But that's a problem easily solved, and the PA folks are all over it.

The bigger problem, as I see it, is in the expo's name and its association with Penny Arcade.

Penny Arcade Expo has the potential, the very likely potential, to become the one preeminent video game show in the country. It has the exuberant backing of developers and publishers, it has more than enough willing participants to go around and it has the blessing of the many folks who cover the gaming industry for a living.

But what it doesn't have is a neutral jumping off point. PAX has the words Penny Arcade in the title and while for me, and tens of thousands, maybe hundreds of thousands of people like me, that's a bonus, there are still lots of people out there who hate the strip, the people associated with it and anything whatsoever that has to do with Penny Arcade, Gabe, Tycho and, yes, even Fruit Fucker.

What this means is that they have a fractured potential audience. While most PAX attendees are unified by their love of gaming, they're more unified by their love of Penny Arcade. Sadly I think that means the show's potential audience will remain fractured as long as Penny Arcade is the central theme, preventing PAX from becoming the Games Convention or Tokyo Game Show of the United States.

There are some solutions. I think that it would be easy enough, especially with a second, east coast, PAX looming a few years away, to just change the name of the show and let it grow into its own entity. Another option, presented to me by one of many industry types I talked to about this during the show, is to just officially rename the show PAX. In other words remove the meaning behind the acronym and have it take on a meaning of its own. In a few decades, maybe just a few years, people would wonder what PAX stood for and why the show is called that.

While most of the people I spoke to at the show eventually came around to my way of thinking, acknowledging, no matter how grudgingly, that yes there are PA haters out there and nothing will ever get them to the show, I do wonder how true that really is.

How many among you didn't attend PAX strictly because it's the PENNY ARCADE expo as opposed to a video game expo? How many of you would have gone if it was called something else?

What I think everyone can agree on is that the U.S. needs a single video game show for the public, and not the many that now litter the gaming landscape. We need a TGS, a Leipzig. The real question is will E3 get it's act together and fill that shrinking void or will a show like PAX become the show to rule them all.

If you missed anything, peruse our massive catalog of updatage, a reference guide to everything we've written from the show updated throughout each day. If you'd prefer to "feel" Games Convention through the power of interpretive dance, we got you covered there, too.

Game Impressions
New Dead Space Hands-On Impressions
Killzone 2 Multiplayer Hands On - Five Good Things
The Witcher Enhanced Edition - What A Difference A Year Makes
Fracture Multiplayer - The View From Germany
Golden Axe: Beast Rider Impressions Of Excessive Brown
Left 4 Dead To Follow Portal, TF2's Example
Runes Of Magic - More Than A WoW Clone
MadWorld Isn't Just About Throwing People Into Walls Of Spikes, Y'know
Heavy Rain: You're Soaking In it
Dead Rising Wii - How Gimped It Is
Hands-On: Losing The Twin Towers With Invaders!
The House of the Dead Overkill Impressions Of Delicious Gore
Beer Goes Well With Guitar Hero: World Tour
Hands On With Street Fighter IV 360
Web Of Shadows Hands On - Spider-Man Reborn
Dark Void - Have Jetpack, Will Travel
MK vs. DC: Hands On With The Joker
Grand Theft Auto IV For PC Eyes-On
H.A.W.X. Aces Air Combat
inFamous - Sucker Punch's Electrical Outlet
Far Cry 2 Map Editor Makes Map Editing Easier
Bayonetta Impressions: What Deadly Hair You Have!
StarCraft II: Hands-On With The Zerg
Wipeout HD One-Year Anniversary Impressions
Star Wars: Clone Wars - Saber Rattling
The Chronicles Of Spellborn: A Different Kind Of MMORPG
Diggin' Lode Runner XBLA At Games Convention

Game Announcements
What's In SingStar: Queen Anyway?
Naruto: Ultmate Ninja Storm Getting Day One DLC
Silent Hill Homecoming Coming to Steam in September
Buzz!: Brain Bender announced for PSP
'SingStar: Singalong With Disney' Announced For PS2, Exclusive to PAL Territories
SCEE announces VidZone Service For PS3
EyePet Brings Virtual Monchichis To PlayStation 3
GH: World Tour Wii Gets Mii Freestyle, Air Drums
Konami Sheds Light On Lords Of Shadow
Wonder Woman, Raiden Two Of Four New Kombatants
House Of The Dead Overkill Beats The Shit Out Of Grooming A Horse
EA Sports Adds Tennis To '09 Line Up, Snags Wimbledon Rights
BioShock Brings Challenge Rooms to PS3, Coming Oct. 21, Oct. 24

Interviews
Blizzard Is Tired Of You Asking When StarCraft II Will Be Done
Brian Bright On Guitar Hero: World Tour - We're Bringing It
PS3 World Tour Rock Band Compatible
Only The Barbarian Will Return In Diablo III

