Leipzig, Germany - Germany's giant Games Convention opens its doors this week with organizers saying Wednesday they expect a record year for one of the key events on world games industry's calendar.

The number of exhibitors at this year's Games Convention has risen from 503 last year to 547 this year with organizers expecting the number of premieres of digital games and gaming products to rise by 50 per cent to about 300.

About 40 per cent of the exhibitors are from overseas with more as 200,000 visitors expected at the trade fair, which is now in its seventh year.

Held in the east German city of Leipzig, this year's Games Convention is spread across 115,000 square metres with the number of nations represented at the fair rising from 31 last year to 32.

Game industry leaders such as Electronic Arts, Microsoft and Sony are also represented at the trade fair.

"At this time, Leipzig is the centre of gravity for the European game industry," said Leipzig Trade Fair chief executive Wolfgang Marzin.

"The industry looks to Leipzig, waiting eagerly for the signals for the German and European market from the year's most important fair," he said.

However, the future of the Games Convention is unclear with the German games industry association proposing to mount a new trade fair next year in the west German city of Cologne.

The Leipzig Games Convention is open for industry representatives Wednesday and the general public Thursday. (dpa)