What is Games Convention Asia?

This is one event you should be paying attention to.

Never heard of the Games Convention Asia show? Then you might want to read on – it’s shaping up to be an event to keep both eyes on.

What is the GCA?

The first GC Asia was held in Singapore in early September 2007, attracting more than 70,000 game enthusiasts from the Asia-Pacific region. It offered both consumers and developers a chance to play upcoming games, network, and show off their wares.

The convention is put on by the same folks behind the Leipzig games show, which instantly makes it worth paying attention to. It’s essentially an extension of that show, but modified to reflect the Asia-Pacific area – which includes us. You might just say that it’s the closest our region will ever get to a games show on the scale of E3.

This year, the show will run from September 18-20. Expect a lot of coverage as we bring you all the latest up to date info of the event!

Here’s a taste of what can be expected:

Why should I care?

Beyond being the event most tailored to us, GCA 2008 is going to feature some kickass upcoming games. We’ll unveil the full lineup at the end of the week, but for now check out a few of the titles below:

Warhammer Online
If you’ve never played the Warhammer table-top game before, there’s a good chance that you at least know someone who has. This fantasy world of pewter figurines and tape measures has been going for a couple of decades now, providing gamers with a world that is refreshingly darker than your typical run-of-the-mill fantasy world (and possessed with a sense of humour). And soon, this world will be taken online with Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning.

Dead Space
In space, no one can hear you scream. From the comfort of your living room or bedroom, someone might. That’s where EA Redwood Shores' new sci-fi survival horror game, Dead Space, comes in. Players will assume the role of Isaac Clarke, an engineer sent as part of a team to investigate a lack of communication from the ‘planet cracker’ USG Ishimura, a gigantic vessel used to rip apart old planets and smelt them down for resources. From the get-go it’s clear this isn’t your routine communication breakdown - your everyman engineer has a bumpy, dark and alien infested ride ahead of him.

Mirror’s Edge
Mirror’s Edge promises to bring a fresh new twist to the action/adventure genre of games. Although weapons are available, the emphasis is placed on exploration and investigation, on using momentum and fluidity of movement to traverse the city’s towering free roaming environments.

More information

If you want to find out more about the upcoming convention, head to their website.

And if you reckon you have the money to get over to Singapore, remember that the convention is free! All you need to do is sign up here.

Keep it locked to NZGamer this week for the full games lineup – there’s a lot left to be announced in the buildup to GCA 2008!