Video games fair in Germany called off, lack of funding

Apr 14, 2011, 16:36 GMT

Leipzig, Germany - A global trade fair that publicizes new video games was called off on Thursday when the German organizer decided it was 'game over,' because revenues do not cover the running costs.

This year's Games Convention Online had been been scheduled for July 7-8 in the eastern city of Leipzig.

It has been replaced by Gamescom, an annual interactive games fair held every August in the western German city of Cologne.

The city of Leipzig's fairgrounds had hosted Games Convention for several years, featuring computer games by the world's main designers. Cologne started the rival fair two years ago and it became an instant success.

Leipzig was forced to downgrade its fair to focus on browser and cellphone games only, but that was not enough to break even.

Fair organizing companies earn most of their income from renting out booth space. Heike Fischer, a Leipzig Fair spokeswoman, said this year's space sales were not enough to cover costs at Games Convention Online.

Gaming enthusiasts in many nations followed news of new products from the German fairs but do not bring in any money.

Fischer, said the fairgrounds would instead be developing new events, including medical industry fairs, in the hope of turning a profit. German fairs are owned by city councils and operated as for- profit businesses.

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