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| (Image Source: THE MAGIC RAIN/gamescom asia) |
gamescom asia, Asia's premier video games business and consumer event, is set to mark another year of Asian gaming excellence with a various intriguing load of stage guests and highly-exciting booths featuring industry heavyweights serving as testament to the region's growing significance in the global games industry. Bringing together the breadth of Southeast Asia's games industry and its fans, the event will take place at the Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition Centre in Singapore on October 17-20, 2024 with a business and public exhibition, an industry conference, and several programmes for the public, expecting to attract over 4,000 visitors and guests and 150 exhibitors.
CAPCOM, a leading global developer and publisher of video games, is the first to confirm its participation, kickstarting the B2C entertainment area. Attendees can look forward to a variety of hands-on demos of upcoming games and the electrifying CAPCOM Pro Tour 2024 SUPER PREMIER SINGAPORE which is an official tournament for Street Fighter™ 6 where two players who reach the grand finals will each be guaranteed a spot in the CAPCOM CUP 11, promising an unforgettable experience for fans and industry professionals alike. Attendees can also immerse in the CAPCOM universe with demo stations for Monster Hunter Wilds™ which will make its public debut in Southeast Asia exclusively via gamescom asia 2024; Street Fighter™ 6 where visitors can get hands-on with its most recent addition, the game's first-ever guest character Terry Bogard from SNK's Fatal Fury and King of Fighters series; Dead Rising™ Deluxe Remaster; MARVEL vs. CAPCOM® Fighting Collection: Arcade Classic; and Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess™. The GCL group, through its games publishing unit 4Divinity, will be presenting and showcasing its 2024 titles including JDM: Japanese Drift Master (pre-release preview play) which lets players explore and drift around Japan's countryside, open-world construction and survival game Terratech Worlds (in Steam Early Access), action RPG with base building and tower defence mechanics First Dwarf (in Steam Early Access), the intense 2.5D side-scrolling action game Mandragora (pre-release preview play) and the immersive sim and horror FPS S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl (pre-release preview play). Neopets will flavor the entertainment area with its new styles and merchandise as well as its upcoming mobile games like Faerie Fragments and Tales Of Dacardia. Visitors to their booth can meet the Soup Faerie and spin the Wheel of Excitement to win exclusive prizes. Korean publisher Sandy Floor will also be showcasing GREAT TOY SHOWDOWN where visitors can try their hand at their soon-to-be-released shooting team battle game. "gamescom asia brings together all aspects of the gaming world, from major names like PlayStation to trailblazing indie developers, and everything in between. It's the ultimate destination for gaming enthusiasts looking to be in the heart of the action,” said Daria La Valle, Project Director of Koelnmesse, the organizer of gamescom asia.
gamescom asia's entertainment area promises to surprise and delight enthusiasts of all levels in a weekend packed with excitement. Visitors can test drive the latest video games from their favourite publishers and indie studios, watch live stage entertainment, and even meet some of their favourite gaming personalities. They can immerse themselves in featured areas like indies, eSports, artists, cosplay, board games, retro games, and more. Dozens of indie developers will be featured in the entertainment area's expanded indie area - in partnership with Indie Wavemakers. Stamp rallies and attractive prizes will be available for the public and the most voted indie games will eventually be in the running for the Indie Wavemakers awards, celebrated on the entertainment area Main Stage on October 20, 2024. The indie area will feature a diverse selection of more than 50 genre-defying titles from around the world ready to be discovered. In addition, visitors will also get a chance to meet the minds behind the magic at their booths, gaining insight into what it takes to develop games. Some of the titles to be showcased in the indie area include Let's Build A Dungeon by Springloaded Software, Mars Attracts by Outlier Games, Nif Nif by Springfox Games Harpy Raiders by Clouds of Eternity and Island of Winds by ESDigital Games, among others. The Main Stage is poised to be an electrifying hub of entertainment, featuring a slew of events for visitors. In addition to a panel with BAFTA-winning voice actor Andrew Wincott (Raphael, Baldur's Gate 3) and the dulcet tones of SHIHORI (singing voice of SPARKLE Melissa, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang), revel in the art of cos at the Cosplay Competition judged by elite, internationally acclaimed cosplayers Charess Mabia (@charechii), Vera Chimera (@verachimera_x) and Angelus (@neotokyoproject). Monster Hunter™ series Producer Ryozo Tsujimoto is also set to take the stage on October 19, 2024 to share more about Monster Hunter Wilds and engage with fans during the session. After the stage segment, a Meet & Greet session will be open to all those attending the event. Additionally, fans of Street Fighter™ are in for a treat. Street Fighter™ 6 Director Takayuki Nakayama and Producer Shuhei Matsumoto will also be on the Main Stage to hang out with fans and even play some live matches with them. Over at the Meet & Greet area, fans can get up close and personal with some of their favourite actors and cosplayers including Andrew Wincott (voice of Raphael, Baldur's Gate 3), Charess Mabia (@charechii), Xiaoyu (@xiaoyukiko) and SHIHORI.
