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[Auctopus]

I don't mean to post this to fear-monger, just a heads up to anyone going who didn't receive the email.

Dear gamescom fan,

Due to the terrible incidents of the past weeks, the safety and preventions measures at gamescom 2016 have been adapted. The measures apply for all participants of gamescom: Exhibitors, visitors and media representatives.

As a trade fair organisation and organiser of gamescom it is our duty to organise the framework conditions for the trade fair participants as efficiently as possible and to satisfy the needs of our guests. In the present days, the need for safety is a major issue for all parties involved. It is our aim to meet this requirement by adapting the safety measures and at the same time limiting gamescom in all its facets as little as possible.

We hope for your understanding and for your support so that gamescom can also be a successful 360 degree event in 2016 that is full of entertainment and a fantastic joint experience for all participants.

Celebrate the games!

Your gamescom team

I'll be there in a couple weeks (on media day) and still looking forward to the event. Glad they're sending out the information.

 

[gigantor21]

Depressing, but absolutely necessary given the circumstances.

 

[Jonnax]

What are the measures?

 

[SparksterMeta0]

What are the measures?

Short version: limited bags and no weapons whatsoever.

Long version (since I have an email):

Our request: Leave bags and rucksacks at home

In concrete terms this means: If not absolutely necessary, please leave bags and rucksacks and item of all kinds that you don't urgently need for your visit to gamescom at home in order to keep the waiting times down to a minimum. Since: Control measures, incl. bag checks, will be carried out at the entrances before entering the fair grounds. The controls will take on variable forms, which will depend on the respective short-term consultations with the safety authorities. Please expect longer queuing times and support us in carrying out the control measures by bringing no or as little luggage as possible with you to the fair. For planning your arrival: The safety controls start at 7:00 a.m. Queues must be expected.

Cosplayer: Costumes, yes - imitation weapons, no
gamescom also lives from the creativity of your costumes and as such cosplayers are still heartily welcome. Due to the incidents of the past days, we would kindly ask for your understanding that all imitation weapons or weapon-like items forming part of your costume are not permitted at gamescom 2016. We would kindly like to ask you to refrain from wearing imitation weapons or weapon-like items also in the city in consideration for the inhabitants and visitors of the city of Cologne.

The background behind the tightening down on the costume regulations is to avoid frightening particularly children and families as well as other gamescom visitors, but also the inhabitants and guests of the city of Cologne by wearing authentically original costumes that in some cases contain imitation weapons and/or weapon-like items. All imitation weapons or weapon-like elements of your costume - regardless of the material and size - will be confiscated before you are admitted to the grounds. We would therefore kindly ask you not to bring these with you to gamescom.

Exhibitor walkings acts at gamescom:

As well as cosplayers, walking acts of the exhibitors are also still welcome at gamescom. However, these must be registered in advance and possible imitation weapons or weapon-like items will be examined and labelled before gamescom begins. After being examined these parts of the costume will not leave the fair grounds again throughout the duration of gamescom.

 

[Nokterian]

I also got the mail and it is needed sadly the amount of people going there on the weekend is going to be very busy. But leaving rugsacks and bags at home is not going to be easy since people these days carry a lot if stuff.

 

[MMaRsu]

Safety measures is great.

 

[cw_sasuke]

No brainer.

 

[Mendrox]

Whoever goes their this year: Have fun! Heat! Sweat! Even longer queues.

I understand the reason, but this will be a horror show for every visitor...

 

[TH-Work]

Awesome

 

[Joni]

Hope everything goes good. I'm going to be stupid again and spend too much time waiting in the public halls instead of making Appointments for the press halls.

 

[SliceSabre]

Considering all the terrorism incidents going on, not surprised to see them do this.

