As console battle heats up, videogame revival hopes rise

COLOGNE (Germany): "New heroes are here", proclaims a poster for Microsoft's and Sony's new gaming consoles at the entrance of the Gamescom trade fair, reflecting hopes that a battle over the devices will boost the declining videogames industry. 

For once, the rise of online and free-to-play gaming is not the only topic at Europe's biggest videogames trade show, expected to attract just under 300,000 people to Cologne, Germany for a test-drive on the new consoles.