Planning to make a trip down to Leipzig for the Games Convention? Then you might want to take note of recent events, as it's just been confirmed that next year's GC will in fact be taking place in Cologne. Featuring a bigger event site and more convenient accommodations, it seems that this event has gotten too big for Leipzig to handle. More details at the full article.

 

Most of the world's well-known MMORPGs are works in progress, and Blizzard's World of Warcraft is no exception. Blizzard has patch version 2.2 in the works, while the Public Test Realm has already implemented voice chat for testing. But while version 2.2 is still under testing phase, a plausible content addition (hopefully, version 2.3) is still nowhere in the horizon.

Although it's been a while since Blizzard updated the Under Development page at the official website, it does have a lot of improvements brewing in its kitchen for version 2.2, with a list that constantly gets updated. The development team may also squeeze in an additional fix or two, if they were able. But for now, community manager Nethaera could only highlight a few certainties.

Perhaps much to the dissatisfaction of PC gamers is the voice chat update which would enable Mac players to finally record in-game videos. Previously mentioned fixes for various classes are also stewing in the development team's pots, despite the fact that there is no confirmation if all these address player's issues with their class specialties and talents.

For sure, Zul'Aman and the 25-man dungeon, Sunwell Plateau, is definitely baking in the oven right now, as most people have heard from interviews in the recently concluded Leipzig Games Convention. There is more info to be had, but Nethaera said, "There are some details that aren't ready to be shared yet." So it's back to the waiting, gaming game again for us - not that we'd have troubles with the gaming part.

With the tremendous success of the recently-concluded Leipzig Games Convention 2007 in Germany, plans are already being drawn up to expand the show and move it to a bigger venue in a busier city.

Event organizers say that Hamburg, Munich, Cologne, and Frankfurt are all bidding to host the 2009 iteration of the GC events to accommodate some 300,000 visitors from Germany and all over Europe.

"After 2008 we’ll never have to go to Leipzig again," says Marius Hopp of German magazine IGM. "If the show was held in Munich or Cologne, there’s the potential to get 300,000 visitors. There’s a chance for something new, either for us in Germany or in the UK."

Visitors from the UK showed strong support for GC 2007 as they flocked in to form the event's biggest foreign contingent. Germany and the United Kingdom are the biggest game markets in the region.

Next year, however, is a different thing as a GC 2007 spokesperson says that the event will stay in Leipzig for the moment. "The show was good and everyone was so happy that I think that debate has ended for now," he says. "It will take place in Leipzig again next year, for sure."

The Leipzig Games Conference saw a demonstration of Flagship Studios' upcoming game Hellgate: London. In the videos the developers give as a look at two factions, the Cabalist and the Hunter.

The first video of the Cabalist features the Summoner Class. You get to see little minions being summoned to attack goliath enemies through the streets of London. The second video features the Engineer class of the Hunter faction. The Engineer is also like the summoner class in terms of summoning things to do their bidding. Here you'll see the Engineer make use of little bots to help him in battle.

Hellgate: London will be out for the U.S. on October 31 and November 2 for Europe.

The second video awaits at the Full Article.

Now that the Leipzig Games Convention has ended, organizers Leipziger Messe GmbH had a chance to look back on this year's standings for the Games Convention (GC) and Game Convention Developers Conference (GCDC). And in quick summary, the Leipzig trade show has made large strides forward in both number and event achievements.

Back in 2006, the Games Convention reeled in 183,000 exhibition attendees. This year, they've listed 185,000 visitors. Although less than the targeted 200,000 visitor count, more visitors were satisfied with this year's turnout than last year - that's 85% against 75%. In addition, that count included 12,300 trade visitors, a huge jump from 8,700 from a year ago.

The Leipzig convention also brought in more media attention after a recorded 3,300 press personnel from 46 countries attended, compared to 2006's 2,610 from 38 countries. About 20% of those visitors were female, while 52% of visitors were over 20 years old. It was reported a few days ago that the exhibitor list rose to 410 entities. The actual recorded count of exhibitors was very much higher: 509 exhibitors were found.

The recently concluded trade show also marked a first for GC Freestyle, a festival of interactive entertainment sorts, which included concerts, summer activities, and sports. A 3,000 count for overnight stays was noted, while surveys claimed that the event itself was well-received. GC family also grabbed a special place in the visitors' hearts, as 75% of those who did attend GC 2007 took a keen interest in A Hall of Its Own (Hall 5).

