2011 Game Developers Conference Online Opens Today In Austin, TX

AUSTIN, Texas, Oct. 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Game Developers Conference® Online (GDC Online, formerly GDC Austin), the premier game developer event focusing on online, cloud and connected gaming, begins this morning at the Austin Convention Center in Austin, Texas. Produced by UBM TechWeb Game Network, organizers of the leading Game Developers Conference® series, GDC Online 2011 will run today through October 13 and will feature keynote addresses by top experts in the connected, online, and social gaming industries, including John Vechey, co-founder of PopCap Games, renowned speculative fiction author Neal Stephenson, and David Calvo, creative director at Dofus creator Ankama.

Almost 150 lectures, panels, keynotes and roundtable discussions, presented by 226 industry-leading speakers will be featured during GDC Online, with the first two days of the conference dedicated to a line-up of standalone Summits. With topics pertaining to game narrative, virtual items, and smartphone & tablet games, the Summits are designed to engage attendees and offer unique opportunities to gain knowledge and insight on the connected gaming space, all in a community-based setting.

Returning to GDC Online are the second annual Game Developers Choice Online Awards, a special event designed to honor excellence in online game development along with the rich history and technical excellence of past titles in the space. This year's winners will be revealed at the ceremony hosted by Mike Goslin of Mindspark Interactive Network, with Special Award honorees John Taylor and Kelton Flinn being celebrated for their work on the major forerunners Island of Kesmai and Air Warrior. EverQuest, the breakout 3D MMO title and beloved fantasy game, will be inducted into the Hall of Fame. The Game Developers Choice Online Awards will take place on Wednesday, October 12, 2011 at 6:30pm.

"Discussions about what's important today and what is next in connected gaming are solidified each year at GDC Online," says Izora de Lillard, GDC Online event director. "We are extremely proud of how the conference continues to evolve to meet the needs of the community."

In addition to the GDC Online Summits and Main Conference sessions, a bustling Expo Floor featuring 78 exhibitors and 17 sponsors provides industry professionals with valuable opportunities to network and participate in discourse with peers.  For a complete list sessions and speakers or general event information for GDC Online 2011, please visit http://www.gdconline.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 UBM TechWeb Game Network