Develop Conference announces Sony backing, advisory board appointments

New details of next year's European development event, the Develop Conference and Expo, have been announced by organisers Tandem Events - with Sony Computer Entertainment Europe confirmed as platinum sponsor.

The console giant's sponsorship means that it will be involved in every aspect of the conference, according to Tandem, and the firm is also set to take a major space on the exhibition floor at the event.

"The Develop Conference is shaping up to become a major diary date in the European development calendar," explained Jamie Macdonald, VP of development at SCEE's London and Cambridge studios, "and we're going to give it our full support."

According to Tandem managing director Andy Lane, the involvement of Sony gives "real momentum" to the Develop event, which will run next July 12th and 13th in the Brighton Metropole hotel, on the south coast of England. GamesIndustry.biz is the online media sponsor of the event.

"Sony's endorsement is a clear example of how the conference makes sense to the development community," Lane commented, "and a reflection of the positive response we've been receiving. I'm really looking forward to welcoming everybody to Brighton in July."

The conference has also just announced the appointment of an advisory board made up of representatives from across the UK development industry, including some of the best-known names in global videogame development.

The full list of those on the advisory board at present is as follows:

• Colin Anderson (Denki)
• Tameen Antonaides (Ninja Theory)
• Owain Bennallack
• Paulina Bozek (SCEE)
• Tancred Dyke Wells (Kuju Entertainment)
• Andrew Eades (Relentless)
• Caspar Field (SCi)
• Mike Gamble
• Miles Jacobson (Sports Interactive)
• Chris Keegan (Climax)
• Andy Lane
• David Lau-Kee (EA)
• William Latham (Indie)
• Kevin Malakoff (Buena Vista)
• Susan Marshall
• Jamie McDonald (SCEE)
• Peter Molyneux (Lionhead)
• Jonathan Smith (Travellers Tales)
• Algy Williams (Babel)

More details on the Develop Conference and Expo can be found on the official website at http://www.developconference.com.