After a successful 2009 in which GDC Europe hosted over 130 international speakers, 40 exhibitors and sponsors from 35 countries, 240 media representatives and around 1,500 participants, representatives today sent word that the event will indeed return to Cologne, Germany. GDC Europe 2010 is scheduled for August 16-18, and will take place alongside gamescom.
"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,” said Frank Sliwka, Vice President European Business Development and Event Director GDC Europe.
This year, GDC Europe will be expanded to offer more exhibition opportunities; in addition to last year’s exhibit areas, there will be a major new space within the gamescom Business Area. This GDC Europe Business Lounge at gamescom area will also host a "VIP lounge area" for GDC Europe Plus members to convene and conduct business. Additionally, the second day of GDC Europe will be focused on the burgeoning browser-based, social network and online games spaces, as well as key emerging markets.
Also, coinciding with GDC in San Francisco this March, the UBM TechWeb Game Network will launch a new project called the “Academic Exchange Program,” in cooperation with the North Rhine-Westphalian state chancellery. The goal is to promote the academic exchange between universities with game degree programs from North Rhine Westphalia (NRW) and America. Professors from NRW and their American colleagues will participate at GDC 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,” noted Sliwka.
