G-Star Korea Gaming Expo Booth Design & Operation Tips

.

G-Star is the biggest game expo in Korea, held annually at BEXCO in Busan. The event attracts thousands of gamers, with long lines forming even before the exhibition opens, making it one of the most popular gaming events and festivals in the country.

Having managed the exhibition planning and operations for major game companies like Webzen, Tencent, Wemade, and Shift Up over the past 11 years, we have accumulated significant experience. Here are some key tips we consider essential when preparing for G-Star.

.

G-Star Korea Booth Design & Concept

Designing an effective and engaging booth is crucial for a successful exhibition at G-Star. Here are some key tips and important considerations for creating a standout booth concept.

• Define Your Theme and Identity

Establishing a clear and strong theme that aligns with your game’s identity is essential. This includes designing spaces that enhance engagement and make visitors feel like they are stepping into the game’s world. High-quality visuals, costumes, and props should be meticulously crafted to reflect the game’s characteristics and immerse visitors in the game.

• Seamless User Flow

Plan the layout to ensure a smooth flow for visitors from entry to exit. A well-organized layout that guides visitors through various interactive zones and activities ensures a memorable and enjoyable experience. Make sure the transition between different sections is smooth, allowing visitors to fully immerse themselves in the game’s world without confusion or congestion.

• Immersive and Interactive Experiences

Create an environment where visitors can deeply engage with the game. Incorporate interactive elements such as life-sized character displays, demo stations, themed environments, and captivating storylines to effectively convey the game’s atmosphere. Consider adding features like photo booths, character voting areas, and stamp tours, where visitors can collect stamps through different activities to receive merchandise.

By focusing on these elements, you can create a booth that not only attracts attention but also provides a memorable and engaging experience for all attendees.

.

Cosplay Tips

• Professional Cosplay

G-Star is also a cosplay festival. Nowadays, even amateur cosplayers have high-quality costumes. Poor preparation can leave a negative impression. For Webzen, we collaborated with professional cosplayers suited to the subculture game genre. Korea’s top cosplay model, ‘Aza Miyuko‘, portrayed the character ‘Cecilia‘ from the game Terbis. Professional cosplayers not only wear costumes but also deeply study the characters to perform with synchronized expressions, poses, and movements. This dedication drew significant attention from gamers and impressed even the game creators.

• High Quality of Costume

There’s a saying, “The devil is in the details.” It means that thorough attention to detail is crucial. Working with our costume and weapon production partners, we had to play the role of the devil, meticulously inspecting and replicating even the smallest details. From wrinkles in costumes to minute color differences, nothing was overlooked. We conducted multiple tests and rehearsals with cosplayers until the day before the G-Star opening.

Invisible details matter. Our professional spirit aligned with the cosplayers, who passionately studied every detail, from character movements to narration. Though it was a painstaking process, the result was an unparalleled level of detail that created a profound impact.

Merchandise Tips

• Merch Lists Flood the Web

When G-Star opens, bloggers and YouTubers quickly post about the event’s merchandise, sparking competition. For attendees, obtaining merchandise is a source of happiness, and for fans, it’s a cherished collectible. Therefore, merchandise is not just a product but a medium for conveying brand experiences.

• Merch For Event Participation

For the Flint-Astra exhibition, we planned eight types of merchandise, including blankets, stickers, removable stickers, magnets, large mouse pads, tumblers, prism card tags, and playing cards. We categorized items from C-level to S-level to boost event participation.

• Connecting Booth Events Using Merch

Webzen also paid close attention to merchandise quality. From Webzen Friends brand products to unique IP-themed goods, we prepared a ‘Webzen Menu’ to showcase over 15 types of merchandise at a glance. We pre-planned user pathways connecting outdoor booth events, popularity voting, demo zones, and social media events, designing a stamp event that allowed gamers to enjoy collecting merchandise as part of the booth experiences.

Planning a Stage Event for G-Star Korea

Planning effective stage events is crucial for a successful G-Star exhibition. Here are some key tips for creating engaging and memorable stage events.

• Designing Engaging Stage Programs

First, designing stage programs is essential. Engaging programs attract and retain visitors, encouraging them to stay longer and return. To avoid empty seats and a dull atmosphere, curate interesting content with intriguing guests and activities like OX quizzes, mini-games, tournaments, and lucky draws. It’s also important to be flexible and ready to adjust the program based on the live audience’s reactions.

• Hiring a Skilled MC

Second, hiring a skilled MC is vital for managing stage events. Having multiple scripts and cue sheets ready for unexpected situations ensures better preparedness. An MC who enjoys gaming, connects well with the audience, and thinks on their feet can keep the energy high and effectively manage the crowd, making the event more dynamic and engaging.

