Gamescom 2012 attendance over 275,000

Gamescom: Part Vier stabilized its attendance, with the premier European gaming event's attendance reaching a little over 275,000 according to event organizers, approximately the same as last year. Microsoft and Nintendo's absense kept things calmer this year, with the Koelnmesse avoiding overcapacity ' it also probably helped that Saturday tickets were locked at a set number this year.

Gamescom 2013 is scheduled for next August 21-25 in Cologne. Like our previous roundups of official and unofficial stats, you can find 2012's after the break.

• 275,000 attendees. Breakdown: 24,500 trade visitors (up 3,500) and 250,500 (down 3,100) "end consumers."
• 600 exhibitors from 40 countries (2011: 557 exhibitors from 39 countries 2010: 505 exhibitors from 33 countries; 2009: 458 companies attended from 31 countries).
• Croissants consumed at hotel breakfast: 35 (2011: 27).
• Liters of multivitamin juice consumed: 6 (2011: 4).
• Number of liters of Kölsch consumed by us: 0.2 liters (2011: 8; 2010: 1.6; 2009: 6).
• Number of times "excess" was experienced: 0.
• Number of times we were confused as working for the French magazine: 1 (2011: 2).
• Evenings of Turkish take-out (Turkish pizza is amazing!): 2 (2011: 3).
• Number of horse images in our hotel room: 10. Same hotel room as last year.
• Number of Super Joystiq Podcast guests that hung out in our hotel room: 13 (2011: 7).
• Number of times we ate at the Bier Esel (Beer Donkey): 2 (2011: 3).
• Number of times we had a surly waitress at the Bier Esel, but didn't care because the food was so good: 3.
• Number of times a homeless guy asked us for for cash: 1 (2011: 12; 2010: 0; 2009: 8).
• Number of times we were serenaded while having dinner by men on a bachelor pub crawl: 0 (2011: 0; 2010: 1; 2009: 0).
• Schnitzels consumed: 1.
• Attendees at GDC Europe earlier in the week: 2,100 participants, 170 speakers and 300 media representatives.
• Number of times we heard the "German Halo song.": 0. Number of times we thought we heard the song: 1.