GamesBeat joins GDC 2010
EA COO to offer "fireside chat" at newly integrated executive conference
US business conference GamesBeat will be held in conjunction with the Games Developers Conference this year, with GamesBeat@GDC due to take place on the second day of the GDC Summits in March.
The conference is aimed at business executives and was previously held in San Francisco as a separate event. Now GamesBeat organisers VentureBeat have incorporated the conference into the larger GDC program, which returns to San Francisco this year for five days of lectures beginning on 9 March.
The first confirmed lecture for the 2010 event is a "fireside chat" with EA COO John Schappert, who will discuss the company's social gaming and overall business plans.
2009's inaugural conference attracted nearly 500 executives, as well as representatives from companies such as Sony, Nvidia, Nokia, Outspark and MayField.
VentureBeat are promising other executive-level speakers from a variety of companies, discussing subjects such as the fate of the current game platforms, social and mobile gaming, cloud-based gaming and investment tips.
"Thousands of developers are already showing up at the GDC," said Matt Marshall, founder of VentureBeat. "So we're bringing GamesBeat to them, letting those developers participate in the debate around the industry's most disruptive companies and ideas. This is a win for everyone."
"GDC is excited to welcome GamesBeat to our lineup to this year," said Meggan Scavio, GDC event director. "VentureBeat's editorial content and GamesBeat's event offering represent a critical facet in our industry's economy. GDC attendees will appreciate the addition of this Summit and the new networking opportunities it presents."
GDC attendees will be able to access GamesBeat@GDC with an All Access pass, a Summits and Tutorials pass or a separate GamesBeat@GDC pass. Further information is available at the official website.