Gamescom just gone but back next year
Posted: August 24th, 2016, 13:17
OK, it's not so much a game as a trade fair of games but I figured this was the most appropriate place to put this - if not, one of you roguishly good looking admin types can put it somewhere else.
So, I was at gamescom 2016 this weekend just gone hand if you follow me on twitter you would have seen that I had myself a jolly good time whilst I was there. But, I figured most people here haven't been so I should probably give you the important information on what is Europes answer to E3. (As always there is an ulterior motive, see bottom of post)
Travel
Travel to KolnMessa (the venue) or Cologne in general is as easy as you want to make it. Flights from Cologne go from a large number of airports in the UK and Europe, if those flights cannot be found then flights to Dussledorf airport, which is about 30 minutes away by train, are another option open to you. Rail from Koln HauptBahnhof to the airport is around 5 euro and to Dussledoft it is around 11 euro. Taxi to/from Cologne airport is abour 25 euro.
During the event itself free rail travel is granted in the entire VRS/VRR area, so long as you have gamescom tickets and a special rail pass which is free when pre-booking. As this area is pretty bloody large it means you can travel to/from airports on same day as visiting the event, for free.
Accommodation
This will be the second most expensive purchase after the flights, or even the most expensive depending on where your tastes lie or how well prepared you are with your booking. Cheaper hotels in the area get snapped up quickly and close to event time there are no cheap hotels available at all.
My advice here would be to book on the other side of the Rhein, in the city centre proper as this is where a lot of the evening after party gamescom street events take place.
Tickets
Tickets are fairly cheap when you consider the size of the event. It cost us 35 euros each for a three day, Fri-Sun, ticket.
Facilities on site
The usual, of note are free drinking water from fountains and a cloakroom to store baggage should you be travelling to/from Cologne that day. The food is expensive and mostly crap the beer is pretty standard.
Public transport connections are great.
Suff to see/do
Esports events take place throughout gamescom, this year I saw some Overwatch and Heroes of the Storm. Press announcements tend to take place during the press only days early in the week but some are done throughout the event. Signing from some famous gaming personalitie, and some non-entity you tube spanners. Other entertainment is also put on in some cases (the Blizzard stage hosted a Blizz-centric version of Video Games Live this year) Cosplay competitions and shows are on at various times if you want a good lech, though the crowds are full of cosplayers anyway. Of course, games are available to play, competitions to take part in, new hardware is available to try out and new video releases for games are also on show.
There is also a very large merchandising area.
Queues
Ah yes, the main reason a lot of people don't go and why a lot of people don't go back. Queues can be massive, I queued for 3 hours to get to play 30 minutes of DoWIII. There are strategies for coping with long lines and avoiding long lines, best times of day to look to play certain games, etc. Just expect to spend time in lines waiting to see/play new games.
Freebies
There are many and varied, and none are worth the effort some people put in to get a hold of them.
Most stands will offer some form of freebie for sitting through their demonstrations, previews or other event. For example, Torment gave us tog bags, Playstation gave us a lanyard, DoW III gave us a tee-shirt. Don't be fooled by people walking around with large bags, I got one of these bags from Bethesda after their presentation and after eagerly opening it I discovered it was absolutely empty.
I would suggest that most freebies offered are simply not worth seeking out just for the freebie, but as incidentals for trying out a game you were already interested in they are an ok addition. If you really really want free shit then on Sunday afternoon most of the stalls are just chucking stuff at crowds of baying lunatics (personally I think that these moments are the best to get into a short queue while the horde is distracted)
Language
Yes this is Germany, yes the language used at the con is German. I suggest learning some small German phrases to get you by - "please" "thankyou" "excuse me" and "do you speak english" are a minimum requirement.
Most staff when asked will speak english, however most presentations will be in German.
My ulterior motive for this post?
I'm going back next year, and want to take a bunch of 5punkers with me.
Any questions, ask and i will update main post.
