Gamescom Asia is back after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, and this time it's bigger and better with a new B2C component! Fans and gamers can get hands-on with demos of highly anticipated games like Dragon's Dogma IIand S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2.
Capcom stole the spotlight with its Street Fighter 6 Pro Tour, held live at the event. The winners of these offline premieres will automatically qualify for one of the coveted 48 spots at Capcom Cup X, and the top 8 finalists will split a prize pool of US$37,000.
Capcom also showcased its move into mobile gaming, including Resident Evil Village for iOS and iPadOS (for iPads with M1 chips and iPhone 15 Pro/Pro Max models). You can also try Devil May Cry: Peak Combat at their booth and check out Street Fighter: Duel for both iOS and Android.
If you're a PSVR2 user, don't miss the chance to experience Resident Evil 4VR Mode– an immersive, heart-pounding thrill ride that had my pulse racing! Though the controls took a bit of time to adjust to, the intense experience made it worth every moment.
One of the standout sections of Gamescom Asia was the Indie Games zone, where independent game developers from all over Asia showcased their creations. Gamers can grab an Indie Wavemaker Rally Card and collect stamps for playing games, with a chance to vote for their favorite and win prizes like an Xbox Series X on Sunday.
PlayStation fans can visit the booth to try Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 and Gran Turismo 7. Both games offer fully immersive experiences, with Spider-Man being a must-play for action-adventure enthusiasts. Don't miss the limited edition PlayStation 5 bundle featuring a detailed Venom statue, locked in battle with Peter Parker and Miles Morales.
At Ubisoft’s booth, you can explore Skull and Bones, a naval RPG where you rise through the ranks to become the ultimate pirate kingpin. Though I didn’t get to try it due to the long queues, the trailers promise breathtaking graphics and an exciting gameplay experience.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R 2: Heart of Chornobylalso made an appearance, with GSC Game World offering a sneak peek in a cyber cafe setup. Slated for release in Q1 2024, the game takes you into the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone, filled with dangerous enemies and mysterious anomalies. With a board game and a potential TV series on the way, the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. franchise is expanding beyond gaming.
For those 90s babies, if you remember Neopets, they are making a comeback too and at the booth, you can find merch of those adorable creatures. If you still remember your login, let's meet back in the Neo-verse!
One of my favorite features of Gamescom is the inclusion of retro games. Retro City's booth, located near the main stage, lets visitors relive nostalgic arcade moments with classic game machines, some in custom cases. It’s a perfect way for the younger generation to experience the golden age of gaming.
And of course, no gaming event is complete without some great food! Be sure to check out the food truck section for some tasty treats as you explore all the excitement Gamescom Asia has to offer.
That’s a wrap on what’s happening at Gamescom Asia this weekend – don’t miss out!
With under a month to gamescomasia 2023 (happening from 20 - 22 October 2023 at Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre), tickets to the firstgamescomasia Entertainment Zone are already released for sales together with the unveiling of an expanded publisher lineup.
gamescom asia aims to serve as the premier platform for Asian game developers to explore partnerships globally, and act as a hub for international publishers who are looking for the next big thing in games. The Asia satellite event of gamescom, the world’s largest computer and video games festival, trade visitors and consumers can expect industry-specific insights and reveals, while new releases and gaming-related offerings will be showcased. The event will include a trade and public exhibition, trade conference and several programmes for the public. Online shows PRIMETIMEand STUDIO will be held on 19 and 22 October for global fans.
4Divinity, Arc System Works, Epicsoft Asia, Make Waves, Neopets, PlayStation, and Ubisoft are among the latest publishers and companies to confirm their participation. Organisers also shared highlights of what to expect at the physical B2C Entertainment Zone exhibition area, from Main Stage performances to new zones within the Entertainment Zone.
Expect an electrifying line-up on the Entertainment Zone Main Stage with concerts, behind-the-scenes talks with acclaimed game producers, dedicated Meet & Greet with special guests, Cosplay Fashion Show and more. Visitors interested in the classics can check out the Retro Games Zone, try out the latest games library at the Board Games Zone, and demo quirky and unique indie games from around the world within the Indie Zone.
Gaming heavyweights to anchor gamescom asia
The event will see a - line-up of the world’s most influential gaming publishers. From trying out game demos to battling it out with the latest gaming hardware and the hottest games, industry professionals and public alike can look forward to being among the first to experience widely-anticipated games firsthand and immerse in the thrill and excellence in esports tournaments.
