GDC China 2009

BEIJING, CHINA — March 18, 2009 — Think Services’ Game Developers Conference (GDC), the world’s largest professionals-only game industry event, announced today at a press conference in Beijing that it will return to Shanghai in the autumn of 2009 as the definitive gathering of top Chinese and international developers. Following up on the success of its first Chinese GDC event in 2007, the Game Developers Conference China 2009 (GDC China 2009) will be held at the Shanghai International Convention Center, October 11-13. Today’s GDC China press conference was attended by several notable government representatives including: Liu Qiang, director of the division of cyber-culture affairs of the Ministry of Culture of the P.R.C (MOC), Li Jinxin, director of the marketing division of the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture, Radio, Film and TV, Liu Jinhua, chairman of the game software division of the China e-Game Industry Association belonging to the Ministry of Industry and Information of the P.R.C (MII), and Ma Haiyong, secretary general of the Shanghai Information Services Association (SISA).

GDC China 2009 will gather nearly one thousand gaming insiders to discuss such hot topics as online game development and business, internationalization and cooperation, mobile games, audio technology, visual arts, and independent games. In addition, the event will feature a technical expo attended by thousands of gaming experts.

“We are excited to return to Shanghai in October to repeat the success of the 2007 event and to bring the high quality content the GDC is known for,” said Meggan Scavio, event director, GDC. “The GDC has always been a conference presented by game developers, for game developers. In that very spirit, GDC China will present attendees with the knowledge, skills and networking opportunities to help them get a head start in the burgeoning Chinese games industry.”

GDC China will serve as the last global event in 2009 for the GDC’s global event calendar which includes the main GDC in San Francisco in March, GDC Canada in Vancouver in May, GDC Europe in Cologne, Germany in August, and GDC Austin in Austin, Texas in September.

“GDC China is one of the most critical annual gatherings for game developers” noted Philip Chapnick, CEO of Think Services, a division of United Business Media (UBM). “Each GDC event offers wonderful opportunities for brainstorming and an international exchange of knowledge, which contributes not only to the success of every attendee’s business, but also to the new entertainment world of the 21st century.”

GDC China is strongly supported by key culture and IT industry related government ministries. Most notably, the Ministry of Culture issued a series of measures in recent years to promote the health and sustainable development of the Chinese game industry in addition to strengthening its supervision on the operations of games. Liu Qiang from MOC said, “We admit that the Chinese game industry has not invested enough into R&D and innovation, but in recent years, we have developed well enough to be able to dominate the local market.” He emphasized that “the content of GDC China is very suitable for China's learning needs.” Finally, since online games are the main source of game development and business in China and the Asian region in general, he hoped “the organizers of GDC China would take advantage of their international connections and bring more first-class speakers to introduce the latest industry technologies and innovations to China so that the regional industry can expand more.”

Liu Qiang closed in saying that, “GDC China should serve as a platform not only for teams and individuals to learn more, but also game development software and tools suppliers to cooperate.” He emphasized that “the return of GDC China will play a significant role in enhancing the technology of the China game industry and in initiating new, brilliant ideas.”

In 2007, UBM China brought the concept and the brand of GDC to China for the first time and welcomed renowned industry professionals to Shanghai to speak with Chinese developers face-to-face. The 3-day conference featuring more than 60 speeches was praised by the game development professionals in attendance.

In support of the GDC’s mantra that content is king, the content design of GDC China 2009 will again be carefully and critically filtered by an advisory board consisting of the most qualified industry professionals representing the key disciplines of game development. With the goal of improving the current climate of game development in China, this year’s conference will focus on four key areas: internationalization and cooperation, audio technology, visual arts and independent games.

“GDC China will also feature the first China Independent Games Festival (IGF China),” announced Margaret Connolly, President of U.B.M China, local organizers of GDC China. She shared that Simon Carless, President of the 11th Annual IGF and Publisher of Game Developer magazine, one of the most authoritative game industry magazines around the world, will be honorably appointed the general advisor of IGF China.

Margaret Connolly explained that the main purposes of presenting IGF China are to promote the growing segment of Chinese independent game developers; to discover more outstanding game development talents and works; to construct a solid pyramid-style structure of the game development talent pool; to cope with the financial crisis; to ensure that more collaborative opportunities are created for Chinese game developers both regionally and around the world; and to showcase the Chinese game industry’s originality and overall creativity from design innovation, technology application, and content selection perspectives.

Mr. Li Jinxin from the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture, Radio, Film and TV, one of the supporting units within the Shanghai Municipal Government, also placed great importance on the 1st IGF China. He predicts the event will be a great opportunity for subject matter experts and independent developers to drive innovation and creativity and in turn, improve upon the difficult situations presented by the global financial crisis. “Shanghai is the most dynamic venue for the gaming industry in China,” said by Li Jinxin. “It could be even said that GDC China will be held in the perfect place at the most critical time with the most favorable support. Great efforts have been made to secure the most relevant conference content and to identify the most rewarding event activities, while remaining loyal to the strengths and ingenuity of the GDC and cognizant of the special needs of the Chinese and Asian game development community.”

Ma Haiyong, from SISA, the co-organizing unit, addressing the gathering on behalf of the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce and Informatization, the event’s supporting unit, said that “GDC China is dedicated to the Chinese game industry, bringing the attendees a great opportunity to obtain knowledge and skills that could help them seize the chance to grow the gaming market in China. We have strong faith in GDC China in becoming the leading industry event in Asia and playing a decisive role globally in key business circles.”

The GDC and GDC China are not affiliated with any other event operators in China. The full website is now available. For more information, please visit www.China.GDConf.com.

About the Think Services Game Group ( www.tsgamegroup.com)

A core provider of essential information to the professional game industry, the Think Services Game Group offers market-defining content, and drives community through its award winning lineup of print, online, event and research products and services. These include Game Developer Magazine, Game Developer Research, the Webby Award-winning Gamasutra.com, GameCareerGuide.com, WorldsInMotion.biz, GameSetWatch.com, GamesOnDeck.com, SeriousGamesSource.com, the Game Developers Conference®, the Game Developers Conference® Austin, the Game Developers Conference® Europe, the Game Developers Conference® China, GDC Mobile, the Game Career Seminars, the Independent Games Festival and Summit, and the Game Developers Choice Awards.

About Think Services

Think Services connects specialized communities worldwide via professional services including educational events, consulting, training, certification, membership, and innovative media. Providing comprehensive opportunities for people to learn from, network with, and inspire each other, Think Services builds strong brands and works within communities to foster a unique affinity with its products and services. The division's flagship products include the Game Developers Conference, the Webby Award-winning Gamasutra.com, Game Developer magazine, the International Customer Management Institute (ICMI), and HDI. Think Services is a subsidiary of United Business Media, a global media and marketing services company with a market capitalization of more than $1.6 billion. To learn more, visit www.think-services.com.

Contact: Audrey Shen

Think Services, a division of United Business Media

ashen@ubmtechnology.com.cn

(86-21)62787488-8701

Sibel Sunar

fortyseven communications

sibel@fortyseven.com

323-658-1200