News
Left 4 Dead Box Art To Change? "Stay Tuned"
Artists Pulls 9/11 Invader Exhibit from Games Convention
LBP's User-Generated Content Is Region-Locked? Huh?
Taito Considering Legal Action Againt 9/11 Invader Artist
Guinness World Records Set At Leipzig GC
Killzone 2 Adds Multiplayer Bot Action
The Activision Presser, With Special Guest German Guy
Get A Good Look At The New PSP-3000
Konami's GC 2008 Presser - Here's What Happened
GC Presser Round Up: Sony
Artist Explains WTC Space Invaders Exhibit at Games Convention
Space Invaders Attack World Trade Center At Games Convention
PS3 Wireless Keypad Ships This Holiday Worldwide
New Official Details, North American Date For PSP 3000
Meet Your Sexy New Red Alert 3 Cast
Uncharted: Drake's Fortune 160GB PS3 Priced, Dated for North America
Warhawk Jet Packs, Crash Commando, Savage Moon Invade Sony PSN
PS3 Firmware Update Lets SingStar Owners Rip PS2-Only Tracks [Update]
Heavy Rain Gets Public Showing At Games Convention
PlayStation 3 160GB Model Coming To Europe
PlayStation 3 Controller Getting Wireless Keypad
Sony Announces New PSP Model
Gary Oldman Answers Call of Duty
Sims 3 Will Be Out In February 2009
Rumor: Sony To Debut EyeToy Play 2 At Leipzig
Unless You're Nintendo, Game Consoles Are Expensive
Frenchies Bust Into Sony Presser Rehearsal, Spoilers Ahead
PC Gaming a $10.7 Billion Industry
Here's What EA Is Bringing to Leipzig
Street Fighter IV Console Debut At Leipzig GC!
360 Gets Improved Controller, But Only For A Limited Time
Family of 9/11 Victims Tear into Space Invaders Exhibit
PSP-2001 vs PSP-3000
No 160GB PlayStation 3 For You, Australia
Team Fortress 2 Updates Coming To Xbox 360 Later This Year
Invaders! Indeed No Longer Playable At GC 08
The GC Adventure Comes To A Close
David Perry's Keynote: Sony Will Never Make Money on the PS3
Leipzig GC Sets New Attendance Record
Don't Worry, Red Alert Fans, Jenny McCarthy Is Apparently A "Badass" Tanya
Behold, Leipzig's Best In Show
Leipzig Games Convention Dated For 2009... And That's Final!

Videos
MK vs. DC: Joker Will Shoot You In The Face
Games Convention As Interpretive Dance
New Dark Void Trailer Talks Vertical Cover
New Wheelman Walkthrough Shows Early Mission and Lots of Car Crashing
Midway Releases New Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe Teaser
Tyranids Eat Space Marines In Dawn of War 2 Trailer
First Real Pro Evo 2009 Gameplay Footage
Prince of Persia Gameplay Walkthrough
The First Lords of Shadow Trailer
New MadWorld Trailer Is Mad As Ever
See Your Sexy New Red Alert 3 Cast
Far Cry 2 Map Editor Looks Absolutely Amazing
Debut FIFA 09 Trailer
New Killzone 2 Multiplayer Trailer
A New Perfect World International Trailer
Capcom Releases New Resident Evil 5 Trailer
Something Wicked This Way Comes, A New Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince Trailer
New Mirror's Edge Gameplay Trailer Shows Free Running Acrobatic Insanity
Watch The Heavy Rain Gameplay Trailer
Midway Releases New Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe Teaser
New Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning Cinematic Trailer
Own The City That Never Sleeps in This is Vegas!
New Fracture Walkthrough Talks About Multiplayer
A Look at Mercenaries 2: World in Flames "Zero Rules" Co-Op Play
New Jumpgate Evolution Trailer Shows Intersteller Greatness
Mechanical Arm Swinging Goodness in Bionic Commando Trailer
This Time, Decapitate Zombies With Your Wii-mote

Screens
Sexy New WipEout HD Screens
New Red Faction Guerrilla Screens
New RACE Pro Screens
New Mortal Kombat vs DC Screens
New Lego Batman Character Announced, Batgirl!
Will Diablo III Be Playable At BlizzCon?

Booth Babes
It's Not Games Convention Until The Stripper-Mobile Arrives
Aion Booth Babe Feeling Blue
Sega Sexes Up Samba De Amigo For Games Convention
Age Of Conan Does Booth Babes Right

Culture
GC Stories - A Light In The Darkness
Games Convention's Most Ignored Games
Sega Wins Kotaku's Coveted "Best Press Kit Of Games Convention" Award
Cosplay Runs Rampant At Games Convention
Wanna Play SOCOM At Games Convention? On Your Knees, Boy!
Lunchtime At Games Convention 2008
Germany - Ich Leibe Es!
Where Old Promo Statues Go To Die
And Then They Started Breakdancing...

Pre-Show Updates
No PS3 Price Cut At Leipzig
No Leipzig Press Conference From Microsoft
Nintendo Not Attending Leipzig This Year
Games Convention 08 Is Press Conference Central
Blizzard Unveiling Lich King cinematic, Details at Leipzig
Age Of Conan Invades GC
Sega's GC Line Up - Sonic, Samba, And Surprises
Headstrong's Secret Sega Title To Get Leipzig Outing
1C's Games Convention Line-Up Featuring Playable Theater of War 2
Dragon Age Visits Gen Con Indy, GC, PAX
Paradox Interactive At GC - Project Mayhem?
Video Games Live Brings Crysis Music Home
Why Gears of War 2 Won't Be At Leipzig
Deep Silver At Games Convention 2008
What's EA Bringing To Games Convention?
Early Images From Games Convention 2008

According to a new release from the Games Convention hosts, the vast majority of those surveyed at the show think the show should stay in Leipzig. A competing show, known as Games Con, is planned to hit Cologne (Köln) around the same time, making for a very confusing split.

Regardless of who's doing what and where, we'll be there... somewhere next Summer covering the sausage beat (and maybe playing a game or two).

