Despite the popularity videogames enjoy, there are not that many consumer-oriented game events. E3 and ECTS (London) are both trade events, which leaves TGS (Tokyo Game Show) as the only sizeable consumer-oriented video games event worldwide. This is surprising, since a lot of people would love the opportunity to spend a day or more in the company of like-minded people, challenging each other on upcoming releases, and see and play the games they have read so much about but are not released yet.

It was exactly that idea that the organisers of PowerPlay had in mind when they organised the first PowerPlay event last year in Brussels (capital of Belgium and Europe). The event, despite being a first effort with only minimal backing from the games industry, was off to a flying start and attracted around 15,000 visitors who sampled the available games and assorted side events like DJ sets, food and drink bar, and numerous competitions. After last years start, this edition will have full backing from the Benelux (Belgium, Holland and Luxembourg, a market representing a 400 million dollar value in the video game industry) companies as well as their respective European branches.

Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo will all be officially present and will be carrying with them a full range of upcoming unreleased games. For many of these games it will be the first time they go public to a non-industry crowd. While Sony tries to impress gamers with games like Gran Turismo 4, World Rally Championship 3 and Eye-Toy: Groove, Nintendo will try to do the same with networked Mario Kart Double Dash, Pikmin 2 and Mario and Luigi: Superstar among others. Not to be outdone, Microsoft will bring on games like Counterstrike, Project Gotham 2 and Grabbed by the Ghoulies. These examples, of course, are just a few of the many hundreds of games both released as well as unreleased that will be present.

In addition to the big three hardware manufacturers, there will be dozens of other companies like Activision, Ubisoft, Atari (formerly Infogrames, who distributes Sega's games in Europe and will have Sonic Heroes amongst its PowerPlay lineup), Electronic Arts, and more. Complementing the video games will be scores of companies who target the same audience, companies like Dynamic, who specialises in localising anime DVDs like Cowboy Bebop for the European market, to A-Film (Lord of the Rings) to companies specialising in related products such as action figures and card games, like Wizards of the Coast and Top Licence. Cellphone producers like Sony/Ericsson and Nokia will be showcasing their latest and greatest phones as well.

Retailers will be present to provide those who want to expand their collections with the opportunity to do so at the event. Big local chains like GameMania and ExtraZone will be present to provide mainstream products while A Shop Less Ordinary will be present with the latest anime and videogame imports.

PowerPlay takes place from October 31st till November 2nd at Brussels Kart expo. Entrance fee will be a low 5€ for the full 3 days and every visitor will receive a goodie bag filled with items and merchandise provided by the exhibiting companies. Brussels is easy and cheap to get to from all West European countries. Bullet trains drive to Brussels from several German cities as well as from Amsterdam, Paris and London (the Chunnel). It's perfectly possible to leave in the morning for Brussels, do the event for a day, and go back home the same day from several locations in Europe. Those wishing to attend for longer have a choice of hotels in all price ranges from ultra cheap to horribly expensive in and around Brussels.

I will be present to provide coverage for TNL and any of our readers who wish to attend can contact me at ali@the-nextlevel.com . I will do my best to find the best options to help those out who wish to travel from outside of Belgium for this event.

· · · Ali