GDC Europe 2010 on Track to Break Records for Attendance and Exhibitor
Participation

    
    Registration for Leading European Conference on Track to Exceed 2009 Total
    with High Response from North America and Europe




    
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<p><span class="xn-location">BERLIN</span>, <span class="xn-chron">Aug. 2</span> /CNW/ -- The Game Developers Conference(TM) <span class="xn-location">Europe</span> (GDC <span class="xn-location">Europe</span>), easily the leading conference for computer and video game developers in <span class="xn-location">Europe</span> after its successful debut last year, is on track to exceed its registration and exhibitor numbers from 2009.  The conference is poised to receive up to 2,000 attendees, speakers and media representatives from 45 different countries are expected, already surpassing the attendance numbers from the 2009 debut.  The event is expected to garner a strong presence from European and North American industry professionals.  GDC <span class="xn-location">Europe</span>, which takes place August 16-18, 2010 at the <span class="xn-location">Cologne</span> Congress East Center in <span class="xn-location">Cologne</span>, <span class="xn-location">Germany</span>, will this year focus on media convergence and online gaming, and also features a concentration on the booming Chinese and Russian markets.</p>
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<p>"Mind you, the quality of our special themes and speakers is far more important to us than statistics," said GDC <span class="xn-location">Europe</span> Director Frank Sliwka as he looks ahead to the  conference.  "However, we are indeed delighted the conference is tracking well this year and will host an even broader global group of developers compared to last year."</p>
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<p>In the run-up to GDC Europe's opening, a press conference was hosted on <span class="xn-chron">July 27</span> at the Haus der Bundespressekonferenz in <span class="xn-location">Berlin</span>, featuring leading industry experts, including Frank Sliwka, Director of GDC <span class="xn-location">Europe</span>, lawyer Konstantin Ewald and Sven Wedig, Director of 4U2PLAY GmbH.  Participants in this engaging discussion spoke about current developments within the growing games industry, which boasts an annual turnover of <span class="xn-money">2.5 billion Euros</span> in <span class="xn-location">Germany</span> alone.  In the face of the current economic challenges, these experts concluded, the European games industry is betting on creativity. In alignment with this new focus, the industry is establishing new trends in technology, design and marketing, and ushering in the rise of young and creative developer studios all across <span class="xn-location">Europe</span>.  These and other topics will be addressed in-depth through expertly-led sessions held during the conference.</p>
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<p>Several leaders of the international development scene and the games industry will be participating in GDC <span class="xn-location">Europe</span>, addressing major topics facing the industry. In total, the event will feature more than 90 workshops, and presentations by more than 130 speakers from all over the world.  This list of prestigious speakers includes Heiko Hubertz (Bigpoint), <span class="xn-person">Bo Wang</span> (Tencent), Hermen Hulst (Guerilla Games), <span class="xn-person">Ray Muzyka</span> & Greg Zeschuk (Bioware), <span class="xn-person">Louis Castle</span> (Instant), Martin Walfisz (Planeto), <span class="xn-person">David Cage</span> (Quantic Dream), Alex Ruzhentsev (101 XP), Johan Sjoberg (DDM), <span class="xn-person">Steven Gaffney</span> (Splash Damage),  Chris Carla (Foundation 9), Jorg Tittel (Break Thru Films), Avni Yerli (Crytek), Harald Riegler (Sproing), Matias Myllyrinne (Remedy Entertainment), Don Daglow (Don Daglow Interactive Entertainment), Steve Meretzky & Dave Rohrl (Playdom), Aki Jarvinen (Digital Chocolate), and Seb Canniff (Sony Computer Entertainment <span class="xn-location">Europe</span>).  The main topics this year will include media convergence and online gaming, while geographically speaking the conference will be concentrating on the booming Chinese, Scandinavian and Russian markets.</p>
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<p>"We always focus on practical solutions and market needs," says Sliwka, summing up the conference's unique philosophy.  "We aim to combine trend analysis with the search for new models for technology and at the same time, creating marketing and business opportunities to present to our attendees."</p>
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<p>In addition to the conference content, GDC <span class="xn-location">Europe</span> provides several opportunities for creative exchange and business development, with venues including the GDC <span class="xn-location">Europe</span> Expo Floor, VIP Lounge, and the GDC <span class="xn-location">Europe</span> Business Lounge at gamescom, plus a host of industry parties.  Already thirty exhibitors and sponsors from <span class="xn-location">Belgium</span>, <span class="xn-location">Germany</span>, the <span class="xn-location">Netherlands</span>, <span class="xn-location">Russia</span>, <span class="xn-location">Sweden</span>, the UK and the USA have registered for the exhibitor zone measuring 650 square meters.  Exhibitors include Crytek, Bigpoint, Epic, Howest University, Imagination Studios and Intel. In addition, GDC <span class="xn-location">Europe</span> will also be hosting for the first time a business Lounge at the accompanying games expo, gamescom, at which Autodesk, Crytek, Epic, Zotac, DigiProtect, Level 3 are confirmed to be exhibiting.</p>
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<p>Online registration for GDC <span class="xn-location">Europe</span> ends <span class="xn-chron">August 12, 2010</span> at <span class="xn-chron">1pm CEST</span>.  For more information on GDC <span class="xn-location">Europe</span>, including a schedule of all conference events and parties, plus a complete exhibitor list, please visit: <a href="http://www.gdceurope.com">www.gdceurope.com</a>.</p>
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    MEDIA CONTACT:   Sibel Sunar / Brian Rubin
                     fortyseven communications
                     [phone] / [phone]
                      [email protected] /
                      [email protected]
    
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                     Susanne Tenzler-Heusler, Europe
                                         [phone]
                     [email protected]
    
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    GDC EUROPE CONTACT:
                      Frank Sliwka, VP European Business
                      Development
                                         [phone]
                     [email protected]
    
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                     Ben Veechai
                     UBM TechWeb Game Network
                     [phone]
                     [email protected]








    

For further information: Sibel Sunar, [phone], [email protected], or Brian Rubin, [phone], [email protected], both of fortyseven communications; or Susanne Tenzler-Heusler, Europe, [phone], [email protected]; or GDC EUROPE, Frank Sliwka, VP European Business Development, [phone], [email protected]; or Ben Veechai, UBM TechWeb Game Network, [phone], [email protected] Web Site: http://www.jointhegamenetwork.com http://www.gdceurope.com http://www.ubmtechweb.com