European Computer Trade Show
The European Computer Trade Show, commonly known as ECTS, was an annual trade show for the European computer and video game industry, which first ran in 1988, with the last event occurring in 2004.
The exposition was only open to industry professionals and journalists, although it was frequently attended by members of the public who had faked credentials. Due to the wide-scale nature of this, many exhibitors planned stalls to appeal to both trade and public, except when alternative public shows were planned (such as the Future Entertainment Show and Game Stars Live).
ECTS was held towards the end of August or the beginning of September. Post-2002, the show was held in Earls Court Exhibition Centre in London. Previous to this the show had been held in ExCeL Exhibition Centre and the Grand Hall at Olympia, both also in London.
From 2001 until 2004, the Game Developers Conference Europe was held alongside ECTS. Unlike the primarily press-oriented ECTS, GDCE focused on talks and discussions about the development of games, and was aimed at the developers themselves. In 2004, however, GDCE moved locations and ran alongside the Game Stars Live event.
In April 2005, organiser CMP announced that they were withdrawing from the British trade show market, marking the end of 17 years of shows.
Venues
| Year | Dates | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 16–18 April | Business Design Centre |
| 1990 | 1–3 April | Business Design Centre |
| 1991 | 14–16 April | Business Design Centre |
| 1992 | 12–14 April | Business Design Centre |
| 6–8 September | Business Design Centre | |
| 1993 | 4–6 April | Business Design Centre |
| 5–7 September | Business Design Centre | |
| 1994 | 10–12 April | Business Design Centre |
| 4–6 September | Business Design Centre | |
| 1995 | 26–28 March | Olympia |
| 10–12 September | Olympia | |
| 1996 | 14–16 April | Olympia |
| 9–10 September | Olympia | |
| 1997 | 7–9 September | Olympia |
| 1998 | 6–8 September | Olympia |
| 1999 | 5–7 September | Olympia |
| 2000 | 3–5 September | Olympia |
| 2001 | 2–4 September | ExCeL |
| 2002 | 29–31 August | Earls Court Exhibition Centre |
| 2003 | 27–29 August | Earls Court Exhibition Centre |
| 2004 | 1–3 September | Earls Court Exhibition Centre |
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