Mosel Gaming Event in Perl draws more than 1,200 visitors celebrating geek culture

The Mosel Gaming Event continues to grow in Perl. Over three editions, the event conceived by Ruppert Dane has steadily expanded. Having started out in a primary school sports hall, then moved to a larger venue for its second edition, the event reached a new milestone this year by taking over the Schengen-Lyzeum.

The change of venue reflects the growth of this gathering for video game and geek culture enthusiasts.

An event dreamt up by an enthusiast.

An IT specialist by profession and a gamer himself, Ruppert Dane, born in 1989 and from Perl-Nennig, is the driving force behind the project. His starting point: events devoted to gaming, cosplay and conventions remain relatively few and far between in the Merzig-Wadern area and its surroundings.

He therefore decided to bring together the people he already knew in this world: exhibitors, artists, vendors and members of the gaming community.

Three editions on, the idea has grown considerably. According to the municipality’s estimates, between 1,200 and 1,300 people visited the site over the course of the day. The organiser also reports around eight exhibitors, 26 sales and artists’ stands, as well as numerous cosplayers.

‘By gamers for gamers’: that is how Ruppert Dane sums up the spirit of the event. Beyond video games, the Mosel Gaming Event aims to offer a space for cosplayers, artists, collectors, associations and anyone wishing to share their passion.

Tournaments, competitions, discoveries and encounters fill the day, which is open to a wide range of visitors, from retro gaming fans to families and curious newcomers keen to explore this world.

Free entry as a founding principle.

One of the distinctive features of the Mosel Gaming Event is its model: entry is free, as is participation for exhibitors and artists, in order to keep financial barriers to a minimum.

The organiser is determined to preserve this accessibility. His aim is not to turn the event into a commercial venture, but to offer a gathering open to as many people as possible.

This commitment does, however, come at a cost. The event relies on personal funding, supplemented by contributions from friends, family and private individuals. The money raised is reinvested in the organisation, notably for the prizes and gifts handed out during the tournaments and competitions.

Ruppert Dane explains that he generally ends the event out of pocket. It is a choice he stands by, driven by the desire to keep a community alive and to allow everyone to take part, regardless of their means.

An event run by volunteers.

Behind the day itself lies a considerable amount of preparation. While Ruppert Dane coordinates the project himself, he can count on the help of friends and acquaintances who pitch in with setting up and ensuring the event runs smoothly.

He also highlights the role of the municipality of Perl and, for this edition, that of the Schengen-Lyzeum’s management. Their cooperation helped make it possible to hold this third edition in a venue suited to the scale the event has reached.

The organiser now hopes to be able to rely on more support, particularly financial, in order to develop new ideas without abandoning the original spirit of the project.

A fourth edition under consideration for 2027.

Given the feedback received, Ruppert Dane is already considering a new edition in 2027. Whether it goes ahead, however, will depend on the venue’s availability and organisational conditions.

The Schengen-Lyzeum remains his preferred option, although no final confirmation has been announced at this stage.

Looking ahead, the ambition is clear: to keep developing the Mosel Gaming Event while preserving what makes it special. An accessible, human-scale event designed first and foremost for enthusiasts.

In Perl, this third edition thus shows how an individual initiative, backed by volunteers and local partners, can give rise to a unifying gathering around geek culture in the cross-border region.