Final report: Games Industry Staying in Leipzig for 2009 [Leipziger Messe]

Best PC Game: Spore

Best 360 Game: Mirror's Edge

Best PSP Game: Resistance: Retribution

Best PS3 Game: LittleBigPlanet

Best Wii Game: Skate It

Best DS Game: Sonic Chronicles (or, its more awesome German name, SONIC CHRONICLES: Die Dunkle Bruderschaft)

Best Mobile Game: Pro Evo 2009

Best Online Game: Warhammer Online

Best Hardware: PlayTV

Best PS2 Game: "As there were too few entrants, no award was made in this category".

But not every game is getting attention. We hit the floor during the con's busiest day to find out what the Euros are ignoring completely. Which titles are the Germans passing on in favor of sleeping, begging shamelessly for t-shirts or watching a dubbed Police Academy 2?

We show you (and explain why) in this very post.

My Stop Smoking Coach With Alan Carr
Surprisingly, no Games Convention attendees seemed that interested in trying to break their nictone addictions with the help of Alan Carr on a Saturday afternoon. Given that the game was located adjacent to Petz and Imagine titles, we have to imagine that at least one 8-year old girl naively gave it shot for a few minutes, we just didn't happen to catch it on film.

The Chosen
Yes, there is someone playing this Chinese virtual world game, but he's working the booth so it doesn't count. That the "virtual world manufacturer" is named Snail Game and that The Chosen looks like an inventory management sim probably isn't going to change the situation.

Mushroom Men
Nintendo DS and PSP titles fare worse than just about any other platform — the Wii version of the Gamecock published game was getting some attention — but we're sorry to inform the guys and gals at Red Fly Studio that Mushroom Men for DS wasn't finding an audience.

Einsatz Erde Die Tierretter and Sophies Freunde Wohntraume
The one on the left might be the German release of Pet Adoption Center. We're not sure. The one on the right is something about Sophies Friend and something about a Wohntraume. Whatever the case, we didn't look inside to see why no one was playing these.

Bratz 4 Kidz
It was half being ignored, but some poor influential girl was being subjected to Bratz trash out of frame here.

Viva Pinata: Trouble In Paradise
There were more than a few Xbox 360 titles that were frequently open — Braid, for example — but Viva Pinata: Trouble In Paradise may have suffered the worst. That may have been due to the kid-unfriendly set up of Microsoft's GC booth, with its focus on music titles and the swarm of teenagers whoring it up for t-shirts and faceplates on the nearby stage.

My Boyfriend
Self explanatory.

echochrome
The PSP didn't get much love today and not just because Games Convention hooligans were breaking LCD screens and snapping off analog nubs. The draw at Sony's booth was still SingStar, LittleBigPlanet and Buzz! for the PlayStation 3.

The actual Guinness Book Of Records people were on hand, though, to promote the Guinness World Records videogame and to oversee record attempts at three of the included minigames.

Its a bit of an odd duck, the GWR game - yes, you can technically break the world record in one or more of the mini challenges (and have these uploaded to the Guinness site), but it is no more or less (actually, it probably is a bit less) impressive than getting the best possible score in any other, actually popular, game.

So, tiny golf clap applause please for Max Schoenemann (virtual Sheep shearing - 5 sheep in just 13.71 seconds!),
Florian Mack (Smashing melons with head - 60 in a minute) and Christian Kurka (100 balloons popped in 10.48 seconds).

Well done you.

Check the extended for some photos of the victorious record breakers in action.

The Leipzig Games Convention is a show slathered in spectacle, with big booths, booming sound systems, and lovely female companions to distract from each game's graphical shortcomings. What you might think it would be lacking in are interpretive dance routines. You'd be wrong, as the Germans have come through in a major way, capturing the essence of the show in a four minute dance number that will inspire you to... possibly never come to Germany. Writhing and high kicking to the sounds of Video Games Live! and choreographed by Irina Pauls, this bedazzled, spandex-packed celebration is one reason we love coming here.

Quantic plan to keep the plot under wraps for as long as possible, so the demo is likely to be more about demoing the game engine with content unrelated to the main game and showing off both the subtle 'emotional' controls and fine character animations.

Intriguingly, for such a plot-heavy game, Quantic's David Cage suggested that some DLC might be in the offing. This sounds a bit like slapping an extra plotline onto a film, so you have to hope it is handled with care and doesn't feel bolted-on.

"This is something it's really too early to talk about, but it's definitely a possibility," Cage told Eurogamer, "You can tell any story with this interface, because it's entirely contextual."

Demo and DLC for Heavy Rain News [Eurogamer]

EA Reps also namedropped professionals like Chris Everett, Pete Sampras and Boris Becker, hinting but not confirming that Grand Slammers throughout the years would be featured.

Speaking at the Games Convention Developer's Conference in Leipzig, Rand Stude said that online PC gaming was the top revenue earner in 2007 for PCs, pulling in $4.8 billion, nearly double the worldwide retail sales for PC games. Digital distribution sales approached $2 billion, while advertising revenues from websites, portals, and in-game ads accounted for $800 million.

“Our analysis clearly shows incredible growth in online PC gaming, proof that this industry is far stronger than anyone has reported,” said Stude. “Today’s consumers shop where they live - online.”

These numbers, I think, will be much more meaningful next year when we have something to compare them to. Hit the jump for the full release.

