Spiel 1431173 209400267 2008-05-01T05:36:08Z 213.39.200.78 Fixed the name of the fair, according to its web site. {{wiktionary}} '''Internationale Spieltage SPIEL''', often called '''Essen''' after the city where it is held, is an annual four-day game [[trade fair]] held in October (Thursday to the following Sunday) at the Messe Essen exhibition centre in [[Essen]]. Many [[german-style board game]]s are released at the fair. Unlike the other major German game fair, the [[Nuremberg International Toy Fair]], Spiel is open to consumers as well as publishers and designers.<ref name="gamasutra">{{cite web |title=Four Days In The Center Of The Board Game Universe |url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/2007/four_days_in_the_center_of_the_.php |work=[[Gamasutra]] |author=Batty, Ward |date=2007-11-07 |accessdate=2007-11-08 }}</ref> The fair often has over 130,000 guests with 151,000 in 2006, although numbers were low in 2007 due to a German rail strike.<ref name="gamasutra"/> The [[Deutscher Spiele Preis]], the [[International Gamers Awards]], and [[Essen Feather]] are presented at the fair. It is reputedly the biggest and best public show for boardgames, card games and CCGs, with designers and publishers demonstrating their newest games, retailers selling games at discount, and a large fleamarket with a wide range of new and used games. In addition, there is usually a hall of comic book sellers, and one or two halls with RPGs and live action material, and a hall of large inflatables and activities for kids. The show sometimes has computer games, but these are unusual. The exhibition centre is called the Messe Essen, also know as the Gruga Halle or the fairgrounds. It is in an area of Essen called Margarethenhöhe, in the South of the city. == See also == * [[Spellenspektakel]], a similar but smaller fair in the [[Netherlands]] == References == <references/> == External links == * [http://www.merz-verlag.com/spiel/ Spiel homepage] * [http://www.boardgamenews.com/index.php/boardgamenews/convention_preview_essen_2006/ Essen 2006 preview] by [[Rick Thornquist]] * {{bgg par|thread|120409|Essen FAQ}} {{game-stub}} [[Category:Gaming conventions]] [[Category:Annual fairs]] [[Category:Trade shows]] [[de:Internationale Spieltage]]