During the Leipzig Games Convention 2007, the devs at Funcom give us a crash course on their upcoming MMORPG, Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures (PC and Xbox 360). The basics of the game are first introduced when one of the devs, assuming the character of the Barbarian class, walks us through a dungeon crawl in the Black Ring Citadel - a PvP area for 24 players.

We're given a glimpse of one of the bosses too. Some Lich-lord type of baddie that uses a couple of animated statues to lay waste to your party. It's a freaky kind of boss, really, and to quote the dev, they've "created a game for grown-ups." It's a mature game, no doubt.

You'll have to watch the video itself to see how violent it gets - fountains of blood and all that jazz. The video is around 25 minutes long and goes deep into the PvP aspect (and much deeper into the Black Rig Citadel dungeon too).

Click the Read link below to watch the clip!

Make way! Marching in from the Leipzig Games Convention is an army of Tabula Rasa screenshots and concept art.

Aside from the usual in-game screenshots of the NCSoft's Tabula Rasa comes four concept artworks of a couple of places we'll be able to explore in the virtual world: Arieki and Atta Colony. The concept art showcase the double sided nature of the alien worlds. On one side, they're grand and sprawling views, on the other, they're forbidding and dangerous (you can probably see that from the lightning bolts and the lava).

In the screenshots, alien foes and soldiers pose for photo ops. 'Nuff said.

Check out the screenshots and see if you like what you see. Tabula Rasa will be marching to the shelves on October so better get ready.

   

More screenshots at the Full Article.

Aside from a plethora of character classes, a rich world, action-packed combat, and all other elements that make a good MMORPG, Age of Conan (PC and Xbox 360) offers more to step up the activities you can do. Word from Games Convention 2007 in Leipzig revealed that this hot online game from Funcom and Eidos Interactive will allow players to fornicate and reward them for it.

It hasn't been confirmed what benefits will be given to those that hit it off with other avatars, but it's definitely going to be a positive buff. Stronger knees and higher charisma sound quite feasible.

Age of Conan will still remain rated "M" by ESRB, which could only mean we won't really see anything explicit. According to the report from MMORPG.com, that seems to be the case. Remember what hot coffee did? None of that in this game.

Roll out the red carpet! Leipzig Messe has just announced the winners for the "Best of GC" during the Leipzig Games Convention 2007. The awards span across all current generation platforms and other industry-related tidbits showcased during the event, all dispersed under ten respective categories.

Among the list of 85 hardware and software entries, a lineup of finalists have been revealed. And with those finalists, it seemed to be a tough call on which to choose as the winner. Each of the finalists had their own big plus to bring into the table, that's for sure. Regardless, the winners have already been announced.

Here's the full list of winners of the Best of GC, each in their own category:

• God of War: Chains of Olympus (Sony Computer Entertainment) - PSP
• Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 (Konami) - PS2
  
• Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 (Konami) - PS3
• BioShock (Take-Two Interactive) - Xbox 360
• Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (Sega) - Nintendo Wii
• Eye Training (Nintendo) - Nintendo DS
• Crysis (Electronic Arts) - PC
• Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures (Eidos) - Online
• Wii Balance Board - Hardware/Accessory/Product

An award was supposed to have been given for the Mobile category, however, there weren't enough participants to have warranted the prize.

ActionTrip was able to score an interview with Blizzard's lead designer Jeff Kaplan and art director Chris Robinson during the Leipzig Games Convention (GC 2007). In the interview, they were able to discuss how the World of Warcraft's Wrath of the Lich King expansion is more in tune with the original Warcraft look, PVP, and an announcement about a new patch just before the Lich King arrives.

Robinson explains how they decided to go back to the Gothic feel that the original Warcraft gave in Wrath of the Lich King. Kaplan furthers there is also a drive to bring back old elements as well: "We are constantly in a push and pull; we are creating a universe that we want to be broad and deep. We want there to be stuff that players of the old Warcraft games can refer to, but also push it and make new things."

Kaplan also explained how the expansion will be putting more emphasis on 10-man instances. In the same line of thought, he announces that there will be a patch just before Lich King comes out. Aside from getting a 25-man instance, Sunwell Plateau will also get a 5-man instance in both Normal and Heroic mode.

Changes were also made to accommodate more world PvP. Lake Wintergrass will be a non-instanced zone and will have siege weapons and destructible buildings. The zone is located in the center of Northrend and about the size of Westfall. The effect they are going for is a really massive, epic feel.