Gamescom's Merchandising Area is a dangerous trap for your wallet. Cosplay Village offers pro-grade facilities for creators and fans. Next year's event is already scheduled for August 26 to 30.
Look, let's be honest: a dangerous place designed to drain a gamer's wallet has arrived at Gamescom. It is the Merchandising Area, a cavernous space packed with figures, cards, dice, and plushies that practically beg you to part with your cash. This year, the organizers have had the bright idea to group the merchandising and the card & board game zones together, making it far too convenient for you to browse everything in one go.
Just a floor below, you will find the Cosplay Village and the Artist Area. It is a harmonious space where facilities for cosplayers meet the fan-made creations of truly talented artists. In every sense, it is a place designed to hunt down your inner fanboy or fangirl.
▲ Day 3 of Gamescom, and the queues are already forming early in the morning (Image courtesy Gamemeca)
▲ A massive crowd has descended upon the venue (Image courtesy Gamemeca)
▲ Hall 5 of the Koelnmesse is where all these wallet-threatening temptations are gathered (Image courtesy Gamemeca)
▲ First off, feast your eyes on the sheer variety of figures (Image courtesy Gamemeca)
▲ The scale of the displays is honestly staggering (Image courtesy Gamemeca)
▲ As you might expect, Japan dominates the anime section (Image courtesy Gamemeca)
▲ Meanwhile, Western titles seem to hold the edge in the gaming section (Image courtesy Gamemeca)
▲ Though, of course, Nintendo remains popular wherever you go (Image courtesy Gamemeca)
▲ A rather disgruntled-looking Sonic (Image courtesy Gamemeca)
▲ Gunpla models were also up for grabs (Image courtesy Gamemeca)
▲ The stalls are overflowing with characterful trinkets (Image courtesy Gamemeca)
▲ Garments that wouldn't look out of place in medieval Europe (Image courtesy Gamemeca)
▲ Perfect for livening up any party (Image courtesy Gamemeca)
▲ Animal ears and tails, naturally, are in no short supply (Image courtesy Gamemeca)
▲ Various light novels and assorted books are also available (Image courtesy Gamemeca)
▲ Gachapon machines are tucked away in a corner (Image courtesy Gamemeca)
▲ Right next to the merchandising area lies the board and card game zone (Image courtesy Gamemeca)
▲ Folks are already getting stuck into a match early in the morning (Image courtesy Gamemeca)
▲ There is even a dedicated space for painting miniatures (Image courtesy Gamemeca)
▲ No such event would be complete without Yu-Gi-Oh! (Image courtesy Gamemeca)
▲ A stunning collection of miniatures gathered in one spot (Image courtesy Gamemeca)
▲ Dice: the quintessential tool of the board gamer (Image courtesy Gamemeca)
▲ Plenty of cards are on sale as well (Image courtesy Gamemeca)
▲ Next on our tour after the merch and games: the cosplay scene (Image courtesy Gamemeca)
▲ The Cosplay Village is fully equipped with all the essentials (Image courtesy Gamemeca)
▲ A rainbow of wigs in every colour imaginable (Image courtesy Gamemeca)
▲ An array of prop swords (Image courtesy Gamemeca)
▲ A variety of masks on display (Image courtesy Gamemeca)
▲ The essential 'lightsaber' for any Star Wars cosplayer (Image courtesy Gamemeca)
▲ Vanity mirrors are provided for those last-minute touch-ups (Image courtesy Gamemeca)
▲ Spacious workbenches for emergency repairs and costume tweaks (Image courtesy Gamemeca)
▲ They even have 3D printers on-site (Image courtesy Gamemeca)
▲ A printer working hard at its task (Image courtesy Gamemeca)
▲ A photo booth located inside the Cosplay Village (Image courtesy Gamemeca)
▲ With backgrounds, props, and lighting, you can get a professional shot right there (Image courtesy Gamemeca)
▲ The Artist Area is a hub for fan-made content (Image courtesy Gamemeca)
▲ The craftsmanship is genuinely impressive (Image courtesy Gamemeca)
▲ Much of the fan-made merchandise draws inspiration from popular subculture games (Image courtesy Gamemeca)
▲ HoYoverse proved to be quite popular here in Germany (Image courtesy Gamemeca)
▲ It was a pleasant surprise to find a few pieces of Korean IP merchandise, however rare (Image courtesy Gamemeca)
▲ A cosplayer dressed as Eve also made an appearance (Image courtesy Gamemeca)
▲ Mark your calendars: next year's Gamescom will be held from August 26 to 30 (Image courtesy Gamemeca)
게이머의 지갑을 노리는 위험한 공간이 게임스컴에 열렸다. 각종 피규어에, 카드, 주사위, 인형까지 구매욕을 자극하는 굿즈가 가득 모인 머천다이징 에어리어다. 특히 올해는 머천디아징과 카드&보드게임 에어리어가 한 공간에 모여 있어 한 번에 둘러볼 수 있다.
그 아래층에는 코스프레 빌리지와 아티스트 에어리어가 있다. 코스프레를 하는 참여자가 사용할 수 있는 각종 편의시설에, '금손'들이 만든 2차 창작 콘텐츠가 조화를 이룬 곳이다. 여러모로 '덕심'을 저격하는 공간이다.
▲ 게임스컴 3일차, 오전부터 많은 이들이 입장을 기다리고 있었다 (사진: 게임메카 촬영)
▲ 어마어마한 인파가 몰렸다 (사진: 게임메카 촬영)
▲ 이러한 참관객들의 지갑을 위협하는 공간이 쾰른 메세 5홀에 모여 있다 (사진: 게임메카 촬영)
