GAME INDUSTRY FOCUSES ON HIGH GROWTH MARKETS AT THREE CONFERENCES ON SEPTEMBER 9-10, 2004
Austin Game Conference, Mobile Game Conference and Women's Game Conference focus on critical technology in rapidly growing market segments of the computer and video game industry
AUSTIN, Texas, September 1, 2004 - Over 1,200 of the top creative, technical and business minds in the computer and video game industry from around the world will converge in Austin, Texas on September 9-10, 2004 for three major conferences focused on high growth segments of the game industry: The Austin Game Developers Conference, The Mobile Game Conference and The Women's Game Conference. Industry leaders from North America, Asia, Europe and Australia will focus on emerging game technology and three key areas: developing and delivering massively multiplayer online games, developing games for mobile phones and how the industry can expand by bringing more women into the development process.
"Austin, Texas is the third largest region in the United States for game development with more than 50 studios and key technology enablers based here. The Austin game development community is pleased to once again host game developers from around the world," said Christopher V. Sherman, executive director of The Game Initiative. "Attendees will benefit from critical information that can be immediately applied to building better games in these expanding markets."
The online game industry in 2003 was $1.9 billion, with well over 50% of the revenue coming from Asia and barely 10% of the revenue from Europe, reports researcher DFC Intelligence. By 2006 that figure is will grow to $5.2 billion with continued steady growth so that worldwide online game revenue reaches $9.8 billion by 2009. Over the next five years there will be an expected six-fold growth with downloadable games generating $6.5 billion, according to market researcher Strategy Analytics.
Austin Game Developers Conference
The Austin Game Conference contains over 50 sessions in six tracks, with four dedicated to massively multiplayer online game (MMOG) development, including design, technical/art, service and production. Microsoft and Sony will deliver a joint opening keynote, with each company discussing its strategy for MMOG development for its console game system the Xbox and PlayStation. Session highlights include: leading game designer Richard Garriott (Lord British) will discuss building new intellectual property. Sony will discuss developing for the new PlayStation Portable (PSP) device. Developers from Disney will discuss building massively multiplayer games for kids.
Additional speakers include programmers, designers, artists and more from Sony Online, Microsoft, NCSoft, Ubisoft, Electronic Arts, Monolith, Turbine, Taldren, Mythic and others. The full program is available at http://www.GameConference.com
Conference sponsors include Nokia, Alienbrain, Activision, Business Wire, MachineWorks Northwest, TKO Software, Themis Group, Microsoft X-Box, Mary-Margaret.com, iPark Silicon Valley, Metrowerks, IBM, Game Trust, NCSoft, Nvidia and Panthesis, Inc.
Mobile Game Conference
"The AGC is the only game conference that assembles the key players in North American mobile games between E3 this past May and the GDC in March of 2005," said Eric Goldberg, Chairman of the Mobile Game Conference advisory board. "The speakers include top 3 US, European and Japanese publishers; the leading US developers; the world leaders in devices, chips and mobile content delivery systems; and games decision-makers at 3 of the top 5 US carriers."
Sprint, Cingular Wireless and Nextel, three of the five top US mobile carriers, will discuss need-to-know design decisions mobile game developers must implement to successfully develop for the medium. The Mobile Game Conference's sessions range from graphics and sound in mobile games to multiplayer development and marketing issues. The Mobile Game Conference is sponsored by Nokia.
The full program is available at http://www.MobileGameConference.com
Women's Game Conference
The first annual Women's Game Conference will focus on the top issues facing women in the game industry, including career paths for women, gender inclusive game design and women as consumers of games. Speakers include leaders in the game industry, representing game hardware manufacturers, developers, publishers, educators and the media. Conference keynoters include Patricia Vance, President, Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) and Kathy Schoback, Vice President, Content Strategy, Infinium Labs. Conference sponsors include Activision, Business Wire, GameDev.net, Women In Technology International, WomenGamers.com, MobyGames.com and Mary-Margaret.com.
The full program is available at http://www.WomensGameConference.com
Technology Pavilion
The Technology Pavilion also taking place on September 9-10, 2004 showcases the latest tools, technologies, products and services for game development. Pavilion exhibitors include: Academy of Art University, Activision, Alias, Animation Farm, ATI Technologies, Auran Games PTT Ltd., Aurora Interactive, Austin Community College, Business Wire, Climax Group, Entelepon, GameSpy, Guildhall at SMU, GVGS - Enzyme Testing Labs, High Voltage Software, Independence Brewing Co., Linden Lab, Logitech, m7networks.com, McElroy Translation, Micro Forte, Midway, Nokia, Alienbrain, Perforce Software, SN Systems, TechExcel, Teleknowledge and UAT.
Registration
Early Registration for the two-day event is open and can be accessed by logging on to http://www.gameconference.com/register . Early registration for professionals prior to September 7 is $145. Onsite registration is $175 for professionals. Early registration for students prior to September 7 is $110. Onsite registration is $135 for students. Registration gains access to the Austin Game Developers Conference, Mobile Game Conference, the Women's Game Conference and the Technology Pavilion.
About The Game Initiative.
The Game Initiative is a leading producer of conferences and events for professionals in the computer and video game industry. The Initiative is chartered with the growth of the industry through events, public awareness, information and supporting programs and serves the needs of companies and people involved in producing interactive entertainment software and hardware for video game consoles, handheld devices, personal computers and the Internet. Game Initiative events include the Austin Game Conference, the Mobile Game Conference, the Women's Game Conference and the How to Break into the Game Industry national conference series. More information about the Game Initiative can be found at http://www.TheGameInitiative.com.
For more information:
Steve Farrer
512-415-8300