 

[Visualante2]

Loads of people camp at this event. It is completely unreasonable to expect people to leave their bags in their tents. It will be a haven for thieves. They had best be prepared with lots of staff.

edit. https://youtu.be/mvexwF2HLJs?t=91

 

[LordGorchnik]

Loads of people camp at this event. It is completely unreasonable to expect people to leave their bags in their tents. It will be a haven for thieves. They had best be prepared with lots of staff.

This. I was there a couple of years ago and even then there are quite a few people camping out there. Hopefully the local residents can step up and maybe offer some lodging or other alternatives for staying.

People bring bags to these events. For swag, merchandise, business materials, etc. Asking to not bring a bag is a little silly given the type of event it is. But as they stated, expect queues no matter what.

 

[murgo]

I'm glad they're doing this. I was actually considering not going after all the terrible crap that's been happening around here.

 

[Kyougar]

Loads of people camp at this event. It is completely unreasonable to expect people to leave their bags in their tents. It will be a haven for thieves. They had best be prepared with lots of staff.

edit. https://youtu.be/mvexwF2HLJs?t=91

they didnt ban rucksacks, they asked nicely to consider to not bring them with you if possible. If you dont have a safe place for a rucksack than it is not possible for you.

 

[Chinese Cartoons]

Considering all the terrorism incidents going on, not surprised to see them do this.

Terrorists have won.

 

[Clessidor]

Not a huge fan of this decision.
Banning a part of the costume for cosplayers is a bad thing. Mostly the message doesn't even define what would they allow and not. Are lightsabers, huge polystyrene weapons, which can't be confused with real weapons allowed? Or not?
Wouldn't be surprised if some people will just sell their tickets or won't take their costume with them because of it.

And also just keep in mind the recent terror attack in Ansbach was somebody blowing himself up in the entrance area, wouldn't it make situation worse if an attack would be happening before the entrance were lots of people would be waiting? I'm not sure.
On the other hand I can understand the safety measures. A lot of stuff is happening. People are scared and so they see themself to be forced to do something which makes the people to feel safer.

But I'm still not a big fan of this decision, because it seems to be mostly a form of blind actionism.

 

[SmokedMeat]

Terrorists have won.

They win if there's no security measures in place to protect innocent people.

 

[Loginius]

Not a huge fan of this decision.
Banning a part of the costume for cosplayers is a bad thing. Mostly the message doesn't even define what would they allow and not. Are lightsabers, huge polystyrene weapons, which can't be confused with real weapons allowed? Or not?
Wouldn't be surprised if some people will just sell their tickets or won't take their costume with them because of it.

And also just keep in mind the recent terror attack in Ansbach was somebody blowing himself up in the entrance area, wouldn't it make situation worse if an attack would be happening before the entrance were lots of people would be waiting? I'm not sure.
On the other hand I can understand the safety measures. A lot of stuff is happening. People are scared and so they see themself to be forced to do something which makes the people to feel safer.

But I'm still not a big fan of this decision, because it seems to be mostly a form of blind actionism.

What?
More people are in the hall than in front of it even when there are tight controls, this makes no sense.
I think its reasonable, a lot of stuff is happening and so they check bags.
Nobody loses like this, banning weapons is going to hurt some peoples cosplays but its better than somebody getting in there with an actual gun.
Would be nice if this was not necessary but clearly it is.

 

[Familienoberhauptvogel]

From personal experience the staff at gamescom is plenty capable of endangering lives by themselves.
Also no rucksacks and bags means no room for water and that's the most important thing to have with you during the event. It's hot and you'll dehydrate quickly if you don't drink enough.

 

[BruceCLea]

Terrorists have won.

 

[Auctopus]

I think some people are missing the point of the bag thing. It's not "Please don't bring bags 'cause you might be hiding bad things in there."

It's "We're gonna be checking every single bag and if you all have bags and most of them have a hoody and a bottle of water then it's going to take fucking ages to get you all in."

 

[nOoblet16]

I was there last year, the people with imitation weapons always had their weapons checked before the final gate.

Although when I went there for the first time 4 years ago, the security was incredibly lax.