G-Star 2010, is the biggest scale international game exhibition which will be held at the Bexco Convention Center in Busan for a four-day run beginning on November 18. Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA) and Busan IT Industry Promotion Agency jointly organize the international event under the sponsorships of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Busan Metropolitan City.
"As of October 13, all booths of G-Star 2010 are fully booked, reflecting Korean and foreign game companies' generation of keen interest and expectation of the global game festival," said Lee Jae-woong, president & CEO of KOCCA.
"Game fans and members of the gaming industry from all around the world will gather together for the G-Star 2010exhibition and companies as well as visitors from all over the world will come to preview the future of the gaming industry. At this event, future games, products, and developments will be displayed," he said.
Noting that booths will be divided into two main sections, B2C and B2B, Lee noted, "these booths will give companies the opportunity to collaborate and consult with other companies for possible business deals and networking. It will also provide the companies a better understanding of the gaming industry by previewing other company's products and technologies providing a chance to speak to representatives from other companies. This event could be the perfect opportunity for companies to expand their businesses and possibly create new business partners."
In hall B2C, some 90 domestic and foreign companies will exhibit their new games and future projects. Other game technology and game trends will also be featured. These booths will feature a variety of games including console games, arcade games, board games, and mobile games. Different types of online games including MMORPGs (Massively Multi-player Online Role Playing Games), action, and casual games will be displayed as well.
"This allows visitors to get a preview of companies' future games or developments which will be released," he said. Among foreign major game makers, Sony Computer Entertainment, Microsoft, and Blizzard Entertainment are to participate in the G-Star. Meanwhile, the nation's leading game makers, including NHN, Ncsoft, Nexon, Neowiz Games, Mgame, XL Games, L&K Logic Korea, Wemade Entertainment, and HanvitSoft will attend the global event. Other exhibition halls planned within this event include an arcade game hall, a console game hall and a board game hall. "These game halls are provided for hands-on experience for not only game users, but also general visitors for great fun and pleasure," he added.
In hall B2B, about 190 companies from 21 countries, including Korea, will introduce their new games and future projects. The number of participants in the B2B hall represent a remarkable increase of 30 percent over the previous year. Lee also mentioned that the number of Korean participants is expected to double from 50 in 2009 to over 100 this year, reflecting the greater role of G-Star in promoting exports of Korean games. Currently, Korea's gaming industry is among the top in the world and is constantly expanding. Korean companies are constantly creating games that are attractive to gamers worldwide. Also, they offer a game service located in certain parts of the world where users pay and download games over the internet. This allows its customers to conveniently purchase their games from home. Also, this service increases the speed and efficiency of the game for users with older computers and slower internet.
This system features a good infrastructure, enhances game speed for its users, and allows customers to directly purchase products from their computers. Lee stated, "at G-Star 2010, many of these services will be featured. This event provides an opportunity for the world to preview why Korea is amongst the top within the gaming industry" he then added "under the slogan, ‘G-Star 2919, Game & More,' we will develop G-Star into a global event leading the world's gaming industry by creating value and culture beyond just games," Lee added.
Last year's event drew over 240,000 attendees and featured over 198 exhibitors from 21 countries. Korea also plays host to several other game industry conventions, including ICON (International Content Creator's Conference) 2010, Korea-China Game Culture Festival 2010, Korea Game Awards 2010, GNGWC (Game & Game World Championship) 2010.
