Top 10 Gaming Conventions Around the World
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VOICE OVER: Riccardo Tucci
WRITTEN BY: Mark Sammut
Script written by Mark Sammut
These are the absolute best Video Game conventions out there, and you should want to attend them just as much as we do! Welcome to WatchMojo.com and today we'll be counting down our picks for the Top 10 Gaming Conventions Around The World.
To have your ideas turned into a WatchMojo or MojoPlays video, head over to http://WatchMojo.comsuggest and get to it!
These are the absolute best Video Game conventions out there, and you should want to attend them just as much as we do! Welcome to WatchMojo.com and today we'll be counting down our picks for the Top 10 Gaming Conventions Around The World.
To have your ideas turned into a WatchMojo or MojoPlays video, head over to http://WatchMojo.comsuggest and get to it!
Top 10 Gaming Conventions Around The World
A celebration of games and those who play them. Welcome to WatchMojo.com and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the Top 10 Gaming Conventions Around The World.
For this list, we’re looking at the most popular and influential gaming-related conventions. The con’s size, mainstream appeal, and legacy will be taken into consideration.
What started out as a small get together between friends blossomed into a yearly con capable of attracting thousands of gamers. Held in Texas and sponsored by ZeniMax Media, QuakeCon is a massive bring-your-own-computer LAN party that celebrates titles released by id Software and other studios under the ZeniMax umbrella. As implied by the name, Quake and Doom tend to take center stage, with tournaments being held over the course of the weekend. Honoring the convention's humble roots, entry is free; and, in comparison with its contemporaries, QuakeCon aims for a smaller but welcoming atmosphere.
For Sony fans, PSX is a must watch. Inaugurated in 2014, PlayStation Experience is still in its infancy but continues to grow with each passing year. Held and presented by Sony Interactive Entertainment, this American convention acts as the studio's final showcase for the calendar year and allows gamers an opportunity to try a string of high profile demos. While PSX is fantastic for spotlighting Sony's second and third tier titles, major games like The Last Of Us Part II and Uncharted 4: The Lost Legacy debuted during this convention.
Established by Blizzard Entertainment in 2006, this two-day con is exclusively for supporters of the developer's hit multiplayer games. With recent years attracting over 20,000 attendees, BlizzCon is a large-scale experience that includes contests, Q&A sessions, and a closing day concert that has featured the likes of Metallica, Muse, and Linkin Park. With the publisher recently skipping out on E3, BlizzCon has established itself as the primary event for news regarding all their popular titles. As Blizzard tends to show love for each one of their franchises, BlizzCon rarely disappoints.
Created by game developers for game developers, this long-running expo is not open to the general public. Starting in 1988, the Game Developers Conference prioritizes game design and hardware over marketable games. Spanning five days, developers can attend dozens of workshops and panels covering a wild array of topics from computer programming to business management. While Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo often deliver keynote speeches, the Developer's Rant is the real main attraction, as the expo provides a platform for professional to air out grievances associated with the industry. For gamers, the GDC’s sessions provide insight into the creative process behind some of the year's biggest releases.
Usually, the main draw of a convention is the unexpected announcement of a new game. In the case of Gamescom, the trade fair's sheer size and magnitude take precedent. While developers rarely debut anything particularly big during the four-day German convention, Gamescom is the place to be when pinning for a fresh look at already announced titles. From Blizzard to Nintendo, any publisher worth their salt hosts a press conference, and Gamescom regularly attracts over 300,000 visitors. While the BIU's trade fair might not have the same pull as E3, Gamescom is one of the best.
Formerly known as the Consumer Electronics Show, this annual expo is a dream came through for tech lovers. Launched over 50 years ago, CES is mostly for professionals and the press, but members of the public can get in. Rather than games, the expo focuses on the latest technological advancements, with both startups and large companies being allocated a moment to shine. While the expo covers a wider range of products than gaming and barely mentions consoles; gamers seeking information on Virtual Reality headsets, PC components, or obscure devices should consider tuning in.
More than just games. As Asia's largest digital entertainment convention, ChinaJoy features all the greatest hits one would expect at such a colossus event. Sony, Ubisoft, and EA regularly set up stands featuring playable demos, with RPGs and E-sports being particularly popular. Crucially, the expo heavily promotes international business channels and enterprises, attracting the attention of hundreds of exhibitors. Developers seeking financial investment should take note of ChinaJoy, as countless of business deals are made each year. As a convention, ChinaJoy is most beneficial for developers, but there is plenty for gamers to enjoy.
What started out as a simple dream by two comic writers, quickly snowballed into a multi-location convention capable of attracting more than 50,000 gamers. Whether referring to PAX West, East, South, or Australia; the Penny Arcade Expo is more about providing an opportunity to try out unreleased games than big reveals. Showcasing arcade, digital, and table-top gaming; PAX West is a celebration of every facet of the industry. While AAA games are not ignored, PAX adores the indie scene and runs a yearly competition highlighting the best titles. Non-developers have the Omegathon to anticipate, a gauntlet-style contest pitting 20 random attendees against each other.
An annual expo held at Japan's Makuhari Messe convention center, the TGS routinely draws crowds eclipsing 200,000. A staple of the industry since the mid-'90s, the Tokyo Game Show spotlights Japanese developers and their games, although Western titles are not completely ignored. During the con, publishers like Capcom, Namco Bandai, and Square Enix regularly announce new games or expand on existing ones. Besides a large exhibition area open to the general public, the Tokyo Game Show's first two days cater exclusively to professionals seeking business or educational opportunities.