4Divinity and Epicsoft Asia will present a series of exciting action-packed titles, including the much-anticipated S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl which will be released in Q1 2024. gamescom asia attendees will get to trial a timed demo and stand to win a full copy of ENDLESS™ Dungeon, a new tactical action game set to launch on 19 October 2023. Fans can also try out Atomic Heart and the Annihilation Instinct DLC, all while playing in comfort in Martiangear gaming chairs.
Ubisoft celebrates its 15th anniversary in Singapore this year, and will showcase 2 titles: Assassin’s Creed® Mirage as well as Skull and BonesTM. gamescom asia attendees can speak with studio representatives and recruitment teams, and immerse themselves in an art exhibition featuring both games.
Make Waves, developer and publisher of VR games and educational apps, will showcase 3 exciting VR titles in development – Sky Strikers, Slam City, and Star Legacy, and a mobile puzzle-solver Other Side of Mist and Mountain. All games showcased will be playable in early access, at the event grounds. This is the first time these titles have been showcased at a convention.
More game titles available for play from Capcom, PlayStation, Arc System Works, and more will be announced closer to date.
Exciting Main Stage Shows and Meet & Greets
From guest appearances to performances and entertainment, an exciting programme line-up awaits at the Entertainment Zone Main Stage. Attendees can revel in the music of Gerard Marino’s electrifying live performance, get up close with the voice actors of ‘Honkai: Star Rail’ characters and get a chance to snag some official Honkai freebies, and discover the behind-the-scenes technical magic of Ubisoft’s ‘Skull and Bones’.
Check out the craft of cosplay in the gamescom asia Cosplay Fashion Show – Walk of Valor and Might, held in collaboration with Singapore Cosplay Club. SuperFans ticket holders will be treated to a performance by PLAYERTWO in partnership with Warner Music on 20 October 2023.
Get up close with star cosplayers and voice actors in Meet and Greet sessions on 21 and 22 October at the Meet & Greet Zone. Say hi to cosplayers and content creators Kitz Cua (@kitzcua) and Charess Mabia (@charechii), as well as voice actors from Honkai: Star Rail (Su Ling Chan, Craig Lee Thomas, Molly Zhang and Emily Sun) and Street Fighter 6 (Faye Mata).
Something for everyone, including the family
New zones will be available to entertain and offer hands-on sessions for both online and tabletop games alike – the Retro Games Zone by Retro City, the Board Games Zone by Origame and the Indie Zone by Indie Wavemakers.
Get a chance to play more than 30 games from indie studios from across the world at the Indie Zone by Indie Wavemakers, sponsored by Xbox. Check out the creative work of independent game developers with their own perspectives on games.
Attendees can embrace the golden era of video games with Retro City’s exciting pop-up experience. The Retro Games Zone will showcase custom arcade and pinball machines featuring a myriad of iconic games, as well as activities such as learning how to craft your very own home arcade machine with the help of Retrocade. For a lucky SuperFan, there’ll be a chance to bring home a custom gamescom asia x Retro City Arcade Console, as well as other exciting prizes.
Roll a dice across the table and embark on an unforgettable journey into the world of board gaming with Origame at gamescom asia’s Board Games Zone. Highlights include The Asian Board Game Festival board game library, with over 100 titles of curated board games from all over Asia, as well as game demos from Origame and other popular games from independent Asian board game studios.
For the online audience, tune in to the annual streams for PRIMETIME on 19 October in the evening and STUDIO on 22 October for a half day of extended content, games showcase, and features.
Tickets start from SGD 19 for a single day entry, and can be purchased online via this link. Click herefor an overview of the happenings within the Entertainment Zone. Programme schedule will also be released closer to the event.
Limited SuperFan tickets are available to purchase till 19 October or until sold out. Access to the Zone on 20 October is available only to SuperFan ticketholders. All other public ticket categories can access the event on Saturday 21 October and/or Sunday 22 October.
gamescom asia that's happening in Singapore from 19–22 October 2023will host a physical B2C Entertainment Zone exhibition for the first
time, with an expanded Trade Zone for B2B for this 2023 edition.
