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GDC China returns September 15 - 17
GDC China's sixth incarnation will take place a few months earlier this year than last, with the conference commandeering the Shanghai International Convention Center from September 15 through September 17. As a result, panel/talk submissions for the event have an early deadline: May 10.Talk applications can be submitted in either Mandarin or English (relevant submission forms here and here) and can cover topics on "Game Design, Production, Visual Arts, Business and Marketing, Smartphone and Tablet Games, and Independent Games," according to GDC China's official blog. Registration for GDC China is set to begin sometime later this month.
IGF China honors indie games from Asia and Australia
The Chinese arm of the Independent Games Festival has announced its award winners for the year, and you can see all of them on its official blog. 2D platformer Sugar Cube (not to be confused with The Crying Sugar Cube Leprechaun game) walked away with the Best Game award and iOS App Store puzzler Train Conductor 2: USA won Best Mobile Game. Best Student Game went to a sandbox-style tower defense title called The White Laboratory, available in demo form on Google Code. The IGF China awards honor games from both Asia and Australia, and are awarded every year at GDC China. Winners picked up a cash prize and will be shown off in Shanghai during the conference itself.
GDC China 09: Social evolution and Eastern vs. Western dynamics
Yesterday was the for the Game Developer's Conference in China, and one of the highlights included a speech given by Nexon America's vice-president Min Kim on Nexon's entry into the Western market and a call for more Chinese developers to make the leap across the ocean.Kim, who was born and raised in New York City and took frequent trips to visit his grandparents in South Korea, sees a connection between the gaming cultures on both sides of the ocean. His speech cited the original links between the American and Asian markets when it came to arcade culture, but how both sides began to diverge when console video games rose to power in American and Japan but not in mainland Asia.Kim's speech also goes into Nexon's first steps into the American market, the rise of social gaming, and Kim's interest in what he calls the "Penguin Army" -- the gamers who will soon out grow Club Penguin and move on to other games. For the full notes on his speech, check out the story over at Gamasutra.
GDC China 09: Netease speaks on combating botters
GDC China 2009 is currently in high gear until tomorrow, but that doesn't mean we can't talk about some of the panels today! One of the highlights for the MMO industry was certainly the talk given by Yunfeng Lin, the design director at NetEase, on keeping up with botters and bot programs.NetEase, the operator of the three Westward Journey games, Flyff (and here's the American version of Flyff), and the 100 pound gorilla that is World of Warcraft, is in a very unique position to speak on the troubles botters present to online communities. Westward Journey and World of Warcraft both draw huge numbers of people in China, but that also means they draw a huge number of botters.
Prince of Persia creator to keynote GDC China (likely in English)
It seems that GDC China attendees have more than just a Video Games Live performance to look forward to, as it was announced today that Prince of Persia creator Jordan Mechner will be keynoting the event. According to a release issued today, the acclaimed designer will be speaking on "the success of the Prince of Persia series, as well as his own success as a game designer, programmer, and finally, director and screenwriter." You read that right, folks -- the man most recently penned Jerry Bruckheimer's film adaptation of the PoP series, among other screenplays. Unfortunately, those attending GDC China won't be getting the traditional, mandatory shock treatment at the show, as that has been recently banned. For shame, China! Hopefully Mechner will be enough.
Video Games Live heading to GDC China
We know, we know -- living in Shanghai, China can sometimes make it hard to see your favorite video game music orchestra live in action. Don't fret, orchestral video game music enthusiast! Video Games Live! has just announced its intentions to perform at the Shanghai Hongkou Soccer Stadium, in tandem with GDC China, on October 13. Better yet, those of you holding a VIP pass to the show (and those of you who buy one before September 19), will receive complimentary tickets to the Video Games Live! performance that wraps up China's GDC. Oh, and just in case you were wondering, the orchestra's name has an exclamation point in it. Also, we like to shout.
