Gamescom is a new European trade fair for interactive games and entertainment organized by the Bundesverband Interaktive Unterhaltungssoftware (BIU). The BIU (German Federal Association of Interactive Entertainment Software) represents 13 major video game companies such as Activision, Electronic Arts, Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo. It was first held from 19 to 23 August 2009 in Cologne, Germany at the Cologne Trade Fair Center (Köln Messe). It is the European equivalent of E3 in Los Angeles and Tokyo Game Show in Japan. It is used by many video game developers to show off their upcoming games and game-related hardware.

Gamescom is the world’s largest games event with 245,000 visitors, more than 4,000 journalists and 458 exhibitors from 31 countries attending the show in its first year. Gamescom 2010 will be held from 18 to 22 August 2010 at the same venue.

Media Coverage

While most press conferences were not available for live streaming, Electronic Arts was streaming their press conference live on EA.com. Sony Computer Entertainment Europe also showcased their press conference on their online community-based service PlayStation Home shortly afterward in the Presentation Podium. They also made their press conference available for download on the PlayStation Store. Various gaming websites, such as IGN and Kotaku, offered live-blogging of the respective press conferences.

Game Developers Conference Europe

The 2009 Game Developers Conference Europe (GDC Europe), a European spinoff of the Game Developers Conference, was held in conjunction with the Gamescom and took place on 17-19 August 2009 at the Cologne Congress Center East. Nearly 1,500 professionals, including 130 speakers, 40 exhibitors, and more than 250 media representatives attended the conference, making it the largest game industry event for professionals in Europe. The GDC Europe will return to Cologne on 16-18 August 2010.

source from:Wikipedia