News and tests about board games, games and entertainmentNews and tests about board games, games and entertainmentNews and tests about board games, games and entertainment
  • Home
  • board Games
    • News
    • Board game reviews
    • Crowdfunding
    • top list
    • Inside
    • Buy games
      • Top 50: board games
      • Offers
      • Popular board games
      • Games Dealer
      • Games: tests and reviews
  • video Games
    • News
    • games scene
    • Gaming tests
    • Game tips
    • Gaming accessories
    • Hardware tests
  • top issuesTrends
    • Grand Theft AutoTop
    • Star Wars
    • Disney Lorcan
    • Lord of the Rings
    • World of Warcraft
    • Marvel
    • Cyberpunk 2077
    • WWE
    • Nintendo SwitchTop
    • Blizzard
    • Playstation
  • films and series
    • News
    • Movie review
  • Books
    • News
    • Book review
  • Amusement
  • EventsTrade Shows
    • News
    • GAME in Essen
    • Play!
    • Toy fair in Nuremberg
    • Gamescom in Cologne
    • CCXP Cologne
  • warcraft rumble
  • Disney Lorcan
  • Star Wars
  • Star Wars Unlimited
  • Asmodee
  • Ravensburger
  • Kosmos
  • Pegasus Spiele
  • Contact
  • The game editors
  • Media-Kit.
  • Imprint
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contest Rules
  • We're looking for you
Sign In
Notification Show More
Font resizerAa
Font resizerAa
News and tests about board games, games and entertainmentNews and tests about board games, games and entertainment
  • Home
  • board Games
  • video Games
  • top issuesTrends
  • films and series
  • Books
  • Amusement
  • EventsTrade Shows
  • Home
  • board Games
    • News
    • Board game reviews
    • Crowdfunding
    • top list
    • Inside
    • Buy games
  • video Games
    • News
    • games scene
    • Gaming tests
    • Game tips
    • Gaming accessories
    • Hardware tests
  • top issuesTrends
    • Grand Theft AutoTop
    • Star Wars
    • Disney Lorcan
    • Lord of the Rings
    • World of Warcraft
    • Marvel
    • Cyberpunk 2077
    • WWE
    • Nintendo SwitchTop
    • Blizzard
    • Playstation
  • films and series
    • News
    • Movie review
  • Books
    • News
    • Book review
  • Amusement
  • EventsTrade Shows
    • News
    • GAME in Essen
    • Play!
    • Toy fair in Nuremberg
    • Gamescom in Cologne
    • CCXP Cologne
Have an existing account? Sign In
follow US
© 2023 - Spielpunkt - Games and Entertainment
News and tests about board games, games and entertainment > Articles > Board and card games > SPIEL'21 attracts 93.600 visitors: "It's great!"
Board and card gamesNewsGAME in EssenTopEvents

SPIEL'21 attracts 93.600 visitors: "It's great!"

Andre Volkman
Last updated: October 24, 2021 16:46
Andre Volkman
9 MinRead
Share
9 MinRead
SPIEL'21 in Essen is over. Photo: Volkmann
SPIEL'21 in Essen is over. Photo: Volkmann
SHARE

Off, off, off - the SPIEL is over. That's it for the international match days in Essen this year. The organizing Friedhelm-Merz-Verlag started up again in 2021 after a one-year break due to the corona situation. The conclusion is positive from the organizers, visitors and publishers. The new chance at an on-site trade fair made game fans dig deep into their pockets - the money flowed, to everyone's delight. 

The international game days SPIEL '21 ended successfully, so the conclusion of the organizing Friedhelm-Merz-Verlag. The world's largest trade fair for parlor games attracted 93.600 visitors last year after a corona-related break. The game enthusiasts were able to see, try out and buy more than 1.000 new products from 620 exhibitors from 41 countries. The visitors made ample use of the latter option in particular. Quite a few games, showered with advance praise in the run-up to the fair, were sold out within a very short time. Almost all of the publishers spoke of good to excellent sales figures. It seems as if the game fans withheld their money in times of the pandemic in order to be able to go on extensive shopping spree. The publishers and, above all, game retailers are granted this: During the pandemic situation, little or nothing happened at times, especially in the specialist trade sector. The retailers were troubled by a huge drop in sales - for them the desire to buy is a blessing.