PC Gaming Alliance Illuminates State of PC Gaming Worldwide with Release of Horizons Report
Exclusive PCGA Study Shows PC Gaming a $10.7B Industry, Reveals Explosive Online Growth

LEIPZIG, Germany—(BUSINESS WIRE)—The PC Gaming Alliance (PCGA) today unveiled the key findings from its first “Horizons” Report, an exclusive research study of the PC gaming industry worldwide. Speaking at the Games Convention Developer’s Conference in Leipzig, PCGA president Randy Stude announced that PC gaming was a $10.7 billion industry during the year of 2007, with retail sales accounting for just 30 percent of total revenues. According to the report, growth was largely driven by online revenues from Asia, the world’s largest market, which is approaching half of total worldwide sales.

Online PC gaming revenue led the way in 2007 with $4.8 billion, nearly double the worldwide retail sales numbers for PC games. Digital distribution sales approached $2 billion, while advertising revenues from websites, portals, and in-game ads accounted for $800 million. Both are expected to grow substantially as major developers and publishers begin to adopt formal strategies to take advantage of new online opportunities.

“Our analysis clearly shows incredible growth in online PC gaming, proof that this industry is far stronger than anyone has reported,” said Stude. “Today’s consumers shop where they live - online.”

According to DFC Intelligence, there is even more room for growth as the broadband market matures.

“By pioneering new business models, the PC has quietly remained the single leading platform for games, not only in terms of consumer usage, but revenue generation,” said David Cole, an analyst with DFC Intelligence. “The most fascinating thing about PC gaming is its ability to attract such a diverse audience, both demographically and geographically. The real key has been the rapid growth in penetration of broadband-connected PCs in all markets around the world. Broadband-connected PCs are the key driver of growth for PC gaming. DFC Intelligence estimated that by the end of 2007 less than one-third of households in the top 20 markets for games had a high-speed Internet connection. That clearly indicates that there is still plenty of growth to come. The initiatives of the PCGA will be a key enabler of growth as they will help the industry identify key trends and opportunities in this rapidly emerging market.”

Updated bi-annually, the full Horizons Report is available to all PCGA members. It encompasses sales from every region around the world, and from every part of the PC gaming industry compiled by the PCGA from internal resources through a third party. This includes retail, online gaming, digital distribution, and online advertising. Those interested in joining can find membership details and additional information about the PCGA and its role as the voice of the PC gaming industry at www.pcgamingalliance.org.

Anyone interested in the state of the PC gaming industry will also be able to see Randy Stude present the key findings of the Horizons report during NVISION 08 in San Jose, Calif. on August 25 in the San Jose Hilton adjacent to the convention center at 3:30 p.m. in San Carlos rooms 1 & 2. More NVISION details can be found at www.nvision2008.com.

About the PCGA

The PC Gaming Alliance (PCGA) is a nonprofit corporation whose mission is to drive worldwide growth of PC gaming. With high-profile members such as Microsoft, Intel, AMD, NVIDIA, and Dell, the PCGA provides an open forum where companies can cooperate to develop and promote solutions that drive the PC gaming industry forward. The PCGA encourages the exchange of information and views to promote PC gaming, and shares promotional activity designed to grow the PC gaming industry.

Sony plans no PS3 price cuts at Leipzig games fair [Reuters]

Leipzig is ready for GC [GC Blog]

Their booth at the Leipzig show will include new builds of King's Bounty: The Legend and Men of War, Cryostasis, NecroVisioN, 4x4 Hummer, Death Track: Resurrection, Theatre of War 2: Africa 1943 and two new console titles - Captain Blood and IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey.

Hit up the jump for the full press release and a bit more detail on the games. And remember we'll be at this year's Games Convention with bells on*, so check back for our coverage later this month.

*Fahey will not actually be wearing any bells.

1C ANNOUNCES GAMES CONVENTION 2008 LINEUP

MOSCOW, Russia- August 13, 2008 - Leading Eastern and Central European publisher
1C Company unveiled today its top titles to be shown at Games Convention 2008 in Leipzig. The current lineup includes first-person shooters, RPG/ turn-based strategy, real-time strategy and racing titles.

1C will bring to Leipzig brand new builds of King's Bounty: The Legend and Men of War. King's Bounty: The Legend is set in a fantasy world of fearless knights, evil mages, wise kings and beautiful princesses. Men of War takes place in Europe and North Africa during the height of World War II, the story unfolds in three different campaigns played out through the eyes of Soviet, Allied and German soldiers.

1C will also showcase new builds of Cryostasis,NecroVisioN, 4x4 Hummer, Death Track: Resurrection and two new console titles - Captain Blood and IL-2 Sturmovik: Birds of Prey. The first playable build of Theatre of War 2: Africa 1943 will also make its debut at Games Convention 2008. It is a sequel to Theatre of War, one of the most historically accurate RTS games dedicated to World War II ever published.

Along with the playable builds listed above 1C will have their latest demos available on site. Assets for these and all other games from 1C 2008-09 lineup will be on the digital press kit at the booth.

1C Company will be located at booth L40 in the Business Center of the Leipziger Messe. Since space in the booth is limited we suggest making an appointment to see our titles. Please contact us at the above phone number or email address and we will be happy to hold a time slot for you.

The better news is that, despite our previous hands-on time with games like Left 4 Dead and Crysis Warhead, we're going to see all new areas and content. Plus we're going to pester developers for nuggets of info and embarrassing quotes that will come back to haunt them.

We're looking at you Gabe Newell. Hit the jump for the full list — minus two — of what EA's bringing to Leipzig.

