2010 Game Developers Conference Europe Returns to Cologne, Germany August 16-18

BERLIN, Feb. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- The Game Developers Conference™ Europe (GDC Europe) has announced that it will return to Cologne, Germany in 2010 alongside gamescom, combining to present the leading European game industry event for developers, consumers, publishers, and trade professionals.

In 2009, GDC Europe hosted over 130 international speakers, 40 exhibitors and sponsors from 35 countries, 240 media representatives and around 1,500 participants - advancing to become the leading conference for computer and video game developers in Europe. "Of course, we intend to claim this leading role again this year," said Frank Sliwka, Vice President European Business Development and Event Director GDC Europe. "GDC Europe plans to offer attendees and participants outstanding new opportunities to learn and network. This includes three major updates that will be added to the regular program featuring keynotes, lectures, roundtables & workshops and exhibition area."

The show producers have expanded GDC Europe's exhibition opportunities to include both last year's exhibit areas and a major new space within the gamescom Business Area, which will grant GDC Europe exhibitors additional meeting room and exhibition space during the overlapping gamescom event. This new area - named the GDC Europe Business Lounge at gamescom -- will also host a VIP lounge area for GDC Europe Plus members to convene and conduct business.  

With German and European companies moving strongly to dominate the online and browser game space, GDC Europe plans to focus the second day of the event, August 17 to covering browser-based, social network and online games, and key emerging markets. Additionally, GDC Europe plans to provide a major platform for "online games companies" to host press conferences at GDC Europe on this day. "Given the international network of the Game Developers Conferences and the UBM TechWeb Game Network, a resounding response is guaranteed for these new conference offerings," explains Frank Sliwka.    

In related news, in March 2010, the UBM TechWeb Game Network will launch a new project called the "Academic Exchange Program," in cooperation with the North Rhine-Westphalian state chancellery. It's intended to promote the academic exchange between universities with game degree programs from North Rhine Westphalia (NRW) and America. As part of this event, university professors from NRW and their American colleagues will participate at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, and exchange information on current teaching programs and best practices. "The games industry will only thrive with qualified labor. Thus, an international program to exchange current training methods on an academic level is very desirable, since the shared knowledge on technical and design aspects of today's video games are of crucial importance for today's industry," Frank Sliwka explains regarding the philosophy of the project.

For more information on GDC Europe visit: www.gdceurope.com.

About the UBM TechWeb Game Network 

A core provider of essential information to the professional game industry, the  UBM Techweb Game Network – formerly known as 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 the Game Developers Conference®, the Webby Award-winning Gamasutra.com and network of sites, the Game Advertising Online ad network, the Game Developers Conference® Online, the Game Developers Conference™ Europe, the Game Developers Conference™ China, the Game Developers Conference™ Canada, Game Developer Magazine, Game Developer Research, the Game Career Seminars and GameCareerGuide.com, the Independent Games Festival and Summit, and the Game Developers Choice Awards. 

About UBM TechWeb, a division of United Business Media

UBM TechWeb, the global leader in technology media and professional information, enables people and organizations to harness the transformative power of technology.  Through its core businesses – media solutions, marketing services and professional information – UBM TechWeb produces the most respected and consumed brands, applications and services in the technology market. More than 14.5 million business and technology professionals (CIOs, IT and IT Support managers, Web & Digital professionals, Software and Game developers, Government decision makers, and Telecom providers) actively participate in UBM TechWeb's communities. UBM TechWeb brands includes: global face-to-face events such as Interop, Game Developers Conference (GDC), Web 2.0, Black Hat and VoiceCon; large-scale online networks such as InformationWeek,  Light Reading and Gamasutra; research, training, and certification services, including HDI, Pyramid Research, and InformationWeek Analytics; and market-leading magazines such as InformationWeek and Wall Street & Technology.  UBM TechWeb is part of UBM, a global provider of media and information services for professional B2B communities and markets.

SOURCE Think Services Game Group