• Conducting Thorough Rehearsals and Simulations

Lastly, conducting thorough rehearsals and simulations is crucial for ensuring both safety and fun. Comprehensive rehearsals and scenario simulations help in planning for smooth and safe events. Balancing entertainment and safety through proper planning provides an enjoyable experience for all attendees.

Implementing these strategies will make stage events at G-Star both captivating and secure, leaving a lasting impression on all visitors.

Previous: G-Star 2024: the Largest Gaming Convention in Korea (Link)

Next: G-Star Korea Essential Tips for Exhibitors (Coming soon)

G-Star 2024: the Largest Gaming Convention in Korea

by a 12 years experienced G-Star agency

---

1. G-STAR 2024 KOREA

What is G-Star Korea?

G-Star is Korea’s largest gaming convention, which has been held annually since 2005. It takes place from the third Thursday of November to that coming Sunday, coinciding with the Korean SAT period. This year, G-Star 2024 will be held from November 14th to 17th.

• B2B: November 14th(THU) to 16th(SAT) 10AM-6PM
• B2C: November 14th(THU) to 17th(SUN) 12PM-6PM

Where?

G-Star is held in Busan, not Seoul. The event is hosted at Bexco, Busan’s largest convention center, and features a variety of activities such as the introduction of new game IPs, gaming competitions, game demonstrations, and business meetings. G-Star has established itself as a pivotal event in the gaming industry, attracting both local and international participants and visitors.

G-Star’s 20th Anniversary

This year marks a special milestone as G-Star celebrates its 20th anniversary. To commemorate this occasion, G-Star’s organizing committee is preparing an extensive campaign that promises to be the highlight of the event.

2. Key Features of G-Star

Subculture Game Festival

G-Star hosts its very own event called the Subculture Game Festival. This event celebrates the diverse and vibrant subcultures within the gaming community. It features activities like fan meetings, autograph sessions and various interactive events. It’s a space where gaming enthusiasts can immerse themselves in the rich culture that surrounds their favorite games.

Game Lovers Are Here🔥

As you may already know, Korea is the birthplace of e-sports. In Korea, there are gaming rooms equipped with hundreds of cutting-edge computers, found in neighborhoods everywhere. They are called PC Bang. Every Korean teenager has spent part of their youth in these places. Ah, and even as adults, many still do.😂

Just Right After Korean SAT

G-Star is strategically scheduled right after the Korean SAT (Suneung) exam. This timing is intentional, as a significant portion of the event’s attendees are students. The convention offers special events and gifts for students who bring their exam identification, making it a popular post-exam celebration for many young gamers.

(Tips: If you are an exhibitor, plan merchandise events for them!)

3. G-Star Trend

G-Star 2023 Major Companies

In 2023, G-Star saw participation from major companies such as Smilegate(Lostark), NCSoft(LLL), Netmarble(Demis Re:Born), Krafton(Dark and Darker) alongside international giants like Bandai Namco(Final Fantasy) and EA SPORTS(FC24). These companies showcased their latest games and technologies, highlighting the event’s global appeal.

• Main Sponsor: Wemade
• Special Sponsor: Google Play

.

Multiplatform(Mobile, PC, Console)

G-Star has evolved to reflect the growing trend of multiplatform gaming. The convention features games and products across mobile, PC, and console platforms, catering to a diverse range of gaming preferences and ensuring that there is something for everyone.

Bigger and Bigger

Each year, G-Star continues to grow in size and influence. The G-Star 2023 saw a record number of 197K attendees, with even more space allocated for displays and events. This trend of growth indicates the increasing importance of G-Star in the global gaming industry, as it continues to attract more participants and visitors from around the world.

42 Countries, 1037 Exhibitors, 3328 Booth

This year, the early registration for exhibitors closed in just 30 minutes, showing a heated response and raising expectations that it will break previous records in scale.

.

4. G-Star Agency

G-Star’s success is also attributed to the expertise of its exhibition agency. We are an experiential marketing company that not only handles global game shows like GDC, Gamescom, and Tokyo Game Show, but also G-Star. Our greatest strengths lie in solid execution and exhibition planning tailored to user preferences and trends. When planning game exhibitions, we ensure that the initial vision matches the final results and that the operations run smoothly from start to finish.

We have extensive experience managing both indoor and outdoor booths and have organized mega-scale tournaments such as WCG and dubbed the Olympics of gaming, making us specialists in participatory events. Successful exhibitions stem from strong reactions, and in the realm of gaming marketing, the immediate reactions of gamers at the event are highly impactful.

With Eidetic Marketing’s headquarters in Korea and a multilingual team proficient in Korean, English, Chinese and Japanese, it is of no wonder that our global agency participates annually in G-Star.

.

.

Recommended Content

• G-Star Game Booth Ideas for Successful Gaming Conventions [Link]

• 2023 G-Star Works [EA SPORTS, WEBZEN]