The whole range of the game industry displayed at SPIEL

All kinds of products are presented at Essen: from family, adult, children and parlour games to strategy, mail, adventure, fantasy and science fiction games. An increasing number of CD-ROMs and electronic games adds to the range of classic board games; but also books dealing with games.

The idea of the SPIEL games event in Essen:
The secret of this fair's success remains the basic idea that goes back to 1983: the idea of inviting the consumer and gamer, to play new games and toys and make up his own mind about the quality of the individual game. Thus, the direct impact of a new product can easily be perceived and represents a perfect means of measuring its general appeal. As there are also many retailers and key accounts, the obvious interest in new releases also has a direct impact on the decisions this group of people has to make, as to which new game should better be put on the retailers' order list.

Another piece to the SPIEL '11's success jig saw is certainly represented by the fact that the event also provides a unique opportunity for authors, publishers, reviewers in particular and journalists in general to touch base. They all enjoy talking to each other, exchange ideas and experiences, present new games ideas and prototypes and put them to the professional wear and tear test. And most of all: it's four days of fun, meeting and playing with friends. Thus the Essen SPIEL has become a huge "market of opportunities".

Program:
The International Games Event SPIEL provides an extensive list of fringe events. Almost all exhibitors would hold bigger or smaller competitions which attract players as well as the attention of journalists. There are, e.g., V.I.P. tables where famous game inventors sign their games, live role games, championships and tournaments. Numerous associations inform on classics such as Chess, Go etc.

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