SAN FRANCISCO, March 26 /PRNewswire/ -- All eyes in the videogame industry are pointed to Think Services' Game Developers Conference(R) (GDC) this week as it once again serves as the epicenter of videogame creation. Taking place at the Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco, GDC09 has brought together the global videogame industry for a week of sharing knowledge, discussing opportunities, making new connections and celebrating the passion and dedication of fellow game-makers. The largest industry-only event dedicated to the advancement of interactive entertainment hosts a lineup of lectures, panels, tutorials, roundtable discussions, summits, award ceremonies, a robust exposition floor and career pavilion, and dynamic networking events.

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GDC09 also offers intensive tutorials, GDC Mobile, and a full lineup of specialized summits focusing on emerging trends in the game industry. These one and two-day summits include: the AI Summit, the Casual Games Summit, the Game Outsourcing Summit, the IGDA Education Summit, the Independent Games Summit, the Localization Summit, the Serious Games Summit, and the Worlds in Motion Summit.

Satoru Iwata, President of Nintendo Co., Ltd. kicked-off the GDC09 main conference schedule with a keynote address on Wed., March 25. The keynote, "Discovering New Development Opportunities" marked Iwata's first return to the GDC keynote stage since 2006. Hideo Kojima, Corporate Officer, Executive Producer and Director of Kojima Productions, will deliver the second keynote address. Kojima's keynote, "Solid Game Design: Making the 'Impossible' Possible," will focus on conquering various development obstacles with creative game design, using the driving game design philosophies behind the Metal Gear series as reference. Kojima's debut appearance at the GDC is scheduled for Thur., March 26 at 10:30 a.m. PDT.

"This GDC especially, serves as a bar of measure and beacon for the games industry for 2009," said Meggan Scavio, event director. "The strength and spirit of the industry is reflected here in these five days where the community gathers together to continue to network and learn from one another and to directly challenge current global economic conditions by finding and creating new opportunities."

The conference features more than 500 lectures, panels, tutorials and roundtable discussions covering all aspects of the game business. The week-long event also features an Expo and Career Pavilion, the Game Career Seminar, the 11th Annual Independent Games Festival (IGF), the 9th Annual Game Developers Choice Awards, Game Connection America, and more.

To access the latest news and announcements being generated from GDC09, please visit www.gdconf.com.

About the Think Services Game Group

A core provider of essential information to the professional game industry, 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 Game Developer Magazine, Game Developer Research, the Webby Award-winning Gamasutra.com, GameCareerGuide.com, WorldsInMotion.biz, GameSetWatch.com, GamesOnDeck.com, SeriousGamesSource.com, the Game Developers Conference(R), the Game Developers Conference(R) Austin, the Game Developers Conference(R) Europe, the Game Developers Conference(R) China, Game Developers Conference(R) Canada, GDC Mobile, the Game Career Seminars, the Independent Games Festival and Summit, and the Game Developers Choice Awards. To learn more, visit www.tsgamegroup.com

About Think Services, a division of United Business Media

Think Services connects specialized communities worldwide using educational events, consulting, training, certification, membership, and innovative media. Providing comprehensive opportunities for people to learn from, network with, and inspire each other, Think Services builds strong brands and works within communities to foster a unique affinity with its products and services. The division's flagship products include the Game Developers Conference, the Webby Award-winning Gamasutra.com, Game Developer magazine, the International Customer Management Institute (ICMI), and HDI. Think Services is a subsidiary of United Business Media, a global media and marketing services company with a market capitalization of more than $1.6 billion. To learn more, visit www.think-services.com.

    Press Contacts:
    Brian Rubin / Sibel Sunar
    fortyseven communications
    323.658.1200
    brian@fortyseven.com
    sibel@fortyseven.com

    Ben Veechai
    Think Services Game Group
    415.947.6280
    bveechai@think-services.com

Web site: http://www.gdconf.com/