GAMEHOTEL SEASON SIX: SHOW, CONGRESS & EXPO

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Since its spectacular 2003 Paris debut, the celebrated international event series GAMEHOTEL has been exposing the latest trends in interactive entertainment in vibrant shows and enthralling conferences. Following up on successful shows in Paris and California, GAMEHOTEL returns to Zurich on October 24 & 25 for a third edition in German-speaking Europe. Packed with ideas, style, and a whole lot of fun, the exuberant live event offers wide-ranging access to the global phenomenon of interactive entertainment.

The legendary GAMEHOTEL SHOW live extravaganza features some of the world's hottest game designers from the US, Japan, and Europe. This inspiring journey into the future of interactive entertainment is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for game fans and broad audiences to experience world-class game creators sharing their thoughts and visions while presenting their latest titles. The two-hour show's highlight is the thrilling GRAND GAME BATTLE, where über-motivated gamers show off their skills in a breathtaking multi-round battle.

At the GAMEHOTEL CONGRESS, leading international speakers spotlight the growing influence of video games in the marketplace, society and culture. This year’s focus is on how game mechanics and so-called funware are successfully used outside the gaming industry. The congress offers decision makers, opinion leaders, and practitioners in the media, marketing, advertisement, and creative industries highly inspiring first-hand insights into critical trends and developments, and brings them up to speed on new business opportunities.

At the GAMEHOTEL EXPO, game aficionados and a broad audience discover a selection of the hottest games of the year, from blockbuster titles to innovative new genres and casual games.

GAMEHOTEL takes place on October 24 and 25, 2008, at the futuristic Arena Filmcity in Zurich. It is owned and produced by event organizer and digital media consultancy TNC Network.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Friday, October 24, 2008
1:30pm - 6:30pm: GAMEHOTEL CONGRESS (Tickets)
2:00pm - 12:00am: GAMEHOTEL EXPO (admission free)

Saturday, October 25, 2008
12:00pm - 12:00am: GAMEHOTEL EXPO (admission free)
8:30pm - 11:00pm: GAMEHOTEL SHOW & GRAND GAME BATTLE (Tickets)

 

CELEBRATING VIDEO GAMES
Never before have computer and video games held such an important position in the marketplace, society, and culture. "Games have evolved into a flourishing multi-billion business, reach a mass audience around the world, and have a deep impact on today's entertainment, consumer, and communication habits," says GAMEHOTEL director Bruno Beusch. Since its spectacular 2003 Paris debut, GAMEHOTEL, the acclaimed international event series with the pop-cultural spin, has transposed the latest trends in interactive entertainment into vibrant shows and enthralling conferences. "GAMEHOTEL celebrates video games as a driving force in today's popular culture, and shows what the future holds," says GAMEHOTEL executive producer Tina Cassani.

GAMEHOTEL - THE BRAND
GAMEHOTEL has established itself as a dynamic, trend-setting international brand with a unique, fresh image in the field of interactive entertainment and digital lifestyle. GAMEHOTEL stands for successful, innovative and entertaining events with an international all-star lineup, a trademark balance of fun and content, and high credibility and acceptance amongst target audiences. In addition to its flagship live events, GAMEHOTEL produces an ongoing series of TV and cross media programs, as well as corporate seminars, conferences, and studies on the influence of video games in advertisement, marketing, the media, education and the workplace. In 2007, GAMEHOTEL launched the spin-off GAMEHOTEL THINK TANK. In collaboration with partners from the industry and the media, it forecasts critical trends and developments in interactive entertainment.

After its celebrated 2003 Paris launch in a historic artistocratic town house, in 2004, GAMEHOTEL became part of the official program of the Game Developer's Conference, the world's premiere video game developer convention, held at the monumental San Jose Civic Auditorium in the heart of Silicon Valley. In 2006, following up on more sold-out shows in Paris, GAMEHOTEL added a new annual edition held at a futuristic movie theater complex in the bustling economic capital of Zurich. In 2009, GAMEHOTEL Germany will premiere in the city of Cologne.

PRAISE FROM THE PUBLIC AND THE MEDIA
The audience, the media, and the industry described GAMEHOTEL events in glowing terms: Yahoo: "The symbol of future events on video games." French weekly Télérama: "The place where you discover tomorrow's games and digital heroes." Leading London-based game magazine Edge: "A valuable and enduring achievement; refreshing and exuberant." French daily Libération: "A great evening on digital pop culture." Californian Xbox Nation magazine: "Fun, relaxation, and intelligent discourse!" German national TV ZDF: "A groundbreaking gaming lifestyle event that puts games on the public radar." National TV channel SF: "The Spielbergs, Coppolas and Scorseses of the virtual world show where interactive entertainment is headed." Zurich's Tagesanzeiger: "A big showdown featuring the latest trends from the gaming world." Kotaku: "Crawling with hot game designers. A slick stage presentation ... impressive." Tokyo-based game magazine Famitsu: "Relaxing atmosphere, cheerfully designed!" Online game magazine Gamespot: "[Featuring] some of the most innovative people in games, GAMEHOTEL is a success." High-profile game magazine Gamasutra: "A celebration of video gaming as it relates to pop culture at large."

WHO'S WHO OF VIDEO GAMES
The guest list of previous GAMEHOTEL events and spin offs reads like a who’s who of video games. Over 50 heavy hitters of the interactive entertainment industry have appeared on the show: celebrated Japanese creator of Lumines, 99 Nights, and Rez, Tetsuya Mizuguchi; British game developer legend Peter Molyneux; Sims creator Will Wright; Sony's former Worldwide Studios’ president, Phil Harrison; Neil Young, former Vice President of Electronic Arts; the new enfant terrible on the block and mastermind behind cult title Katamari Damacy, Keita Takahashi; the creative mind behind the highly anticipated LittleBigPlanet, Mark Healey; Assassin's Creed producer, Jade Raymond; French visionary David Cage; Guitar Hero and RockBand creator, and Harmonix’ CEO, Alex Rigopulos; EA’s A & R director, Alan Yu; Crytek's Cevat Yerli; British author and columnist Steven Poole, aka ‘Trigger Happy’; Japanese music-action game master Masaya Matsuura, and many more.