Comic con organizer Wizard World unveils multiple game shows for 2016

Comic convention organizer Wizard World has announced a series of gaming events to take place across the US next year.

Games Industryreports Wizard World Gaming Atlanta will be the first of nine events hosted by the company in 2016, taking place January 22-24 at the Georgia World Congress Center.

"We wanted to create an exciting, new type of convention for fans who love all kinds of gaming. Gaming is a growing part of all Wizard World shows, and we feel Atlanta is the perfect place to roll out this kind of celebration,” Wizard World CEO John Macaluso said.

The show is described as a celebration of all things gaming,” and is set to feature eSports and tabletop gaming competitions, a retro gaming lounge, and celebrity guests – including Donkey Kong pro Billy Mitchell, Twin Galaxies founder Walter Day, Skylanders voice actors Yuri Lowenthal and Tara Platt, and others yet to be announced.

Eight similar events are planed to coincide with respective Comic Cons throughout America through September of next year:

• February 19-21: Portland, Oregon
• April 1-3: St. Louis, Missouri
• May 6-8: Minneapolis, Minnesota
• June 2-5: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• July 17-19: Sacramento, California
• August 5-7: Orlando, Florida
• August 18-21: Chicago, Illinois
• September 23-25: Austin, Texas