Germany's two big game industry associations fail to merge

Newsbrief: After two years of negotiations, the BIU (the German Trade Association of Interactive Entertainment Software) and G.A.M.E. (the German Games Industry Association) have decided not to merge. BIU is the co-organizer, along with venue Koelnmesse, of the Gamescom trade show which takes place every August in Cologne, Germany, and draws global publishers, the press, and the public to the event. G.A.M.E. organizes industry awards and also liaises with the government, as well as participating in shows and conferences. The BIU withdrew from the two-year merger talks after deciding that "a continuation of the negotiations with unforeseeable results would be irresponsible," according to German-language comments from BIU's CEO Dr. Olaf Coenen.