Gamescom is the world’s largest computer and video game trade show hosting close to 345,000 visitors in 2016. Taking place in Cologne, exhibitors range from publishers and developers to indie teams and agencies.
As games industry specialists, Jelly spent Gamescom 2016 networking with industry members and supporting its current clients at the event. This was a fantastic opportunity to get a feel for the latest developments in the industry and to experience some truly remarkable gaming innovations.
The Stars of Gamescom 2016
With over 877 exhibitors, Gamescom played host to some of the biggest names in gaming including Konami, Blizzard, EA, Microsoft and Bethesda. All of which showcased their most exciting upcoming releases. There were a number of outstanding games and console developments on display this year but it’s clear from the post-event press that a few stood out above the rest.
Human Head Studio’s long awaited Prey sequel, Prey 2, has received a wealth of praise from press who got to experience the game first-hand at Gamescom 2016. Set aboard space station Talos 1, the player must combat an alien race using a number of unique and creative features including makeshift weapons and alien abilities that really push the boundaries of the FPS genre. Don’t take our word for it though:
“Prey’s ambitious mix of ideas and obvious emphasis on player creativity…sets the game apart from the rest of the genre.” – Scott Butterworth, Gamestop Authour.
Other games taking the press by storm include Square Enix’s Deus Ex: Mankind Divided which brought an exciting combination of “guns, mechanical arms and a dose of transhuman rebellion” to Gamescom according to Digital Spy; and Blizzard’s Overwatch which revealed a brand new map that many are citing to be the game’s most intricately detailed map yet.
Our Favourites
Jelly had the fortune to meet the publishers behind a number of incredible games this year and the company would be remiss not to mention some favourites. Tarsier Studio’s Little Nightmaresis a creepy 3D platformer with a Tim Burton meets LittleBigPlanet feel to it. A strong command of lighting, “camera” angles, and pacing fills the player with a sense of dread from the get-go and serves to make Little Nightmares by far the most unsettling game at Gamescom this year.
In contrast, Playtonic’s Yooka-Laylee is a bright and colourful game reminiscent of old school platformers such as Banjo-Kazooie. Of course, this is no coincidence; the game’s development team consists of some of the masterminds behind Banjo-Kazooie. Yooka-Laylee’s gameplay appeals to gamers young and old with the perfect blend of nostalgia, wacky cartoon aesthetics, and gameplay that laughs in the face of physics.
Jelly at Gamescom
Gamescom 2016 provided the perfect platform for Jelly to network with industry peers and showcase its specialist services. These include event management and Jelly’s brand new “Talent” division which specialises in developing mutually beneficial relationships between influencers such as artists/cosplayers/creatives and clients. Partnership building is another key services Jelly offers its games industry clients and Gamescom 2016 enabled Jelly to communicate its industry expertise to a whole host of new faces, from established brands to independent publishers.
Many of Jelly’s games industry clients are Gamescom regulars and they often require additional support from the company throughout the duration of the event. This year, Jelly supported Konami who were showcasing their latest Pro Evolution Soccer title, PES 2017. This involved managing Gamescom coverage on Konami UK’s social media channels and was supplemented with cross channel promotion on Jelly’s own socials. In addition to this, Jelly’s expert design team created the PES 2017 branding used across Konami’s promotional stand for the event.
Are you a games publisher or developer? Find out how Jelly can increase your brand awareness through marketing, PR, and event & influencer management. Contact us here.
