GDC Austin 2009

SAN FRANCISCO – September 9, 2009 – The Game Developers Conference® Austin (GDC Austin) features lectures, panels and roundtables for developers looking to release successful titles in the bourgeoning connected gaming space. This year’s conference includes sessions from notable online developers at Nexon, Bioware Austin, 2D Boy, Zynga, CCP Games and many others. Presented by Think Services, GDC Austin returns with three days of main conference content focused on connected games, online games, virtual worlds, and social networking game play and four two-day summits — the Game Writers, Game Audio, iPhone Games and Independent Games Summits. The event takes place at the Austin Convention Center in Austin, Texas September 15-18, 2009. Conference goers wanting to take advantage of pre-registration discounts should register online by September 11.

This year’s GDC Austin features three visionary keynotes from industry pioneers at Sony Online Entertainment, Blizzard Entertainment, and successful newcomer Playfish that address the technical knowledge and business advice necessary to create successful virtual worlds, massively multiplayer online (MMO) titles, and social networking games. Four days of deep-dive sessions cover topics including designing games for non-traditional gamers, developing secure and profitable monetization systems, and leveraging the strengths of social networking platforms to make innovative games.

Featured sessions include:

• The Cat and Mouse Game of Fraud

Speaker: Arthur Chu (Fraud Manager, Nexon), Einar Hreidarsson (Team Lead-Customer Support, CCP Games)

• Twist, Touch & Travel: Harnessing the iPhone's Unique Features

Speaker: Glenda Adams (President & Lead Programmer, Maverick Software)

• Beyond the Finish Line of Shipping an Indie Game

Speaker: Ron Carmel (Co-Founder, 2D Boy)

• Wizard101 - Lions and Tigers and Ninja Pigs, Oh My!

Speaker: J. Todd Coleman (Creative Director, KingsIsle Entertainment)

• Going from Free to Pay in Free-to-Play

Speaker: Min Kim (Vice President, Nexon America Inc.)

• The Loner

Speaker: Damion Schubert (Lead Combat Designer, Bioware Austin)

• The Social Gaming Tipping Point

Speaker: Brian Reynolds (Chief Designer, Zynga)

• Facebook: Is the Cake a Lie?

Speaker: Blake Commagere (Independent Game Developer)

“With the number of connected game developers, titles, and players continuing to grow, attending GDC Austin is more important than ever,” says Izora de Lillard, event director at Think Services Game Group. “The sessions will provide key insights into current and future business opportunities in games ranging from free-to-play casual games, viral Facebook apps, epic MMO adventures and those we haven’t imagined yet in this evolving category of games.”

Learn more about the complete listing of speakers and sessions for GDC Austin 2009 at www.GDCAustin.com.

About the Think Services Game Group

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. To learn more, visit www.tsgamegroup.com.

About Think Services, a division of United Business Media

Think Services connects specialized communities worldwide using 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.

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Contact: Brian Rubin / Teresa Tyndorf

fortyseven communications

212.391.4707 / 323.658.1200

brian@fortyseven.com / teresa@fortyseven.com

Ahmad White

Think Services Game Group

415.947.6207

awhite@think-services.com