Why the decline? Well, it's all in the name. Last year's Leipzig Games Convention was a showcase for all things gaming, from consoles to handhelds to the PC. But this year, the bulk of the industry has committed to the rival Games Com show in Köln, leaving Leipzig to pay host to a show about...online gaming.

A show you have to attend in person, about online gaming. No wonder nobody turned up. Indeed, when you put it that way, 43,000 is pretty damn good, all things considered.

Neoseeker noted that this game looks like YAMFRIES - Yet Another MMO Featuring Rangers, Imps, Elves and Sorcerers - so its title should reflect just how cookie-cutter generic its teaser trailer makes it out to be. And to that end, they've provided three columns of words - pick one from each, maybe throw in a colon after the first if it makes sense, and there you go.

Column 1 Column 2 Column 3

Dragon Knight Online

Elf Castle Realms

Legend of Sword Empire

Dark Treasure Quest

Nightmare Adventure Worlds

Epic Forever Kingdom

Warrior Dungeon Wars

Tales of Victory Island

Death Voyages Craft

Then, having created your name, you may email it to Gamigo, where you'll be eligible to win €1,000 worth of credits to apply to your character in the game.

I chose "Warrior: Dungeon Realms." Anybody else got a better idea?

F2P MMO Project S Announced [Neoseeker]

Taking place on July 31 and August 1 in the former home of the once-massive Gamescon, the convention will focus on the online aspect of gaming.

Former CEO of SCEE David Reeves has signed on as a leading keynote speaker for the show, the conference announced.

Reeves' talk is entitled "Schrodinger's Cat and Heisenberg's Dog – The Change from Offline to Online". Reeves will explain what "everything online" means for the industry.

"At the GCO, I will provide a view of when online sales of games overtake classic retail distribution", Reeves said.

With the carpet sort of pulled out from under Leipzig last year it will be interesting to see how the survive and if they thrive with this new, more niche, focus.

David Reeves and Jong Hyun Wi to Give Opening Keynote Speeches [Gamescon]

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