CMP Tech Gets On Games Bandwagon

Starting a consumer show seems to be all the rage for gaming event organizers.

CMP Technology, a Manhasset, N.Y.-based company, will launch PC Game On, a consumer PC gaming show, scheduled Sept. 8–9. It will follow on the heels of the Austin Game Developers Conference, Sept. 5–7 at the Austin (Texas) Convention Center.

The premiere of PC Game On will come about a month before the launch of another consumer show in a similar industry, Entertainment for All Expo, Oct. 18–21 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. GDC is similar to the event that led to E for All, the former E³/Electronic Entertainment Expo.

Organizers changed E³'s format, making it into the invitation-only E³ Media & Business Summit July 11–13 at the Barker Hanger Santa Monica Air Center in Santa Monica, Calif.

According to CMP, its new event focuses on computer hardware and software company support. It is the first consumer show being produced by GDC, a division of CMP Technology, which has other editions of the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco and China.

"There is great interest in this segment of the market as it is often considered to be overshadowed by the innovation taking place in console game development," said Tara Gibb, director of marketing for the CMP Game Group.

The show will feature new and pre-release PC games, a conference and tournaments for a projected 2,000 to 3,000 attendees.

"PC gaming merits its own event, and we have stepped up to shine more attention on this segment," Gibb added.

"There's incredible innovation happening in the PC gaming industry," said Susan Kittleson, director of games market for Dell, a founding sponsor.

GDC's San Francisco event saw a 30-percent rise in attendance this year, some of which is attributed to the change in E³ and some to industry growth.

Also rejoining the gaming fray is U.K.-based Tandem Events, which is planning next year's launch of GamePlan, a tradeshow for retailers and publishers, June 5–6 in London.

London previously hosted European Computer Trade Show starting in 1988, an event comparable to E³ whose final installment was in 2004. GDC Europe was collocated with the event for a few years until changing locations in 2004.

Tandem Events saw the need for a London-based event and will offer a business atmosphere for exhibitors and attendees, according to a release from the company.