Tiger Woods PGA All Play - Wii
FIFA 09 – 360, PS3
FIFA 09 All Play - Wii
FIFA Manager - PC
Dead Space - PS3
Dragon Age - PC
Mirror’s Edge - PS3
Red Alert 3 - PC
SimAnimals -Wii
Sims 3 - PC
Left 4 Dead - PC

FaceBreaker - PS3
Battleforge - PC
Crysis Warhead - PC
Lord of the Rings Conquest - 360
MySims Kingdom - Wii
SimCity Creator - Wii
BOOGIE SuperStar - Wii
Family Game Night - Wii
Littlest Pet Shop - NDS
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince - Wii
Zubo - NDS

Warhammer Online

How's Atari affecting climate change in Leipzig this year? Hot(t) games, of course! They'll be showing lots of stuff, including What’s Cooking? with Jamie Oliver for Nintendo DS, My Horse and Me 2 for Wii and DS, The Witcher Enhanced Edition and Alone in the Dark for the PlayStation 3.

If that's not already giving you pit stains, Naruto: Ultimate Ninja 3 and Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit will also be there, increasing the spiked hair factor by 9000 percent. Hopefully, Phil Harrison will be there and we can creep him the fuck out one more time. For the full list, hit the press release, after the jump.

ATARI TURNS UP THE SUMMER HEAT AT GAMES CONVENTION 2008

- Atari Storms the Glass Walls of the Leipziger Messe with a Blistering Line Up of Games for Everyone from Anime to Action Adventuring, Family Fun to Fast Cars -

LYON, FRANCE – 8 August 2008 – Once again the thrill-hungry gamers of Germany and beyond will descend on Leipzig this August 21-24 to feast at Games Convention 2008, and Atari will be there in Hall 5, Stand G21 with plenty of gaming goodness for everyone.

Included in the line up are a number of first play exclusives including from shopping to chopping in What’s Cooking? with Jamie Oliver for Nintendo DS™, the next stage in Atari’s equestrian simulation series My Horse and Me 2 for Wii and DS, The Witcher Enhanced Edition which takes the award winning role-playing experience to the next level of perfection, and the equally enhanced Alone in the Dark for PLAYSTATION®3.

Fans of anime ninja action will be able to get their hands on the largest ever selection of playable ninjas in Naruto: Ultimate Ninja 3 for PlayStation®2, as well as the awesome Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm for PLAYSTATION®3 which takes the Naruto experience beyond the anime series for the first time. Recently released blockbuster Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit for PLAYSTATION 3 will also be there to remind Naruto that he’s not the only kick ass anime fighter in town.

For a break from all the anime fighting, visitors to the booth can get physical in real time with Family Trainer for Wii, featuring loads of fun mat-based games to get more than just the thumbs moving. Budding equestrians can indulge their horse care and riding fantasies with My Horse & Me 2 for Wii and DS with its new story and gameplay modes. Anyone with a love of good food should spend some quality time with What’s Cooking? with Jamie Oliver for DS, although it’s anyone’s guess whether the food on offer in Leipzig will satisfy you once Jamie’s gourmet creations have got your mouth watering.

Guests over 18 looking for some action and adventure can try their hand with The Witcher: Enhanced Edition which takes the adventures of Geralt to the next level with a host of game improvements and additional content. Lucky visitors will also get the chance to be the first in the world to try out Eden Games’ innovative action adventure Alone in the Dark on PLAYSTATION 3 featuring a number of gameplay enhancements to make the journey more unmissable than ever. Legendary for PC will let FPS fans indulge in the ultimate fantasy battle of man Vs. myth as they find out how much firepower is really needed to take down a giant winged griffon.

Stepping up a gear, Atari invites visitors to put their foot down with GTR Evolution for PC and RACE Pro for Xbox 360, which is the first time Simbin’s formidable expertise in driving simulation has come to console. Featuring unparalleled physics and handling, championships including WTCC, Formula 3000 and Formula BMW, plus a wealth of cars including GT and production models, nothing gets closer than RACE Pro, and to make sure of it Simbin and Atari are bringing the RACE Pro Pit Lane to Games Convention.

Located outside the halls in area A03/1, the RACE Pro Pit Lane is comprised of the RACE Pro truck hospitality area which is currently touring Europe at WTCC race meetings. As well as the game itself, real competition cars will be on display, including a BMW and Dodge Viper, to bring aspiring drivers even closer to the real experience.

Expect all this and more as Atari brings its gaming goodness to Games Convention this August 21-24 in Leipzig Germany. For information about Atari’s entire product line up visit www.atari.com.

Granted day 2 is filled with press conferences from the likes of Hochschule für Technik, Wirtschaft und Kultur Leipzig, which I know you are all dying to hear about, but it's still a pretty jam-packed show while I practice my German. Werden wir Litauen überfallen? I am so ready.

Press dates [Games Convention Website]

For the record, we have no plans to make any big announcements or huge reveals at PAX this year. While we will have some Halo 3 multiplayer stuff for you to check out, this is not going to be the "big announcement" many of our fans are clamoring for. Rest assured that when the time is right, we will be making announcements and talking about the stuff we're currently working on. At the moment we do have three distinct projects underway within Bungie - some familiar, some not. Some on a closer horizon, some quite far off.

Three projects, at least one of them a Halo project, noted, thanks. Oh, and for the disappointed, just because they're keeping mum at PAX doesn't mean they can't announce anything at Leipzig, which starts August 20.

Bungie @ PAX [Bungie]

Leipzig Games Convention Not Moving [Next-Gen]

Nintendo 2008 nicht auf Games Convention

Im August 2008 wird Nintendo Deutschland nicht mit einem eigenen Stand auf der Games Convention in Leipzig vertreten sein.

