![Links: SPIEL 2016 Attendance, AEG Channels, & Brick-and-Mortar Pyramids](https://cf.geekdo-images.com/G9jZp64LDR5r1Bo3ekqX1A__thumb/img/mKWI-4OMkAqUONr6rt3rsZJvwTQ=/fit-in/200x150/filters:strip_icc()/pic2405514.jpg)
On all four days of the event the doors had to be opened before the actual start time in order to cope with the crowds of visitors. Early every morning there was exuberant expectation at the gates amongst those waiting in queues to discover the treasures inside the exhibition halls.
SPIEL'16 was more international than ever before: More than half of the 1,021 exhibitors this year were from outside Germany (60 percent). Exhibitors from countries such as Colombia, Azerbaijan and Macedonia joined traditionally well-represented nations like the United States, France and Poland.
• In September 2016, Alderac Entertainment Group published a description of its "channel relationships", from which I've excerpted the following:
AEG reserves the right to determine to whom our approved distributors may sell our products. AEG provides our distribution partners with a House Accounts List and requires that they not do business with House Accounts unless authorized in writing beforehand by AEG.
AEG has set up the following Brand Protection Policy Guidelines so retailers who wish to carry AEG products know the expectations we have of a retailer who is representing our brands when offering to them to end consumers. AEG will make every effort to inform retailers who are not following the guidelines and allow them the opportunity to make changes.
Retailers AEG feels are not adhering to the policies or are somehow representing our brands in a way we do not feel is positive will be placed on our House Accounts List and permission for our authorized distributors to sell to those partners may be limited or revoked until AEG feels the problems have been resolved.
Internet Retail
We know that many brick & mortar stores now offer on-line ordering as a convenience to their customers and AEG supports those efforts.
Retailers that generate a substantial portion of their revenue from on-line sales will automatically be on the House Account list, and individual agreements will be made with authorized distributors to service those accounts.
The determination of how much business comprises a “substantial portion” will be made by AEG on a case by case basis.
Minimum Advertised Price Policies
AEG has established Minimum Advertised Prices for all its games.
The Minimum Advertised Price is the lowest amount a retailer can display to consumers for AEG products while purchasing those products from an authorized distributor. If a retailer consistently displays a price below the Minimum Advertised Price policy, that retailer will become a House Account.
AEG will also make retailers who participate in group ordering programs and similar promotions whereby AEG products are offered to consumers at deep discounts from the Suggested Retail Price House Accounts.
The Minimum Advertised Price policy exists to ensure that AEG can protect the integrity and value of its brands. This policy applies to advertised prices. Retailers can offer any price they wish at the point of sale.
• In August 2016, Looney Labs announced that Pyramid Arcade — the publication of which it funded via Kickstarter in May 2016, with the pledge for the complete game being $77 — would be available for purchase online solely through its own website and Marbles: The Brain Store. Looney Labs explains the decision to do this as follows:
To protect brand equity and help build consumer demand for Pyramid Arcade, we have unilaterally decided to focus our sales efforts (for this single SKU: LOO-074) through physical retail locations (including conventions), and thus only offer Pyramid Arcade ONLINE through a small set of Chosen Online Retailers.