It looks like the annual event ECTS, held at London's Earl's Court is to receive a spot of in 2004 - with ELSPA today unveiling the European Games Network (EGN), which will be held at ExCeL (Docklands) from September 1st to 3rd; coinciding with taking place on the other side of town. A new consumer event will also take place at ExCeL, between the 1st and 5th of September - dubbed Game Stars Live; a spin-off from the ITV programme and designed to attract 100,000 consumers to the show. The EGN promises to take inspiration from America's E3, offering a mixture of components [which] will include The Market Place, a show floor of exhibition space with no free build; The Waterfront Rooms, a series of over 60 dedicated meeting suites for private meetings and product presentations; The EGN Lounge, an area dedicated to delegates for meetings; The Conference and Workshop Programme and The Code Shop, an area for developers. Rob Mackenzie, Managing Director of London EventCo (the guys organising the shindig on behalf of ELSPA), commented: "The European Games Network is a natural fit alongside Game Stars Live. When ELSPA asked us to look at developing an industry event of course we were delighted. It was important that we were able to work closely with its executive and also take soundings from a broad sweep of the industry. The radical format has been developed through listening to those demands. We believe it is an exciting solution that will give ELSPA and its members substantial value over the coming years". Finally, we've this on Game Stars Live:

As part of its commitment to the Game Stars brand, ITV will be working with London EventCo to develop a 60-minute Game Stars Live TV programme based around the event for broadcast during Q4 2004. This is in addition to the Game Stars entertainment and show which will be broadcast during Easter 2004. Game Stars Live is also supported by a significant media partner mix including Capital FM and XFM along with a major national newspaper and lifestyle media brand for 16-34 year olds - each of which will promote Game Stars Live to their respective audiences either side of the event. In keeping with the Game Stars ethos, Game Stars Live will be a vibrant, adrenaline-pumping interactive entertainment experience, designed to excite, delight, amaze, inspire and enthral. It is the most ambitious consumer gaming event ever devised, allowing the industry to showcase its 2004 wares alongside other lifestyle brands, music, and other entertainment acts.

By Luke Guttridge