Mit kleineren lokalen Events und nationalen Promotiontouren, auf denen die zum Teil völlig neuartigen Spielkonzepte für den tragbaren Nintendo DS und die Heimkonsole Wii vorgestellt wurden, hat das Unternehmen in den vergangenen Monaten viele positive Erfahrungen gesammelt.

Auch im zweiten Halbjahr des Jahres 2008 setzt Nintendo daher statt auf eine zentrale Messe auf deutschlandweite Event-Präsenz: In den unterschiedlichsten Lebensumfeldern werden seine Videospiele so bei vielerlei Gelegenheiten direkt erlebbar.

„Um auch Medien und Handelspartner so früh wie möglich über die neuesten Spiele zu informieren, wird Nintendo im Anschluss an die Spielemesse E3 2008 eine bundesweite Roadshow starten", ergänzt Dr. Bernd Fakesch, General Manager Nintendo Deutschland.

Nintendo legt Wert auf die Feststellung, dass es mit seiner Entscheidung keine Kritik an der Games Convention verbindet. „Wir sind immer gerne nach Leipzig gekommen und haben uns hier sehr wohl gefühlt. Wir möchten uns an dieser Stelle noch einmal herzlich für die vielen Jahre der guten Zusammenarbeit bedanken", so Dr. Fakesch. Er betont außerdem, dass die Entscheidung keinesfalls eine Vorentscheidung für die GAMESCom in Köln 2009 darstelle. Nintendo werde das Messekonzept bewerten und dann auf Basis seiner bis dahin gewonnenen Erfahrungen neu entscheiden.

Thanks Daniel!

Leipzig announces travel improvements [GamesIndustry.biz]

steht die Games Convention 2009 weiterhin im Kalender (For now, the 2009 Games Convention is still on the calendar).

I've kinda grown fond of Leipzig. Sure there's not a whole bunch to do there and having the opportunity to check out Berlin, Munich or Frankfurt every night after spending the day covering the Games Convention would be Zuuupear Koole, but there's something to be said for a town dwarfed by the show it hosts.

Games Industry reports that the only way the Games Convention could leave Leipzig is if they convention hall hosting it said it was OK. That's because the Leipziger Messe actually owns the Games Convention name and brand. And I can't imagine they'll every let that bad boy get away.

Next year? I think we'll be staying in Leipzig proper instead of "quaint" Halle.

GC likely to remain in Leipzig [Games Industry]

So much for my fantasies of snorting coke off a pair of perfectly spandexed roadie GROUPIE butt cheeks.

Seriously. Event organizers, spread this stuff out so we can actually cover it all without dying. This is getting RIDICULOUS.
GC Asia Info [Games Industry]

Here it is everyone—our promised first look at Bungie's highly anticipated Halo 3: The Ride that made its world debut this week in Leipzig. If you have any interest at all in Halo 3: The Ride, it's a worthy watch.

The Games Convention may have wrapped up Sunday evening, but our coverage continues. Expect to see more impressions, stories, videos, cultural oddities and images from Leipzig over the remaining week. In case you missed what we've done so far I've listed our stories to date on the jump.

Tender Booth Babe Moment (Babies
More Guitar Hero III Hands-On Impressions
The Cars Of Games Convention
Playground Impressions
The Trash of Games Convention
Sony's Cheerleaders Break Hearts Everywhere
Tender Booth Babe Moment (Sleeping)
McWhertor Pwns with Princess
SingStar: So Sexy it Hurts
Hall Crawl: Hungry Like the Wolf
Hall Crawl: Rock Me Like a Hurricane
Mercenaries 2 Gel: Hair On
Hall Crawl: Boogie is a Buzzkill
BlackSite: Area 51 Impressions
Hall Crawl: Meat Lunch
The Games Convention Hall Crawl
First Look at Borderlands
LIttleBigPlanet Gets Better Acting
Kane & Lynch Pantsu
Rock Band Retail Display Revealed
Booth Babes Revenge: Nowhere to Hide
The Sony Sprint
We Have Secured Phil Harrison's Chewing Gum
Konami Whips Up Two Castlevania Mobile Games
Lara Croft Hands-On Impressions
First Look At Midnight Club Los Angeles
Gran Turismo 5 Prologue To Feature Car Damage, Improved AI, Better Physics
Spore? Or SimSim?
Missing at GC07 - Class Action Lawsuits
The Four Stages of Grief Spore
Games For Windows Live Maybe, PhysX Not So Much
Tony Hawk's Proving Ground, Incredible Video Creation and Erection Hoodies
Gabe Newell Smack Talks the PC, PS3, Xbox 360 (And your Mother)
Call of Duty 4 After Hours
Sloppy Seconds - Lair
Rock Band Tour Bus
Rock (Out) Band
GC Offers EA Tats
The GC Opening Day Walk/Run
Metal Gear Solid 4 May Feature Limited Online Play, Custom Soundtracks
Kane & Lynch Hands-On Impressions
Introducing, Kotaku's Sloppy Seconds
Really New Metal Gear Solid 4 Screens
TRL Germany Live from GC07
Strippers Invade GC
Warhound Impressions
Booth Babes Strike Back: This Time It's Personal
Metal Gear Solid 4 Theme & Actresses Revealed
Play TV On PS3 Explained
Pony Friends More Mature, More Gruesome Than Originally Thought
Games Convention Is A GREAT Place To Play Wii Sports
WipEout HD Hands-On Impressions
Starcraft II, the Multiplayer Experience
Dead Island Impressions
Go!Messenger Brings Chat to PSP
Sony Turns PS3 Into DVR
Harrison Sheds LIght On US Plans PS3 DVR and PSP TV
Liveblogging the Sony Press Conference
Metal Gear Solid 4 Games Convention Trailer
New Metal Gear Solid 4 Trailer Shows Four New Bosses
Sony to Unveil PSP Download Service Today
The Booth Babes of GC
Trial of Topoq Hands-On Impresssions
The Big Three Booths of Leipzig, Judged
Scenes From The Games Convention Floor
Big UT3 Statue! Giant...Somebody Face!
Halo 3 The Ride
StarCraft II, Lich King Playable At Leipzig Games Con
Sony's UberBooth, It's "The Shit"

