CES Plays in the Sandbox

January's 2008 Intl. CES will include a one-day conference entitled “Sandbox Summit: A Playdate With Technology.” It will bring together educators, toy manufacturers, consumer electronics firms and media to talk about how technology is changing the way kids play and connect with one another in a digital world.

“Attendees will witness the true merging of creative digital play with consumer technology,” said Karen Chupka, senior vice president of events and conferences at the Consumer Electronics Assn.

The Sandbox Summit will take place Jan. 8, the second day of the four-day tradeshow and convention that takes place at multiple venues in Las Vegas. It is one of several events and programs planned to feature gaming hardware and software. The show will also have a Gaming Showcase, where gaming technology will be displayed prominently.

“Attendees will be among the first to experience the latest products and trends changing the shape of the gaming market,” Chupka said.

In mid-2006, CEA toyed with the idea of launching a stand-alone video game show in June or July of this year at the Los Angeles Convention Center. In fact, Chupka told Tradeshow Week at the time, the association was two days away from a press conference to announce the new event when it learned that IDG World Expo would hold E³ Media & Business Summit in Santa Monica, Calif., July 11-13 (which it did), just two weeks after the since-abandoned CEA show would have taken place. IDG added a consumer show, Entertainment for All Expo , held in October, to the mix as well.

Last year's Intl. CES had a new Gaming TechZone and a gaming tournament.

Along with the Sandbox Summit and the Gaming Showcase, this year's show will have several other programs geared to the electronic gaming industry:

• CES Game Power Conference, with conference sessions dealing with business opportunities and marketing strategies in gaming
• CES Mobile Entertainment Partner Program, focusing on video, music, gaming and communications related primarily to handheld devices
• Home and Lifestyle Entertainment Knowledge Track, a set of conference sessions dealing with electronic entertainment options in the home
• Blu-ray Disc TechZone, featuring a new format other than HD for gaming companies