Essential tips to survive (almost) any event
Game Conference Guide Insights - August 2025
In this month’s issue:
Practical tips for attending (not just) gamescom
Cool partner message
Showcases to watch in August
Deadlines for awards, funding etc. in August
Whenever I was working with clients or within a team, shortly before gamescom I put together a list of things to do and how to prepare for meetings. For newcomers it was essential reading, for those who have been visiting each year a reminder and for those who took a break for a year or two, a vital refresher.
Each year, gamescom feels like a yearly pilgrimage filled with stress and anxiety. There is nothing like overpreparing for it.
This year I looked back on the list of how to survive almost every event and updated it with some fresh takes and tips. Bear in mind this is not covering taking meetings, how to prepare, how in advance and where to go in the evening.
Also, each of us heading to gamescom will have different goals and our energy levels vary. We function differently in crowded spaces, in-doors and some need to take a break, that is why I would love to start with:
PARTNER OF THE MONTH
devcom developer conference 2025 is almost here – make sure to join us!
Cologne is heating up this August, and it’s not just the weather. From August 17–19, the devcom developer conference (#ddc2025) returns with our most anticipated edition yet - and we’d love to see you there.
More than 300 speakers are joining us, covering everything from creative direction to production pipelines, from AAA to indie. This year’s speaker survey revealed what’s really on developers' minds: economic uncertainty, rising development costs, and the complex future of AI - and devcom will get into all of it.
Whether you're joining for the sessions, roundtables, networking, the devcom Award, our huge lineup of side events, or simply to catch up with friends and the global dev community - #ddc2025 is more than a conference. It’s where you come to learn, connect, and start your gamescom week.
🎟️ Don’t miss your chance to grab a pass to #ddc2025!
Pace Yourself. Gamescom is overwhelming. You can only take a certain number of meetings fully focused. The rest you will do on autopilot, and if you want to be able to function at mixers or dinners after a full day of meeting with new people, you have to take a break.
For example, I like to block Wednesday morning for strolling around the public area, taking photos, checking out the booths, merchandise hall and wondering how many Gundams I can buy from my favourite Italian group.
As an introverted person, I usually go back to my room for an hour or two before evening activities and just stare into the wall, or listen to some music. Recharging the social battery is essential, as the longer you will stay at gamescom, the quicker it will drain. You do not have to fill each minute of your calendar, as you won't be able to…
Be ready for unpredictable events. Invite to a dinner with important people you wanted to meet / chat to. A social gathering organized by friends just started, and you don’t want to be left out. You run into your business soul-mate and you want to continue the conversation over a meal or drink. Wait a moment, there are people going to the spa after marathon of meetings?
The rule of thumb is to break your calendar into 60 minute slots, and leave enough space between the meetings to catch a break (if you are exhibiting, I highly recommend to go breathe a fresh air at least every 2 hours), write notes or to walk to your next meeting spot.
The likelihood of you bumping into someone on the way to meetings, strolling around, or just walking on the bridge connecting the venue with the city center, is very high. Be prepared to react. Are you pitching a game? Are you selling services? Being able to walk and talk were crucial in my career. Practice your pitch, what you do and what you are looking for.
Know your surroundings. Do a bit of research in which area you are staying. Are there any new bistros, cafes? Are they opening early, so you can squeeze in a pre-breakfast meeting? Where can you have killer donuts? Are you going to walk to the venue? Which path do you want to take? Does public transport work after midnight? Are scooters safe to use in the crowd?
Did you know, that each exhibitor and trade pass comes with a public transport ticket? You can use it each day to get to and from the venue. It is very handy. Save the QR code. And since you will be walking a lot as well, you must have…
Comfortable Shoes. I can't stress enough how important this is. You will walk 18 - 20K steps each day easily. If you are on the showfloor, you might be standing all the time. If you have the opportunity to sit, take the seat! It is very important to bring your comfortable pair of shoes, and don't buy shoes shortly before the event. Even new sneakers can give you painful blisters.
Taking care of yourself is key to surviving the whole week. Remember, each following day will be harder and on Friday you might run on fumes. Adjust your schedule according to your rhythm and energy levels.
Take a refillable water bottle with you. You will forget to drink it while buzzing from excitement and endorphins from meeting with your peers.
Take with you a power or protein bar to give you energy when you feel hungry or you have skipped lunch. On many occasions the protein bar was for someone else who hasn't had time to eat.
Your body needs energy, same with your gadgets. Are you presenting? Well, make sure you have all notebooks / tablets fully charged each morning. We are most of the time outside of meetings catching up on news and conversations on mobile devices. Make sure you pack a small charger. Again, you can help charge your friend's phone, or someone in need.
Pack lightly. A heavy back-pack will wear you down quickly.
Make sure you have antibacterial cream with you. You will be opening / closing a lot of doors, while meeting people with tons of handshakes. To decrease the likelihood of catching conference flu, wash your hands and use the cream. And take some vitamin C.
Make a note. If you don't write it down, you will miss it and forget about it. If your schedule is similar to mine, you are constantly on the move. Without the notes by afternoon I would forget what I was talking about in the morning. And before the meeting ends, always agree on next steps. Was I supposed to send you a deck? Send it. Did we agree to take another call? Book a follow up on the spot. If you can execute some actions, do them right away. The rest? You can write it down.
If you have a cool notepad (stickers on it), or a nice pen, it can break the ice before the meeting even begins.
Pay attention. Gamescom is one of the most demanding events out there. You do have your goals, agenda, time to be at a precise minute, just remember, you are surrounded by hundreds of others constantly. And in the crowd we get tunnel vision. You might bump into each other while reading an important message, stumble upon a backpack near a group. Pay attention to your surroundings and treat everyone like you would like to be treated.
Lastly, I want to remind you that FOMO at events as big as gamescom is real. You won’t be able to catch-up with everyone, play all games, get that cool merch. Throttle the expectations, have a clear goals and you will survive it with flying colors.
Did I miss anything? Do you have any secret tips? Feel free to share it.
Good luck everyone at devcom & gamescom!
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☀️August’s games industry showcases
Opening Night Live
August 19 @ 11AM PT / 2PM ET / 8PM CESTXbox @ gamescom
August 20 & 21 @ 6AM / 9AM ET / 3PM CESTInto the Infinite
August 20 @ 10AM PT / 1PM ET / 7PM CESTFuture Game Show @ gamescom
August 20 @ 11AM PT / 2PM ET / 8PM CESTBethesda @ gamescom
August 22 - 24 TBA
Get all details, dates, times & direct links to broadcast here.
🏆 New Deadlines on the horizon
🏆 GamingOnPhone Awards
Deadline: August 10, Awards, entry: Free
Deadline: August 12, Showcase + Steam event, entry: Free
💶 Pitch Competition @ gamescom asia | Thailand Game Show
Deadline: August 15, Pitching, entry: free🏆 Indie Game Award @ Taipei Game Show
Deadline: August 19, Awards, entry: free🎮 Steam Next Fest: October
Deadline: August 25, Steam Event, entry: free💶 WINGS Elevate
Deadline: August 30, Funding, entry: free🏆 Student Games Festival Award
Deadline: August 31, Awards, entry: Free🏆 DevGAMM Awards
Deadline: September 1, Awards, entry: Free
Get all deadlines here.
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Pavol Buday, curator @ GCG
As someone who has always dreamed of going to a games conference I really enjoyed reading this, almost as a slice of life piece. Gave me a good idea of how it would go 😁