14 DAY TRIAL // I've been three days at Gamescom in Cologne, two of them surrounded not by video game journalists but by gamers who have come to see their favorite future releases and socialize with others who share their interests, and the most important conclusion I can draw is that diversity is the key for the success of video games as a business and as a hobby.
The diversity I am talking about is clear both in the video games shown and in the people who are traveling the show floors and looking at the demo booths and standing in line to catch a glimpse of Medal of Honor or the new Castlevania or Little Big Planet 2.
There are huge crowds standing in front of the Nintendo space, celebrating the freedom that they get from the DS and classic characters like Mario ands Zelda.
There are similar crowds in the four PlayStation areas, trying everything Move powered they can get their hands on, from TV Superstars to Sing Star + Dance, but also engaging in hardcore battles for position in Gran Turismo 5.
There are people queuing up for The Michael Jackson experience and checking out Scribblenauts 2.
There are people proudly wearing shirts saying that they love New York just after they saw the destruction delivered upon the city in the upcoming Crysis 2.
Gamescom is a good way to experience how much gaming has moved to the mainstream. I saw a mom who were more enthusiastic about a Princess peach real life character than her daughter.
I was hard to say who dragged who to the show and the industry is well prepared to supply those two with experiences well suited to their interests just as it can supply the husband or the older brother with the shooters or strategy titles that they crave.
Here are a few more images taken today at Gamescom.