The joy of walking through the exhibition halls again, getting to know new games, buying first editions or rarities and finding bargains brought more than a smile to faces. Also to that of the managing director of Friedhelm Merz Verlag, Dominique Metzler: "It's great!" Was her interim conclusion on Saturday. “The concept worked.” Metzler probably already knew some of the visitor and sales figures. However, the accounts were not settled until the end: the Corona debut was a success with over 90.000 visitors. For comparison: In 2019, 209.000 fans made the pilgrimage to Essen. More than twice as many, but at that time there was no talk of a pandemic including lockdown and contact restrictions.

The visit to the trade fair was subject to the 3G conditions, and a corona test center was set up especially for visitors on the exhibition grounds. Masks were also compulsory in all areas. "The well thought-out hygiene concept with wider aisles, increased hygiene measures and a distance regulation has proven itself and provided the necessary freedom of movement," said the organizing Friedhelm-Merz-Verlag in its closing statement. And the concept actually worked – at least for the most part. Here and there you could see them, the "coatis". Then the mouth-nose protection became a pure mouthguard - sometimes intentionally, sometimes unintentionally, sometimes just the beard was in the way. And the Cajon backpacks, which were actually forbidden, also shaped the picture in the halls, albeit very sporadically.

- Advertisement -

The measures took effect, at most on Saturday afternoon the hygiene and safety rules reached their limits. The rush on the traditionally busiest day of the Essen Games Fair temporarily caused a "system overload" on several levels. A few hours later, the balls had been straightened out, and the entrances were checked more intensively again. Dominique Metzler stated that she was not aware of any "negative incidents". The concept worked. At Friedhelm-Merz-Verlag, people are not only happy about this, but also about the fair taking place in general. Metzler revealed that they should have trembled: "2G would have dealt the fair the deathblow," she revealed. Some foreign publishers in particular would then have faced problems, as it would not have been possible for them to take part in SPIEL under such stricter regulations. In the end, politicians should opt for the more relaxed of the two paths - and at the same time clear the way for SPIEL'21.

Dominique Metzler now looks back positively: “I am very happy about the enthusiasm with which this trade fair was received by exhibitors and visitors. It was a special year for us as organizers, but also for all participants. Cooperative games are in vogue and SPIEL was a great joint effort by organisers, exhibitors and visitors. As organizers, we feel confirmed by the success of this trade fair. It was exactly the right decision to hold an analog fair again this year and to give game fans from all over the world the opportunity to take part in this most important gathering of the gaming world. The visitors followed the rules of the game at this fair in an exemplary manner.”

Picture gallery for SPIEL'21 in Essen

[foogallery id=”32011″]

 

The exhibitors were also satisfied with the response. The trade fair means a new start for the industry, said Hermann Hutter, publisher (HUCH) and chairman of the games publishers industry association: “This trade fair was very well balanced between security and just the right number of visitors. All visitors were very disciplined - it was the perfect experience to see the joy and excitement of trying out the new products. Every member of Spieleverlage eV felt comfortable and enjoyed the fact that enthusiastic international trade visitors and gamers came to Essen to literally soak up the new products.”

- Advertisement -

SPIEL'21 in Essen was much more than a return to familiar territory. For the games industry, the trade fair could be a model of what is possible in difficult times with the right concepts. The Friedhelm-Merz-Verlag calls this the “initial spark for further events with an audience”. Despite all the easing of the Corona situation, the pandemic is far from over. Especially internationally oriented trade fairs like this GAME in Essen show how small the big wide world can become when a catastrophic event connects nations. Where infection numbers are falling and vaccination numbers are increasing in this country, this is far from the case in other countries. And so a Corona impact can also be assumed at SPIEL'22. The date for next year's International Game Days has long been fixed: board and card games will be celebrated again in Essen from October 6th to 9th, 2022.

Andreas Finkernagel, Managing Director of Pegasus Spiele, added at the end of the four-day SPIEL '21: "I am positively surprised by how the trade fair went and hope that we can now continue with face-to-face events based on the SPIEL model." On-site events are the central element of contact for Pegasus Spiele with players. “I saw a lot of happy faces in the halls, people are overjoyed to be at SPIEL again,” said Finkernagel. “And the visitors adhered very well to the corona-related rules – masks and distance did not diminish the enjoyment. We are also seeing demand for games explode. The gaming tables at the Pegasus Spiele stand were fully booked at all times. Even the people who just got into the gaming hobby last year are now sticking with it.”

