Game Market (ゲームマーケット) is a Japanese gaming convention featuring "analog games" that do not require electricity, such as board games and card games. The event was first held in Tokyo on April 2, 2000. It is currently held at

Tokyo Big Sight , officially known as , is a convention and exhibition center in Tokyo, Japan, and the largest one in the country. Opened in April 1996, the center is located in the Ariake Minami district of on the Tokyo Bay waterfront. Its most iconic feature i ...

twice a year, in spring and autumn, and also once a year in

Osaka is a designated city in the Kansai region of Honshu in Japan. It is the capital of and most populous city in Osaka Prefecture, and the third most populous city in Japan, following Special wards of Tokyo and Yokohama. With a population of 2. ...

. The event has seen a rise in popularity, with attendance at the Tokyo event increasing from 2,200 in March 2010 to 7,200 in October 2014, 8,500 in May 2015,9,500 in November 2015, and 29,300 in 2019''2019秋来場者数報告''
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Overview

As the event is limited to games that do not require electricity, a relatively minor genre within the gaming community,''"Febri"'' magazine, September 2014 issue, page 61 Game Market hosts booths operated by both commercial businesses and enthusiast groups. The event is attended by many families and couples, and there are many booths aimed at young children and free spaces to be used as play areas. There is also a prohibition on the exhibition of adult games. Booths operated by industry stakeholders such as Hobby Japan, Adventure Planning Service and

Group SNE Group SNE is a Japanese company founded in 1986 by the current president Hitoshi Yasuda, which produces role-playing games, light novels, board games and card games. Ryo Mizuno was one of the founding members. Group SNE is named after Syntax Erro ...

showcase visits by prominent game creators such as Hitoshi Yasuda and Ginichiro Suzuki. Some companies from overseas, such as Alderac Entertainment Group also attend, due to their distribution of Japanese hobby games outside of Japan. In 2010, the convention went from being organized by a group of volunteers to being managed by

Arclight An arclight or arc lamp is a lamp that produces a bright light by generating an electric arc across two electrodes. Arclight, Arc Light or arc light may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Characters * Arclight (comics), a mutant super-villai ...

, which involved significant changes to the management system.

Past venues

*2000： Kanda, Tokyo (Kanda Panse) *2001–2012： Asakusa, Tokyo (Taito Ward Hall, Tokyo Metropolitan Industrial Trade Center)

Current venues

Game Market Tokyo

*2013–：

Ariake, Tokyo is a district in Kōtō, Tokyo, Japan. It is best known as the region adjacent to and directly east of Odaiba. Ariake is subdivided into four Japanese addressing system, ''chome'' and comprises part of the Tokyo Bay Landfill No. 10 and Tokyo Rink ...

(

west area, east area) A move from Taito Ward Hall to a larger venue had been planned for 2014, but the success of the 2012 convention and the support of

Bushiroad is a Japanese entertainment company, producer of collectible card games and trading cards, publisher of mobile apps and games, promotional items and many other venues, which was founded in 2007 by Takaaki Kidani and is headquartered in Tokyo. ...

prompted an earlier move in 2013 to Tokyo Big Sight West Hall 3.

Game Market Osaka

2012-2014： Osaka Merchandise Mart. 2015(March 1)：Hanamizuki Hall (Aqua Hall) in

Tsurumi Ryokuchi Park Tsurumi may refer to: Places (鶴見) *Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama **Tsurumi Station ** Tsurumi Line *Tsurumi River, Kanagawa * Tsurumi-ku, Osaka * Tsurumi, Ōita People with the surname *Koko Tsurumi (鶴見虹子, born 1992), gymnast *Shuji Tsurumi (� ...

Game Market Kobe

The first ''Game Market Kobe'' was scheduled to be held at the Kobe International Exhibition Hall on 21 February 2016.

Main types of games

The convention features only analog games that do not use electricity, in the following main genres: *War games *Card games *Simulation games *Role-playing games (pen & paper) *Board games *Traditional games (such as go and

shogi , also known as Japanese chess, is a strategy board game for two players. It is one of the most popular board games in Japan and is in the same family of games as Western chess, ''chaturanga, Xiangqi'', Indian chess, and '' janggi''. ''Shōgi'' ...

) *Collectible card games(from 2015 Spring) The analog games displayed can include

dōjinshi , also romanized as ', is the Japanese term for self-published print works, such as magazines, manga, and novels. Part of a wider category of '' doujin'' (self-published) works, ''doujinshi'' are often derivative of existing works and created ...

(fan fiction) and self-created games, including commercial games. The games are displayed in booths that may be run by clubs or companies. In recent years, some booths have displayed game-related goods such as miniature figurines and accessories. The exhibition venue includes a space for attendees to play with games they have bought. Booth organizers have the option of applying for a play space next to their booth where participants can try out games.

Past events

;Bid auction ;Public auction :Both auctions not the organizers of royalty. ;Bazar :Individual participants, to sell the goods in a format similar to

Flea market A flea market (or swap meet) is a type of street market that provides space for vendors to sell previously-owned (second-hand) goods. This type of market is often seasonal. However, in recent years there has been the development of 'formal' ...

. ;Stamp Rally ;Traditional game experience :I can experience the traditional game in the world. So far, Domino, Backgammon, Texas Hold'em, :ja:投扇興, Carrom, :ja:うんすんカルタ, :ja:ごいた,

Draughts Checkers (American English), also known as draughts (; British English), is a group of strategy board games for two players which involve diagonal moves of uniform game pieces and mandatory captures by jumping over opponent pieces. Checkers ...

, Renju experience meetings opened. ;Korean companies exhibitors :2008–2009, Korean board game company has exhibited with their own booths.

Photos

File:Gamemarket-waiting.jpg, Game Market 2013 Autumn of the venue before the participants wait column. This waiting column is the opening just before ranged up to the outside of the building. File:Gamemarket-kidsgame.jpg, Parents and children to enjoy a board game in the "Children's Game Corner" File:Gamemarket_2014_autumn_nikonama.jpg, The board game play live spectacle by Niconico live in the venue File:Gamemarket2014autumn08.jpg, Card game playing with disabled person File:Gamemarket2015spring01.jpg, Magic: the Gathering teaching caravan by Wizards of the Coast,free promotion decks distributed. File:Gamemarket2015spring02.jpg, Japanese traditional card game Hanafuda experience play corner File:Gamemarket2015spring03.jpg, Role-playing games experience play corner,6 games could be played by one hour.

References

External links

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BoardGameGeek News Tokyo Game Market – Spring 2013ますます拡大を続けるアナログゲームの祭典「ゲームマーケット2014秋」。その幅広さと奥深さをたっぷりレポート
{{coord, 35, 37, 51, N, 139, 47, 48, E, display=title, region:JP-13_type:landmark_source:dewiki Gaming conventions Doujin Recurring events established in 2000