Leipzig Games Convention Cancelled

The Liepzig 2009 Game Convention has been officially canceled and replaced with an online event, while the Cologne-based Gamescom is still set to take place, GamesIndustry.biz reports:

The Leipzig Game Convention has officially been cancelled, with this year's event planned for August 20 – 23 no longer taking place.

The key industry and consumer event in Europe will now be Gamescom, taking place August 19 – 23 in Cologne. GDC Europe will also run August 17 – 19 at the same location.

"In view of the new situation in terms of competition on the German trade fair market, Leipziger Messe would be dropping the GC - Games Convention from the 2009 calendar," said Leipziger Messe in a statement.

"If the industry is again in search of a platform for console and PC games and hardware with the know-how of the GC - Games Convention, we will immediately be available," commented Wolfgang Marzin, CEO.

Started in 2002, Games Convention became the biggest European trade and consumer games show. However, the industry in the region this year backed rival Gamescom, with Nintendo, Sega, Song and the BIU all committing to the event, to be led by former Leipziger Messe director Frank Sliwka.

In its place will be Game Convention Online, an event aimed at the browser gaming market, to take place July 31 to August 2, 2009.