Vienna’s city government has created a mecca for the local gaming community with the “Game City” gaming fair. With free admission, numerous providers invite gamers of all ages and demographic groups to play video, virtual reality, educational, singing and dancing games – deliberately to promote better coexistence in Vienna. This year, the fair attracted record numbers of visitors – and the trend is likely to go up even more.
Alexandra Dubsky
4 November 2024
German version
The Vienna City Government’s annual gaming event “Game City” set a new record with over 85 000 visitors who gathered at the historic premises of Vienna City Hall from 18 to 20 October 2024. There was also clear growth on the exhibitor side, with over 130 exhibitors presenting the latest developments from the world of gaming on an area of 15 000 square meters this year, an increase compared to the 110 exhibitors last year, according to figures of the organizer Wienxtra.
“After a year’s break due to the pandemic, Game City 2023 was able to build on previous successes with 70 000 visitors, but this year the number of participants has once again significantly inclined,” says Kristina Grgic, spokesperson for Wienxtra. “We are very pleased about the huge influx of visitors,” she said.
Game City sees itself not only as a trade fair, but also as a meeting place for cross-generational gamers from different backgrounds, “as a place where fun, exchange and responsible gaming are the main focus”, according to the organizer. Grgic went on to say that an important aspect of the fair is that Viennese people with different migration backgrounds come together, which is something the city government expressly wants. “A place where we can come together, exchange ideas, learn from each other and experience the joy of playing together. At a time when the focus is often on what divides us, it is all the more important to create moments of togetherness,” reads the briefing.
The city’s philosophy is “educate instead of prohibit”. The event aims to further empower young people to learn how to use games responsibly, an idea that was particularly emphasized in the new health areas this year. The focus there was on topics such as exercise, nutrition and mental well-being “to promote a holistic view of gaming,” according to Grgic.
The non-commercial orientation of Game City is also certainly a decisive factor in its success. The free admission and the central location in Vienna City Hall contribute significantly to the large number of visitors. “The fact that the City of Vienna is making this event at the City Hall possible, and that admission is free, shows how important Game City is to the city government,” emphasize the organizers.
Looking to the future, there are already promising plans for 2025: “We managed to bring 130 exhibitors to this year’s Game City, who presented a variety of new games, hardware, eSports and educational offers. We expect to attract numerous exhibitors again next year,” said Grgic optimistically. The successful partnership with the electronics brand Media Markt gives hope for an even bigger event next year, she added.
“It’s my first time here and my expectations have definitely been met,” 17-year-old student Fiona told iGlobenews. “There’s really everything from the classic video games to the singing, dancing and sports games and the new virtual reality games, it’s great,” she said. She went on to say that queuing and treating each other with respect was okay. There were sometimes groups of young boys who cut the lines, but she and her friend didn’t have any bad experiences at the event. “The organization is very good, and we feel safe despite the many visitors,” she said.
Since it was founded in 2007, Game City has established itself as a key platform for the Austrian gaming scene. A highlight of the event is the FM4 Indie Area, where up-and-coming developers, pupils and students present their innovative games. This year’s winners include the HTL Spengergasse project “Synth Cycles”, in which neon-colored carts dive through virtual worlds, and “Edenfall, Legacy of the First Wardens”, a game by Laurenz Baumgartner alias Everflux Games, which enables transformation abilities in a magical game world.