This only
satellite event of the world’s largest video games festival, gamescom, will have a trade and public exhibition,
trade conference, and several programs for the public. Online shows PRIMETIME
and STUDIO will also return on 19 and 22 October for all fans.
Capcom is the first major publisher to confirm its participation, kickstarting the
B2C Entertainment Zone. Xsolla, AWS for Games, Unlimit, and Worldline have been
cemented as sponsors within the B2B Trade Zone, with more to follow. Exhibitors
and Pavilions from countries and regions such as Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia,
Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, India, Japan, South Korea, China, Hong Kong
S.A.R., Taiwan, Canada, Israel, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, United Arab
Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America are also on board. gamescom asia 2023 is expected to attract over 30,000 visitors and over 150 exhibitors as the Entertainment Zone exhibition opens its doors to the public this year.
“We are extremely excited to open the Entertainment Zone onsite to the public for
the first time this year. We know it has been long anticipated by passionate fans
and gamers and we look forward to welcoming them to gamescom asia. As the
team works to put up a good show this year with new highlights and expanded
mainstays, we invite companies to join us and make gamescom asia the premier
Southeast Asian destination to showcase and testbed their games, latest gaming
products and services, and reach an audience that is unique to the region.” --- Mathias Kuepper, Managing Director and Vice President Asia-Pacific of Koelnmesse
Pte Ltd, the organiser of gamescom asia.
Let the Games Begin with the New Physical B2C Entertainment Zone
The Entertainment Zone will welcome visitors from 20 - 22 October (with 20
October open to business visitors and a limited number of pre-registered fans
only), with a showcase of trending games, interactive entertainment, and featured
areas like indies, esports, cosplay, boardgames, group play zones, and more.
Visitors can lay their hands on games by their favourite publishers and indie
studios, watch live stage entertainment, and come dressed up as their favourite
game characters. There will also be a designated food alley to fuel up, while merchandise from the latest games and classics will be available for purchase.
Online shows PRIMETIME and STUDIO will return, on 19 October and 22 October
respectively, with sneak peeks and other extended content for global audiences.
An all-new Indie Wavemakers area will open in both the Entertainment and Trade
Zone of the exhibition for studios and developers looking for publishers and
investors, as well as valuable gamer feedback and testing on their new releases
and demos.
Indie exhibitors can also share about their games on the Indie
Wavemakers Live Stage at gamescom asia.
In partnership with Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), gamescom asia
will also recognize the SEA Game Awards winners at the event for the first time.
The awards aim to recognize and celebrate the creativity, artistry, and technical genius
of the finest game developers from the Southeast Asian and International video
game industry. Award winners will be announced at MYDCF 2023 (Malaysia Digital
Content Festival) on 29 September in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and will receive
further recognition at gamescom asia 2023.
At the Heart of Gaming Business with a Bigger and Better Trade Zone
gamescom asia’s Trade Zone consists of the Trade Zone Exhibition and Trade
Conference on 19 and 20 October.
The Trade Zone exhibition will be open to all Trade visitors and conference
delegates and will feature Expo Stage talks, networking & recharge zones, esports
zone as well as the all-new Indie Wavemakers area. Country pavilions and booths
from gaming companies and service providers will showcase the latest games and
services to publishers, investors and IP owners who are looking for the next big
thing in games.
Over 80 industry experts will present in person at the Trade Conference. With
three extended tracks across 19 and 20 October, the conference will cover the
latest gaming trends, as well as tried-and-true games design, business, and
marketing principles. Content creators, KOLs, and influencers in gaming can glean
insights and up their game in the new Content Creators Summit, held on 20
October.
Conference delegates will have access to all content as well as
networking sessions like the official conference networking reception and will be
able to apply for the Developers-Publishers-Investors Speed Networking session.
Confirmed speakers include:
● CD PROJEKT RED (Poland) - Kacper Niepokólczycki, Lead Environment
Artist
● Focus Entertainment (France) - Xavier Marot, Chief Production Officer
● LightSpeed Studios (China) - Yang Chao, Expert Researcher
● Mojang Studios (Sweden) - Nickole Li, Principal Designer (Systems)
● SUNSOFT (Japan) - Yuichi Ochi, General Manager
● Team17 Digital (UK) - Jasper Barnes, Head of Game Scouting
● Techland (Poland) - Tymon Smektała, Dying Light Franchise Director
● Ubisoft (Singapore) - Bill Money, Game Director
and many more.
