Germany's annual video game trade fair kicks off

More than 300 games, including world, European and German premieres are being presented at the Gamescom, with more than 500 exhibitors taking part. The organisers say this is an increase of some 10 per cent on last year.The exhibitors come from all over the world, with companies from several countries taking part for the very first time, including Brazil, Estonia, Norway, Mexico and Vietnam.Gaming experts say the main trend at the moment is online gaming, something which will be a major highlight of the Gamescom.Industry watchers will also focus on how game developers embrace the fast-growing phenomenon of casual gaming -- relatively simple games that are played on smartphones, tablet computers and PCs and do not require a huge time commitment, making them attractive to the mass market.For the mobile gaming industry, the issue of free-to-play games and the future of revenue streams are other hot topics likely to be discussed.Attendees will also be looking out for how companies are positioning themselves in the wake of the Sony hacking scandal, which saw hackers access personal data for more than 100 million users of Sonys online video games in April.The Gamescom was only open to press and experts on Wednesday, but it opened its doors to the general public on Thursday and will continue until Sunday, with organisers saying they expect more than a quarter of a million visitors to the event.