What's the fan rush look like at GC07? We risked life and limb to put you right in the action. Seriously, about 30 photographers are lined up in front of thousands of fanboys. It's scary. And this is just one of three entrances to the show floor.

So what big company is behind us? Sony.

When Sony announced their SIXAXIS motion controls, most of us considered it "me too" technology. When we first tried them in games like Motorstorm, we went back to analog sticks after about 30 seconds of ass-handing. But with Lair? Lair nails the motion control.

I literally picked up the controller, jumped on the dragon and flew around the rich environments with ease. And I'm not talking flight simulator, floating around without a sense of speed flying. I'm talking barreling under arch bridges, twisting around castles and skimming the water to take out boats.

In most PS3 motion-enabled games I've tried, there's a noticeable delay to turning. But Lair steering is really tight. Whether Factor 5 has made some necessary breakthrough in their SIXAXIS programming or dragons just lend themselves better to the peripheral's responsiveness, the controls work very well.

And instead of crashing into the occasional turret, your dragon will sharply cut around objects to save us from potentially tedious gameplay. The effect isn't some cheap way of making the game easier (well, maybe to some extent), but a logical extension of flying on a living being with self-preservation.

Lair is on a scale that has few equals. The demo battle is massive, with the real feeling that you are part of a huge war. And the graphics are mature in a way that reminds me of early Sega in some completely instinctual way.

But if Lair fails in one respect (within my admittedly quick impressions), it's the dragon to dragon battles. They take place too high in the air forcing players to lose any sense of speed and general perspective. I don't know that there was a quick fix here, other than maybe programming the AI with a propensity to draw air battles lower to the ground for more intensity.

Even with the initial wave of really bad press and criticisms from some of my colleagues, I'd consider Lair a sure buy after playing the demo. Amidst its imperfections, the project seems every bit as ambitious as Sony likes to claim.

Kojima explained that the wild looking bosses shown in the newest Metal Gear Solid 4 trailer—Laughing Octopus, Raging Raven, Howling Wolf and Screaming Mantis—are not monsters, but beasts "more machine than man", a group of shellshocked soldiers "transformed by battle."

These casualties of war use, as Kojima explained, "real life beauties" for their inspiration.

In addition to Tokyo based DJ, actress, and Hidechan Radio host Yumi Kikuchi, models Scarlett Chorvat, Mieko Rye and Lyndall Jarvis will all appear, in some form, in Metal Gear Solid 4.

Kojima's newest tragic characters are expected to be sympathetic, as the Metal Gear director explained that "War created these ugly beasts, but beneath they are beautiful women." He asked the audience rhetorically "Can these beautiful ladies return to human form?" We'll surely find out when we play the game next year.

"The attendance at the conference and packed sessions showed the clear value of the program to attendees," said Wolfgang Marzin, president and CEO of the Leipzig Trade Fair. "The conference was a major success."

GCDC 2007 CLOSES WITH RECORD PARTICIPATION

More than 900 Attendees from Over 35 Countries Make GCDC a Major Success

Tim Schafer's First Keynote in Europe Highlights GCDC's Final Day

Leipzig, Germany - August 22, 2007 - The GC Developers Conference (GCDC), Europe's leading developers conference, closed today with a record attendance of over 900 (650 delegates in 2006). Coming from over 35 countries, the attendees finished the final day with an inspiring keynote on creativity from Tim Schafer, information about creating international communities for games, and a post-mortem of the mega-hit TitanQuest.

Sixty percent of the attendees came from abroad to this year's GCDC, the majority of which came from North America and the UK, the leading countries in game development. The conference also included a significant number of developers from Eastern Europe demonstrating the conference's growing reach across Europe as well.

"The attendance at the conference and packed sessions showed the clear value of the program to attendees," said Wolfgang Marzin, president and CEO of the Leipzig Trade Fair. "The conference was a major success."

Frank Sliwka, project director of GCDC, explained, "GCDC's concept is to provide a forum for international experts and industry veterans to network and exchange knowledge. GCDC 2007 has clearly proven its status as Europe's leading developer conference."

Tim Schafer (DoubleFine), the creative mind behind such acclaimed hits as Psychonauts, Grim Fandango, and Full Throttle, spoke on the challenges and methods of interjecting creativity into modern game design. His keynote illustrated the need for new ways to bring creativity to the industry, while managing the risks of taking chances.

Brian Sullivan (Iron Lore) was quoted after his post-mortem presentation of TitanQuest saying, "For me, GCDC is the best conference in the world, and the fact that it is in Europe makes it even more exotic. I really liked the variety of speakers and feel GCDC is a very good platform for developers."

