“So many gamers, almost as many as us”

3.9.2024

Gamescom, the world’s largest games event, is held annually in Cologne, Germany. It is a key meeting place for games professionals, developers, publishers, and fans to come together to experience and showcase the latest games, technologies, and innovations. So naturally, Cyber City Tycoon had to be there.

The event featured huge halls filled with products from the world’s biggest gaming companies and tech giants. Ubisoft, Square Enix, Google, Microsoft, and others were present, and this year’s event attracted some 335 000 visitors.

Antti and Tuomas showcased the game to an interested audience.

Our Cyber City Tycoon stand was located in Hall 10. The flow of people was constant, and we estimate that we talked to an average of about 30 people per hour.

Some recurring observations emerged from the discussions. The first impression of the game’s graphics led many to think that the game was for children. However, this was not a bad first impression, as this is an EU-funded educational game that is expected to be more than just a flashy and imaginative entertainment game. One of the most memorable was the little girl who tried out the game with her father on Friday. They came back on Saturday because she wanted to play more. She smiled at her father and said: “Dieses Spiel ist super gut.”

Younger players picked up the mini-game mechanics of the game easily without any guidance, and older players caught on quickly. It was great to see that those who tried the game often laughed as they played.

As well as being entertaining, people appreciated the basic idea behind the game: a free game with no money mechanics. Cyber City Tycoon has an advertising feature, but to the players’ positive surprise, the ads are not for other games or products for profit but provide educational content. The fact that the game will be available in all official EU languages was also praised.

The good reception was particularly evident in the number of people who signed up for the game to be released

Thank you, Cologne and Gamescom, we hope to see you again.

Follow our project’s progress on LinkedIn @Cyber Citizen. The next blog will be out next week. 

Antti Orasvuo
Oula Halonen
Tuomas Heikkinen

“Of course, to know us is to love us”

“Of course, to know us is to love us”