Check out the latest list of speakers and agenda here.
Event Details
● The official B2B networking app for the gamescom asia, gamescom, and devcom
communities will be on gamescom biz once again, accessible by all gamescom asia
registered exhibitors and industry visitors.
● gamescom asia 2023 is a ticketed event, tickets and Registration
Tickets for the public will open from end-July.
● Registration for trade and industry members are already open at this link.
Companies who wish to exhibit in both
Trade and Entertainment Zones can apply here.
Singapore! Let's all start gearing up as the yearly coolest gaming convention comes back into town! Hubby's excited to see what the cosplayers scene is like this year and I am curious to check out the new and upcoming game titles and try my hand on them before they hit the market! As the Asia Pacific remains the largest overall region for gaming, estimated to take in $72.2 billion in 2019, and esports to be featured as a medal sport at the upcoming 2019 Southeast Asian Games - the gaming ecosystem is abuzz with interest. All eyes are on GameStart Asia, Singapore’s largest and longest-running gaming event.
From humble beginnings of hosting 12,000 visitors in its inaugural edition in 2014, GameStart Asia has since welcomed 100,000 gamers, esports athletes and cosplayers over its 5 year history. SEA MAJOR, which has called GameStart home since 2016, returns as host to some of the world’s most prestigious fighting game tournaments. 2018’s edition of SEA MAJOR saw over 400 participants, with online engagement on Twitch alone reaching 25 million (minutes watched), with 2.6 million video plays on 1.6 million devices. GameStart today is Southeast Asia’s premier gaming event, having forged long term partnerships with renowned platforms including Taipei Game Show, BIC Fest, Game Prime Asia and BitSummit to connect passionate local and international gaming communities.
To be held on 12 and 13 October 2019 at Suntec Convention Centre, Organiser - Eliphant has unveiled a series of announcements for its sixth edition -GameStart 2019 (#GameStart2019) to get their fans hyped and ready for the event of the year.
Themed as “Asian Mythology”, visitors can gear up to new and exciting content that include showcases of the latest blockbuster games, esports, indie games, tabletop gaming, cosplay and appearances by special guests from various games industry segments.
Something new this year, there will be a themed adventure room game experience created for the first time. The Castle will require gamers to gather in a party of 4 (or join a group), select from two story-based routes, and embark on their chosen clan’s mission to find the sealed demon within the abandoned castle.
The new GameStart Demo Zone will also host new and upcoming games on the PS4 and Nintendo Switch consoles, including Tokyo RPG’s latest title, ONINAKI, Ubisoft’s Just Dance 2020, and other games which will be announced closer to the event days. Publishers Marvel, Bandai Namco Entertainment Asia, Arc System Works, and Square Enix will also showcase games at the event.
RETURNING FAVORITES
● The popular Tabletop Zone - The global board games market is a niche sector that has quietly seen astronomical growth in the last 3 to 4 years and is on track to be worth US$12 billion by 2023. The Tabletop Zone has seen strong growth in attendees since it was first introduced at GameStart 2017. Local and international exhibitors, including Moaideas from Taiwan and Asobi, a concept store for hobby enthusiasts, who will bring “Fate/Grand Order -collection figure-” will be at the convention. The Open Gaming area will have a selection of games for the uninitiated to try tabletop games led by Game Masters. Pre-registration for the free sessions is available at https://event.gamestart.asia/exhibitors/open-gaming/ .
● A haven for artists and the creative scene, Doujin Market x GameStart 2019 is a collaboration with the largest artist convention in the region, and provides artists from SEA the chance to showcase and sell their creations to visitors. For the fourth year running, Doujin Market - Doujima x GameStart Artist Alley returns to make art accessible to video game fans, while providing local and regional creators an opportunity to showcase their work. Over 40 creators will showcase some of the very best video game-inspired artwork, accessories and fan creations.
● Some of Asia’s best indie developers, including those from Myanmar and China, will gather at Founders Base to showcase their work, in addition to Gamestart’s partners - Taipei Game Show (Taiwan), Busan Indie Connect (BIC) Festival (Korea), Game Prime Asia (Indonesia) and BitSummit (Japan).