Well, this is it - the big one! Inaugurated over two decades ago, the Electronic Entertainment Expo slowly grew into the definitive gaming convention. Almost every noteworthy publisher delivers a keynote speech highlighting their future plans while revealing a string of exciting games. Once the presentations are done and dusted, attendees flood into the exhibition halls for hands-on time or to gather further information directly from developers. In 2017, E3 shifted from an industry to a public event, a decision that only increased the show's appeal and accessibility.
A celebration of games and those who play them. Welcome to WatchMojo.com and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the Top 10 Gaming Conventions Around The World.
For this list, we’re looking at the most popular and influential gaming-related conventions. The con’s size, mainstream appeal, and legacy will be taken into consideration.
#10: QuakeCon
What started out as a small get together between friends blossomed into a yearly con capable of attracting thousands of gamers. Held in Texas and sponsored by ZeniMax Media, QuakeCon is a massive bring-your-own-computer LAN party that celebrates titles released by id Software and other studios under the ZeniMax umbrella. As implied by the name, Quake and Doom tend to take center stage, with tournaments being held over the course of the weekend. Honoring the convention's humble roots, entry is free; and, in comparison with its contemporaries, QuakeCon aims for a smaller but welcoming atmosphere.
#9: PlayStation Experience (PSX)
For Sony fans, PSX is a must watch. Inaugurated in 2014, PlayStation Experience is still in its infancy but continues to grow with each passing year. Held and presented by Sony Interactive Entertainment, this American convention acts as the studio's final showcase for the calendar year and allows gamers an opportunity to try a string of high profile demos. While PSX is fantastic for spotlighting Sony's second and third tier titles, major games like The Last Of Us Part II and Uncharted 4: The Lost Legacy debuted during this convention.
#8: BlizzCon
Established by Blizzard Entertainment in 2006, this two-day con is exclusively for supporters of the developer's hit multiplayer games. With recent years attracting over 20,000 attendees, BlizzCon is a large-scale experience that includes contests, Q&A sessions, and a closing day concert that has featured the likes of Metallica, Muse, and Linkin Park. With the publisher recently skipping out on E3, BlizzCon has established itself as the primary event for news regarding all their popular titles. As Blizzard tends to show love for each one of their franchises, BlizzCon rarely disappoints.
#7: Game Developers Conference (GDC)
Created by game developers for game developers, this long-running expo is not open to the general public. Starting in 1988, the Game Developers Conference prioritizes game design and hardware over marketable games. Spanning five days, developers can attend dozens of workshops and panels covering a wild array of topics from computer programming to business management. While Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo often deliver keynote speeches, the Developer's Rant is the real main attraction, as the expo provides a platform for professional to air out grievances associated with the industry. For gamers, the GDC’s sessions provide insight into the creative process behind some of the year's biggest releases.
#6: Gamescom
Usually, the main draw of a convention is the unexpected announcement of a new game. In the case of Gamescom, the trade fair's sheer size and magnitude take precedent. While developers rarely debut anything particularly big during the four-day German convention, Gamescom is the place to be when pinning for a fresh look at already announced titles. From Blizzard to Nintendo, any publisher worth their salt hosts a press conference, and Gamescom regularly attracts over 300,000 visitors. While the BIU's trade fair might not have the same pull as E3, Gamescom is one of the best.
#5: CES
Formerly known as the Consumer Electronics Show, this annual expo is a dream came through for tech lovers. Launched over 50 years ago, CES is mostly for professionals and the press, but members of the public can get in. Rather than games, the expo focuses on the latest technological advancements, with both startups and large companies being allocated a moment to shine. While the expo covers a wider range of products than gaming and barely mentions consoles; gamers seeking information on Virtual Reality headsets, PC components, or obscure devices should consider tuning in.
#4: ChinaJoy
More than just games. As Asia's largest digital entertainment convention, ChinaJoy features all the greatest hits one would expect at such a colossus event. Sony, Ubisoft, and EA regularly set up stands featuring playable demos, with RPGs and E-sports being particularly popular. Crucially, the expo heavily promotes international business channels and enterprises, attracting the attention of hundreds of exhibitors. Developers seeking financial investment should take note of ChinaJoy, as countless of business deals are made each year. As a convention, ChinaJoy is most beneficial for developers, but there is plenty for gamers to enjoy.
#3: PAX West
What started out as a simple dream by two comic writers, quickly snowballed into a multi-location convention capable of attracting more than 50,000 gamers. Whether referring to PAX West, East, South, or Australia; the Penny Arcade Expo is more about providing an opportunity to try out unreleased games than big reveals. Showcasing arcade, digital, and table-top gaming; PAX West is a celebration of every facet of the industry. While AAA games are not ignored, PAX adores the indie scene and runs a yearly competition highlighting the best titles. Non-developers have the Omegathon to anticipate, a gauntlet-style contest pitting 20 random attendees against each other.
#2: Tokyo Game Show (TGS)
An annual expo held at Japan's Makuhari Messe convention center, the TGS routinely draws crowds eclipsing 200,000. A staple of the industry since the mid-'90s, the Tokyo Game Show spotlights Japanese developers and their games, although Western titles are not completely ignored. During the con, publishers like Capcom, Namco Bandai, and Square Enix regularly announce new games or expand on existing ones. Besides a large exhibition area open to the general public, the Tokyo Game Show's first two days cater exclusively to professionals seeking business or educational opportunities.
#1: Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3)
Well, this is it - the big one! Inaugurated over two decades ago, the Electronic Entertainment Expo slowly grew into the definitive gaming convention. Almost every noteworthy publisher delivers a keynote speech highlighting their future plans while revealing a string of exciting games. Once the presentations are done and dusted, attendees flood into the exhibition halls for hands-on time or to gather further information directly from developers. In 2017, E3 shifted from an industry to a public event, a decision that only increased the show's appeal and accessibility.
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