Peter Larsen (Electronic Arts), Teut Weidemann (Consultant Online Entertainment), Thomas Jansen (Turtle Entertainment), and Frederic Descamps (X-Fire), spoke on the topic of creating international communities. The panelists presented methods of building and maintaining communities and explained how to utilize fans to grow your company.

Among the speakers of GCDC this year were Michael Capps (USA, President, Epic Games), Julian Eggebrecht (USA, President & Lead Director/Producer, Factor 5), Noah Falstein (USA, President, The Inspiracy), Alexander Fernández (NL, CEO, Streamline Studios B.V.), Hector Fernández (NL, CEO, Streamline Studios B.V.), David S. Freeman (USA, President, Freeman Group), Megan Gaiser (President/CEO, Her Interactive Inc.), Tony Goodman (USA, General Manager, Ensemble Studios), Fred Hasson (UK, CEO, TIGA), Vlad Ihora (Sweden, Head of Gaming Community, TeliaSonera Internation Carrier), Jennifer MacLean (USA, Vice President/General Manager, Comcast Interactive Media), Mark Morris (UK, Managing Director, Introversion Software Ltd.), Mark Rein (USA, Vice President, Epic Games), Jeff Strain (USA, CEO, ArenaNet), Brian Sullivan (USA, Co-Founder and Creative Director, Iron Lore Entertainment), and Bob Wallace (USA, Principal, Strategic Alternatives).

The next GCDC will take place in Leipzig from 18th - 20th August, 2008.

Statements of Speakers at GCDC 2007

Julian Eggebrecht (USA, President & Lead Director, Factor 5)
"In just a few years, the GCDC has become one of the cornerstones of the games industry. I am delighted to return to Leipzig once more to share my own experiences, and learn from my peers as we grow an increasingly diverse and exciting form of entertainment into the defining art of the 21st century."

Bob Bates (USA, Freelancer)
"GCDC is a very friendly conference, where developers can meet and talk to each other freely. You can have conversations here that simply don't take place anywhere else. The level of speakers is outstanding, and the opportunity to interact with them informally is unparalleled."

Mark Rein (USA, Vice President, Epic Games)
"GCDC is a very nice conference, and Leipzig is an excellent location for this event because it is large enough to hold the event but small enough that it supports the social nature of game developer conferences. I hope GC and GCDC continue in this location."

Alexander L. Fernández (Netherlands, Chief Executive Officer, Streamline Studios)
"GCDC is very important because it brings the global developer community together. It's a great environment for doing business while catching up with friends and colleagues."

David S. Freeman (USA, President, Freeman Group)
"This event has an exceptionally big heart. Along with the professionalism, there are more smiles per square kilometer here than at any other game event in the world, and I should know - I have been to most of them."

Bruce Shelley (USA, Senior Game Designer, Ensemble Studios)
"GCDC is one of the world's best game development conferences. It offers a lot of networking and high-level meetings, plus a good mix of presentations for newcomers and veterans. The schedule is full, yet there is free time and space for quick discussions between developers, media, and other attendees."

Christopher Schmitz (Germany, Executive Producer, UBISOFT)
"GCDC is the most important developers' conference in Europe. I am here to meet a lot of people, learn new things and for networking. The concept of the fair is brilliant. Right from the first contact, the assistance from the GCDC team was great and I was always kept up-to-date with the latest developments."

###

Brian and I were at the Blizzard booth, playing dominating Starcraft II.

Webster's Dictionary Online defines "domination" as an "exercise of preponderant, governing, or controlling influence." Given today's performance at Starcraft 2, we'd argue that Webster's Dictionary is misleading, as the word "exercise" implies the expulsion of effort. Yet Brian and I transcended the construct of the videogame world today, not because of our efforts, but our lack of there of.

As the explosions sounded, the crowd beheld a spectacle of mass importance. In the midst of war, two disparate groups found unity. Brian (Terran) and I (Protoss) broke cultural and racial barriers as old as time itself.

At one point during the experience, Brian turned to me and said, "Mark, I may retire from writing after today. I have offered the Earth my only opus thanks to you."

Our faceless, evil German challengers—by some accounts—may have scored a lucky few extra hits here and there, but it was us, only one third of the Kotaku team, who Changed the World (of Starcraft)...or at least a little piece of Leipzig.

Unfortunately, our game came to an abrupt end, breaking the hearts of our newly enlightened followers. Because despite our controlling influence, certain handlers of Blizzard ended our session schooling ceremony five minutes early.

Sony's Toilet Party
Creativity: 9
Some people call it bathroom humor, others call it another day at the office. But beyond the toilets, Sony sports a variety of themes, including travel and...uhh...heavy fiber ingestion.
Usability: 7
The toilets we already know what to do with, but there are a lot of different stations—like the cozy pods created for SingStar—that will allow gamers to play comfortably.
Overall: 8

Microsoft's Beanbag on Beach
Creativity: 5
Meh. Beach? Sounds like a themed frat party without the sand, kegs or glistening vomit residue on the bust of a sorority girl.
Usability: 9
Teams of two can can play at a booth that is mostly devoted to places to play
Overall: 7

Nintendo's Shower Curtain
Creativity:4
The curtains, hopefully, will remind the crowds for the need to shower regularly. But we don't think that was the intention.
Usability: ?
It really wasn't complete enough to judge how Nintendo will utilize the open space.
Overall:??

For now winner: Sony

We like when big companies can laugh at themselves and these trade shows are filled with large, obnoxious designs...let's not encourage the industry to be Vegas. Let's encourage them to be, you know, that guy who makes fun of Vegas.