JOURNEY WITH TOP ESPORTS ATHLETES
SEA MAJOR (SEAM) 2019, the largest fighting game tournament in Asia, returns to GameStart 2019 bigger and better, with top players from around the world. It will host two major events - the Asia Regional Finals for Capcom World Tour (Street Fighter V), and the Finals of the inaugural SOULCALIBUR Asia League. Some of the world’s top players will be participating, including Daigo “The Beast” Umehara (Japan) and Kayane (France). Organisers hinted that a special announcement by a game publisher is expected to be made during the tournaments. Registration for SEA MAJOR will end on 8 October.
Other tournaments include:
● Organised by FIFA veteran Xtr3me3 and Eliphant, the annual GameStart 2019: FIFA 20 Championship returns this year with a prize pool worth SGD 3,500, sponsored by MyRepublic GAMER and Armaggeddon.
● Mobile Legends: Bang Bang and League of Legends tournaments under the MyRepublic Gamer tournament series.
● Pixel Battle Ultimate Challenge - a fun challenge for GameStart’s own mobile game which received a big content update in August 2019. Daily winners will take home a Secretlab gaming chair and GameStart swag.
GUESTS APPEARANCES
Get up close and personal with industry talents in the gaming community, as visitors will get to meet
and appreciate their skills and insights in GameStart 2019. From veteran game producers to talented
musicians and creatives, be inspired by Asia’s best in the gaming industry.
● Veteran Producer from Square Enix and Creative Producer of Tokyo RPG Factory, Takashi Tokita , will present his new game, ONINAKI, on the GameStart Main Stage on 12 October. In addition, he will hold a special session to talk about his 30+ years of experience in game development. Attendees will have a chance to ask him questions in a more intimate setting. Limited seats are available for this session, and those keen to attend can register at http://bit.ly/gs19ss.
● Violinist Luna Lorrain , in Singapore for the first time, will perform her renditions of beloved game and anime songs on the GameStart Main Stage. She has performed in some of the biggest ACG (anime, comic and game) events in Southeast Asia.
● Digital Artist and Illustrator Richard Suwono is a huge fan of fighting games and known for his unique art style, often depicting characters from fighting game franchises. Fans will get to meet him at the SEA MAJOR zone, as well as purchase 2 exclusive T-shirt designs by Richard for GameStart 2019 and SEA MAJOR 2019.
● Taiwanese pianist, V.K. , is best known for his compositions for Deemo, a successful music game developed by Rayark games. He will be performing on the GameStart Main Stage on 12 October.
● Riiyuukii Cosplay will be making appearances at GameStart as Alyse, the GameStart mascot. Up-and-coming model Yuuno will also appear as a new Nemesis character to Alyse.
Eat.Drink.Play.Repeat.
Weary gamers can replenish their HP and MP, or celebrate their victories at The Sanctuary . Curated by home-grown mead company Lion City Meadery, six delectable food stalls, a range of award-winning mead (a familiar drink in many Role-playing Games), and a selection of craft beer from Canadian Craft Beer, will be well-stocked to fill tummies and quench the thirst.
The Sanctuary is conveniently located close to the Tabletop Zone, so players can enjoy food and drink while they contemplate their next move. Attractive prizes await the bold who complete quest cards by performing various activities at selected booths, with Armaggeddon returns as the Official Quest Sponsor. Sponsors and partners of GameStart 2019 include Twitch (Official Live Stream Platform), MyRepublic (Official Fibre Broadband Partner), Monster Energy (Official Energy Drink), Lion City Meadery (Preferred Alcohol Partner) and XSplit (Official Live Stream Software).
Levelling Up - The Next Chapter
In May 2019, GameStart Asia announced its partnership with the inaugural gamescom asia, to be held in Singapore in 2020, to jointly curate an all-rounded gaming experience. This October, gamescom asia will be exhibiting at GameStart 2019.
“GameStart will hand over the reigns to gamescom asia in Singapore, and work closely with Koelnmesse Singapore to build on the current gaming community that we have established over the years. When we started in 2014, my team and I set out to put Singapore and Southeast Asia on the map for gaming. The partnership is an exciting milestone and I’d like to think that what we’ve done and achieved has helped create this opportunity, no matter how small a part we’ve played. For now, the team is hard at work putting the finishing touches to GameStart 2019, with special announcements and activities lined up to thank the community - fans and partners alike - with the best experience ever. We hope that everyone can come and join us.” --- Elicia Lee, Founder of GameStart Asia.
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