Mostly frequent and expert players dragged themselves and their purchases home satisfied. Despite the absence of some well-known domestic and foreign publishers, the range of products at the fair seemed to be large enough for them. "One or the other publisher could regret not having taken part in the fair after all," concluded Dominique Metzler. It sounded like a friendly dig. In any case, the relief was written in the face of the publishing boss, which was only half recognizable. And 2022? Which measures could find their way to the next SPIEL? Dominique Metzler didn't show her cards, but she admitted to having cards in her hand: “I don't want to reveal anything just yet. Those are my plans!”. It sounds as if visitors should be prepared for a few changes in the coming year, which will then help ensure a positive trade fair experience.

Tiny Epic at a glance: Our opinion on Tiny Epic Kingdoms, Tiny Epic Defenders and Tiny Epic Zombies
Inside Gamelyn Games: Small games, big success!
Board game review of Portals: Relaxed Rosenberg board game for after work
Board game review of The Vale of Eternity: How to Train Your Dragon!
Board game review of The Wolves: Battle for Wilderness Dominance
Tagged:GAME in EssenGAME'21
How do you like the article?
Love0
Happy 0
Sad0
Angry0
Cry0
Surprise0
Andre_new
ByAndre Volkman
Follow:
André Volkmann is a journalist who specializes in local news, games and entertainment.
Previous Article A small sales success developed on a prototype. Photo: Volkmann Corona board game invented by family: it's still there!
Next Article Zombie Rollerz is scheduled to be released this year. Image: Daedalic Zombie Rollerz mixes pinball with roguelike elements
No comments No comments

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Your e-mail address will not be published. Required fields are marked with * marked

Stay Connected

FacebookLike
XFollow
InstagramFollow
videos fromSubscribe

Latest News

Donkey Kong Bananza turned out excellently. Image: Nintendo
Nintendo Switch 2 has its system seller – quite surprisingly
News Top video Games
Glintland
Glintland: Factory Building Simulator demo released
News video Games
Fans can try out World of Warcraft's housing system for themselves for the first time. Image: Blizzard
World of Warcraft: Housing testing possible for the first time
News Top video Games
Eternitium Cover Time Travel Ornament Games Board Game Deckbuilder
Board game review of Eternitium Next-Gen: The small expansion for the small deck builder
Board and card games News Reviews
Legends of the Force is the title of the fifth Star Wars Unlimited card set. Photo: Volkmann
Star Wars Unlimited: The Force Awakens
Board and card games Hot Topics News

Board Games: Top 5

On Halloween, the horror can find its way onto the board game table. Cover: Noris
Halloween: Five board game insider tips
Board and card games News top list
The best board games about dreams.
In your head: 5 good board games about dreams
Board and card games News top list
best board games time travel
Flux capacitor on: 5 good time travel board games
Board and card games News top list
best horror board games
Halloween Horror: 13 good board games to scare you
Board and card games News top list

Already read?

game 22 eat attendance
Board and card gamesEditor's ChoiceNewsGAME in EssenEvents

SPIEL'22 in Essen: "Complete success" even without a record number of visitors

Andre Volkman
Andre Volkman
10 October 2022
Florian Hess has been part of the management trio at Spielwarenmesse eG since summer 2021. Photo: Volkmann
Board and card gamesEditor's ChoiceNewsGAME in EssenEvents

"For the next few years": Games Fair stays in Essen

Andre Volkman
Andre Volkman
13 January 2023
games fair in Essen
Board and card gamesEditor's ChoiceNewsGAME in EssenEvents

Board games: Hoping for the Christmas business

Andre Volkman
Andre Volkman
6 October 2022
game 22 in Essen
Board and card gamesEditor's ChoiceNewsGAME in EssenEvents

SPIEL'22 in Essen: starting signal for the world's leading trade fair

Andre Volkman
Andre Volkman
6 October 2022
GAME 22 App
Board and card gamesEditor's ChoiceNewsGAME in EssenEvents

SPIEL in Essen: App to download for Android and iOS

Andre Volkman
Andre Volkman
5 October 2022
Show More
follow US
Spielpunkt 2025. Content protected by copyright.
  • Contact
  • The game editors
  • Media-Kit.
  • Imprint
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contest Rules
  • We're looking for you
Welcome back!

Login

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?