There's something for everyone at gamescom asia. Whether it is looking to level up their peripherals, roll some dice or discover new artists, visitors will be able to find a dedicated zone that allows them to celebrate their love for gaming in their own unique way. Take the gaming experience to a whole new level with a fresh set of hardware from SHARP or Varmilo. SHARP's booth will feature their latest No. 1 in Japan AQUOS mobile phone and AQUOS XLED 4K Google TV, perfect for gaming and cinematic experiences, while keyboard brand Varmilo is set to debut their latest FTG must-have at gamescom asia 2024: the Fighting Game Keyboard GK2. Visitors who want to take a trip down memory lane will be delighted by RetroCade's showcase of their playable machines, inspired by arcades in the 80s. The machines will be loaded with classics from the golden era of video games. For a break from the screens, pull up to the board game area and visit Origame's extensive board game library. Choose from over 100 titles of curated board games from all over Asia, including original Origame demos. Then immerse in the world of Tabletop Miniature wargaming at HammerHouse. Get inspired by the beautifully painted miniatures on display, dip your brushes and slap some paints onto a free Warhammer 40,000 Space Marine miniature. Additionally, try your hands at the demonstration games available onsite, featuring games from the Warhammer 40,000, Star Wars and the Marvel universes. No convention is complete without a bit of merch. In collaboration with Neo Tokyo Project, organizers of the hugely successful Doujin Market, gamescom asia's artists area brings together over 25 pop culture artisans and creators who are passionate about creating art, and original and derivative fan works.
Over at the business conference of gamescom asia, Shawn Layden, who was pivotal in helping shape the iconic PlayStation brand, will set the tone for the gamescom asia conference with a fireside chat on insights and predictions about the games industry. Companies from across the globe are joining the exhibition including from Australia, China, Europe, Hong Kong S.A.R. (Special Administrative Region), Indonesia, Japan, the Middle East, Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, and the USA, as well as country pavilions from Singapore, Thailand, and Spain, solidifying gamescom asia as the premier hub for Asian gaming. This is further reinforced by recent sponsorship deals with long-time event supporters Xsolla and Games from Spain as well as newcomer Mistil Games. “We are excited to be part of the evolving status of Southeast Asia as a key market in the games industry. The region is really showing its potential for growth, and with the continued support we've had over the years, plus key industry leaders joining us this year, it's clear that gaming in the region is on a promising path. Additionally, gamescom asia is uniquely positioned as a bridge for gamers who seek a direct connection to their favourite games and their creators,” said La Valle. The gamescom asia business area highlights gaming excellence with conference programme, exhibition and a pitch competition set for October 17-18 and will offer opportunities for b2b networking and knowledge sharing. The gamescom asia pitch competition brings the spotlight on top gaming industry talent competing for titles like Most Anticipated Game, Best Pitch, and Best Game Design while the business area exhibition will be open to all b2b visitors and will feature a dedicated stage for exhibitors to share insights - the Expo Stage, and several networking & recharge areas. 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 at the gamescom asia conference. With three tracks across two days, the conference will cover the latest gaming trends, as well as tried-and-true games design, business, and marketing principles. Confirmed speakers include:
• Agate International (Indonesia) Associate Production Director Shandhi Sayogo
• Altitude Games (Philippines) Design Director Luna Javier
• CD Projekt Red (USA) Vice President of Brand Marketing Amir Ghareaghadje
• Hooded Horse (USA) President and Chief Finance Officer Snow Rui
• MINTROCKET - NEXON (South Korea) Game Director Jaeho Hwang
• Neopets (Hong Kong) Director of Global Licensing and Brand Development Rebecca Glowacz
• Ogre Head Studio (India) Creative Director and Managing Partner Zainuddeen Fahadhn
• Riot Games (Singapore) Animation Lead Louis Ang
• Rovio (Finland) Senior UA Manager Nutt Mongkol
• SEGA (Japan) Executive Vice President and Global Head of Transmedia Justin Scarpone
• Team17 (UK) Head of Game Scouting Jasper Barnes
• Video Games Chronicle (UK) Editor-in-Chief Andy Robinson
For more information and updates on gamescom asia 2024, visit its official website gamescom.asia and the following social media accounts:
• Facebook: @asia.gamescom
• X (Twitter): @gamescomasia
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/gamescom-asia
• Instagram: @gamescomasia
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@gamescomasia
