Heads Up! For airsoft players who are video gaming addicts and are planning to attend the upcoming Gamescom 2016 in Cologne, Germany, if you intend to wear your loadout for Cosplay, just make sure that you leave your airsoft guns (and whatever firearm replica) at home to avoid being turned away at the gates.
Set for the 18th to the 21st of August, the Gamescom is the largest games tradeshow in the world. With the big first person shooters title to be released late this year, rest assured that you they will be at the Gamescom with a full marketing blast. You may intend to take your photos taken at EA’s Battlefield 1 area, or at the Infinity Ward Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare booth, or even find out what’s new with Ubisoft’s Tom Clancy titles such as Rainbow 6: Siege, The Division, or Ghost Recon: Wildlands. The bad news is that you won’t be holding any replica firearm with your loadout put together to match your favourite first person shooter game.
Due to recent deadly incidents that took place in Germany involving the use of firearms and other deadly weapons, the organizers have take precautions to ensure the safety of visitors and exhibitors. So this means any type of imitation weapon, ranging from swords to firearms, will not be allowed to be brought in by the organizers. Visitors are still allowed to bring their costumes for Cosplay purposes so the fun for Cosplayers meeting up will continue. They also admonish not bingeing imitation weapons to the Cologne city centre in consideration to the inhabitants and visitors of the city.
For exhibitors and game developers who plan on having walking acts in costumes and will be bringing imitation weapons, they will need to inform the organizers in advance of their plans and their imitation weapons will be examined and labeled before the Gamescom opens. Once allowed, these are not going to be allowed off the exhibition grounds so as not to alarm the public not attending the Gamescom outside.
Everyone, visitors, exhibitors, and members of the press as well are encouraged not to bring unnecessary bags to the venue. This looks like there will be bag checks that will be done by security at the gates and this means the more bags to check, the longer the queues will be.
The exhibitors hope that their precautions won’t take out the fan for costumed participants, and that all the distractions to visitors such as the latest in the video game technology such as gadgets, gaming consoles, meeting celebrities, listening to game developers present their offerings, and the fun of meeting kindred gamers would more than make up for the ban.