Game Developers Conference Europe 2010, Europe's Most Important Game Development Event, Opens in Cologne, Germany

BERLIN, Aug. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Game Developers Conference Europe® 2010 (GDC Europe) has opened its doors at the Cologne Congress Center East in Cologne, Germany.  Produced by UBM TechWeb Game Network, organizers of the leading Game Developers Conference® series, GDC Europe is the largest professionals-only game event in Europe, and has increased in scope compared to its inaugural debut event in 2009, encompassing a robust selection of keynotes, lectures, panels, and sessions.  GDC Europe returns to Cologne, Germany on August 16-18, 2010 for three days of learning, networking, and inspiration.  For more information on GDC Europe visit: www.gdceurope.com.

Coinciding with gamescom, Europe's leading games industry event for consumers and publishers, GDC Europe now boasts more than 175 national and international speakers, 40 exhibitors and more than 200 media representatives, making it the largest show of its kind in Europe for game industry professionals.

GDC Europe 2010 will feature a keynote address by legendary game developer and creative director of Disney Interactive Studios' Junction Point, Warren Spector, who will be tackling the divide between games and other media in an address titled, "What Videogames Can Learn From Other Media What We Can't and What We Shouldn't."  Hermen Hulst, managing director of Guerrilla Games, the acclaimed studio behind the Killzone franchise, will discuss the establishment of that franchise in a keynote address titled, "Bottled Storm: Game Development Guerrilla Style."  Bigpoint GmbH CEO and founder Heiko Hubertz will be providing a keynote address regarding the state of online gaming, how casual experiences are pushing the boundaries of what's possible within web browsers and are conquering consumer mindshare in the process.  GDC Europe will also feature a keynote address by Tencent Games vice president Bo Wang, who will explain how Tencent is bridging the gap between Western and Chinese developers and businesses, and how Tencent has blossomed into a leading provider of Internet and mobile & telecommunications services in China, serving more than 568 million active user accounts.

"After GDC Europe's incredibly strong opening in 2009, we took on the challenge of creating an even more expansive and important event, and we succeeded," said Frank Sliwka, Vice President European Business Development of UBM TechWeb. "GDC Europe 2010 will create greater understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing European and international developers. With keynotes from Guerilla Games, Warren Spector and other looming industry figures, attendees can connect with what makes a truly great game."

Starting this year, GDC Europe will be presenting a series of sessions focused on the one or two regions or countries that are important for the worldwide games industry, and will present important players and creative trends as well as new business concepts and opportunities for cooperation in these regions.  Towards that end, GDC Europe will include "Focus: Nordic Region," which will bring to light the technical expertise, technological versatility and creative vision that have helped nurture the Nordic region into becoming a powerful center for international game development.  In addition, "Focus: Russia" will offer insights into how the Russian game development scene, which has a current market volume of 820 million US dollars, gained prominence through Tetris and was further legitimized by the popularity of casual gaming.

In addition to the conference content, GDC Europe provides several opportunities for creative exchange and business development, with venues including the GDC Europe Expo Floor, VIP Lounge, and the GDC Europe Business Lounge at gamescom, plus a host of industry parties.  More than forty exhibitors and sponsors from Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, Russia, Sweden, the UK and the USA have registered for the exhibitor zone measuring 650 square meters.  Exhibitors include Crytek, Bigpoint, Epic, Howest University, Imagination Studios and Intel. In addition, GDC Europe will also be hosting for the first time a business Lounge at the accompanying games expo, gamescom, at which Autodesk, Crytek, Epic, Zotac, DigiProtect, Level 3 are confirmed to be exhibiting.

For up to the moment news 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, 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. 

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About UBM TechWeb

UBM TechWeb, the global leader in technology media and professional information, enables people and organizations to harness the transformative power of technology. Through its three core businesses – media solutions, marketing services and paid content – UBM TechWeb produces the most respected and consumed brands and media applications in the technology market. More than 14.5 million business and technology professionals (CIOs and IT managers, Web & Digital professionals, Software Developers, Government decision makers, and Telecom providers) actively engage in UBM TechWeb's communities and information resources monthly. UBM TechWeb brands includes: global face-to-face events such as Interop, Web 2.0, Black Hat and Enterprise Connect; award-winning online resources such as InformationWeek, Light Reading, and Network Computing; and market-leading magazines InformationWeek, Wall Street & Technology, and Advanced Trading. UBM TechWeb is a UBM company, a global provider of news distribution and specialist information services with a market capitalization of more than $2.5 billion.

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