International Games Days in Essen/Internationale Spieltage in Essen
Every year, the tabletop gaming world is in a tizzy about the Internationale Spieltage (International Games Days), commonly just referred to as Essen, after the place where the exhibition is held, or also ‘Spiel.’ For four days in October, madness descends onto the smallish city in Germany, with game designers, manufacturers and players crowding the halls of the exhibition center. But it’s just as likely you’ll run into comic book sellers, and even owners of RPGs and live action material, plus you’ll find enough activity to keep the little ones amused.
With Kickstarter’s success in recent years, Essen has become ever more important. I’m ashamed to say that, despite my own ties to Germany, I’ve never attended. As a writer I would love to attend a handful of writing conferences, which are almost all held in the USA, but that’s too far a trek from the UK. Essen, on the other hand, is but a hop and a skip away. So what’s my excuse?
Before Kickstarter, my involvement with games was merely as a player, and peripheral at best. You go to the shop, pick the boardgame that seems popular or has won an award, and off you go to entertain the whole family. Like most of you, I imagine. But times are a-changing. If you’ve only ever played Snakes and Ladders, Monopoly and Trivial Pursuit, you’re in for quite a surprise. While you weren’t paying attention, the term boardgame has been displaced by tabletop game, to include card games or tile games and all the other games that don’t use a physical board. So what tabletop game should you buy? That depends on what tickles you most. Enter your local games store, and you can pick up party games, social deduction games, role-playing games, card collecting games, adventure games, strategy games, and a myriad of others. Some allow solo play and are suitable for up to four players, while others require a minimum of three players and accommodate as many as 20 players. The choice is mind-blowing.
Since Kickstarter, I’ve been overwhelmed by the variety and ingenuity small games designers and individuals have shown in bringing us totally innovative games. With strong parallels to the book publishing world, even Joe Average can now have his game printed professionally. All you need is an idea. Even I’ve caught the bug and have invented a fair number.
And if you have two or three months of spare time, you may even launch your own game on Kickstarter, hoping to attract a number of pledgers so you may offer better prices through economy of scales. That’s a great thing, because with greater accessibility comes greater choice for the consumer.
Still, what most game designers dream of is their own booth at Essen. You succeed here, you’ve made it. You play with the big boys. But why in the world should a potential player schlepp to Germany? Well, you could take part in one of the many contests, or play tournaments to experience a new game in action. If you’re lucky, you might even pick up a bargain game. The biggest attraction, however, is the international and friendly atmosphere. Tired of traipsing through churches and visiting museums while on vacation? Try Essen. For only €13 ($16), you get a visitor’s daypass.
What are your favorite games? Do many of you actually still play tabletop games? If so, am I invited?