard. Other video game companies confirmed for the event include MMO developer and publisher CCP Games (EVE Online), NCSoft (Guild Wars), and Icarus Studios’ spin off Fallen Earth, which will debut its self titled MMO at Gen Con Indy. As confirmed in August 2006, the upcoming convention’s exhibit hall has been expanded considerably from previous years in order to accommodate those companies showing video games during the four-day event. The addition of space devoted to the video game industry was made in part to give video game manufacturers, developers, publishers and others, who traditionally attended the now downsized E3, a place to feature their products to the trade, media and consumers alike. However, organizers were quick to point out that the move is “not an effort to replicate or capture business from other industry-only trade shows.” “Game developers and publishers clearly recognize the value in presenting their titles directly to a large group of consumers to help drive sales, and to obtain feedback from those consumers regarding upcoming titles, which may influence their development and licensing strategies,” commented Bill Creonte, senior vice president of business development for Gen Con Indy. “Exhibitors are pleased that participating in our show isn’t a budget-breaking investment, and that we can deliver an event that’s highly attuned to the culture and experience of gaming.”