So, I was at gamescom 2016 this weekend just gone hand if you follow me on twitter you would have seen that I had myself a jolly good time whilst I was there. But, I figured most people here haven't been so I should probably give you the important information on what is Europes answer to E3. (As always there is an ulterior motive, see bottom of post)
Travel
Travel to KolnMessa (the venue) or Cologne in general is as easy as you want to make it. Flights from Cologne go from a large number of airports in the UK and Europe, if those flights cannot be found then flights to Dussledorf airport, which is about 30 minutes away by train, are another option open to you. Rail from Koln HauptBahnhof to the airport is around 5 euro and to Dussledoft it is around 11 euro. Taxi to/from Cologne airport is abour 25 euro.
During the event itself free rail travel is granted in the entire VRS/VRR area, so long as you have gamescom tickets and a special rail pass which is free when pre-booking. As this area is pretty bloody large it means you can travel to/from airports on same day as visiting the event, for free.
Accommodation
This will be the second most expensive purchase after the flights, or even the most expensive depending on where your tastes lie or how well prepared you are with your booking. Cheaper hotels in the area get snapped up quickly and close to event time there are no cheap hotels available at all.
My advice here would be to book on the other side of the Rhein, in the city centre proper as this is where a lot of the evening after party gamescom street events take place.
Tickets
Tickets are fairly cheap when you consider the size of the event. It cost us 35 euros each for a three day, Fri-Sun, ticket.
Facilities on site
The usual, of note are free drinking water from fountains and a cloakroom to store baggage should you be travelling to/from Cologne that day. The food is expensive and mostly crap the beer is pretty standard.
Public transport connections are great.
Suff to see/do
Esports events take place throughout gamescom, this year I saw some Overwatch and Heroes of the Storm. Press announcements tend to take place during the press only days early in the week but some are done throughout the event. Signing from some famous gaming personalitie, and some non-entity you tube spanners. Other entertainment is also put on in some cases (the Blizzard stage hosted a Blizz-centric version of Video Games Live this year) Cosplay competitions and shows are on at various times if you want a good lech, though the crowds are full of cosplayers anyway. Of course, games are available to play, competitions to take part in, new hardware is available to try out and new video releases for games are also on show.
There is also a very large merchandising area.
Queues
Ah yes, the main reason a lot of people don't go and why a lot of people don't go back. Queues can be massive, I queued for 3 hours to get to play 30 minutes of DoWIII. There are strategies for coping with long lines and avoiding long lines, best times of day to look to play certain games, etc. Just expect to spend time in lines waiting to see/play new games.
Freebies
There are many and varied, and none are worth the effort some people put in to get a hold of them.
Most stands will offer some form of freebie for sitting through their demonstrations, previews or other event. For example, Torment gave us tog bags, Playstation gave us a lanyard, DoW III gave us a tee-shirt. Don't be fooled by people walking around with large bags, I got one of these bags from Bethesda after their presentation and after eagerly opening it I discovered it was absolutely empty.
I would suggest that most freebies offered are simply not worth seeking out just for the freebie, but as incidentals for trying out a game you were already interested in they are an ok addition. If you really really want free shit then on Sunday afternoon most of the stalls are just chucking stuff at crowds of baying lunatics (personally I think that these moments are the best to get into a short queue while the horde is distracted)
Language
Yes this is Germany, yes the language used at the con is German. I suggest learning some small German phrases to get you by - "please" "thankyou" "excuse me" and "do you speak english" are a minimum requirement.
Most staff when asked will speak english, however most presentations will be in German.
My ulterior motive for this post?
I'm going back next year, and want to take a bunch of 5punkers with me.
Any questions, ask and i will update main post.
) so I've always been interested in going, but I'm really put off by the waiting in line. Hours of waiting to see a bit of fluffed-up footage or some polished cutscenes? No thanks. I'm not really seeing a lot of other reasons to go either. Convince me!