As EiG 2015 entered its third day at Arena Berlin, it became clear that the event many feared was unsustainable just two years ago had found new momentum.
With the SafeCharge-sponsored official party continuing into the small hours, the expectation was that the floor of Arena Berlin would be very quiet this morning, as in previous years.
While days one and two were undoubtedly the busier, there was an unexpected buzz on day three perhaps boosted by affiliates arriving for the Berlin Affiliate Conference, which kicks off with a joint EiG-BAC networking event tonight, dropping in to see what the B2B event is all about.
But the best gauge of how the event is doing is perhaps in the comments from those that have been returning to EiG year after year. The renewed optimism is tangible.
Anna Wilson of Barcelona-based games developer MGA told iNTERGAMINGi: "At EIG the meetings have been valuable, the connections relevant and having a sense of humour a serious business. It's been quite a laugh!"
Wilson is right – the mood has definitely lightened, and with it there is a sense of a quiet renaissance taking place. Tammy Levy from SpotOption, a returning EiG exhibitor, said that moving the event to Berlin “was a great business decision.”
INTERGAMINGi also spoke to Mark Robson, the new head of e-gaming at the Isle of Man government’s department of economic development. “It’s been a fantastic show,” he said.
“We’ve had a high standard of visitor to the Isle of Man stand and some excellent meetings. It’s been good.”
