More Than 800 Canadian Game Industry Professionals Convened in Vancouver For Two Days of Learning, Networking and Inspiration

SAN FRANCISCO - The Game Developers Conference(R) Canada (GDC Canada) produced by the Think Services Game Group and Reboot Communications brought together more than 800 game industry professionals last week at the Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Center (VCEC). Building on the momentum of the 2008 Vancouver International Game Summit (VIGS), GDC Canada more than doubled attendance numbers from the previous year's event. The two day conference provided opportunities for sharing knowledge, making new connections and celebrating the passion and dedication of fellow Canadian game-makers. GDC Canada returns to the VCEC May 6-7, 2010.

GDC Canada was designed with the core values and dedication to quality that is at the heart of all Game Developers Conferences(R). With more than 40 lectures, panels, and sessions covering cross-discipline collaboration throughout the game development production cycle, the conference proved successful in inspiring Canadian developers to share best practices for fostering ingenuity and quality games. GDC Canada featured an expo, networking receptions and the Game Career Seminar, in addition to the Future Play 2009 @ GDC Canada.

"With perspectives from Don Mattrick of Microsoft and the BioWare doctors, Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk, GDC Canada was an opportunity for Canadian developers to assess where the industry has been and where it is going," said Izora de Lillard, event director. "This event's focus on collaborative learning and career programs were met with tremendous support from the Canadian developer community and really demonstrated its passion, commitment and resilience that will continue to move the industry forward."

Don Mattrick, senior vice president, Interactive Entertainment Business, Microsoft, kicked-off the GDC Canada schedule with a keynote address providing a look back at his career and experience within the game industry and insight into the evolution of Canadian game development. The keynote was conducted in a discussion format where Mattrick was joined onstage by Victor Lucas, creator, executive producer and co-host of "The Electric Playground." Lucas placed several questions related to Microsoft's near-future console plans before focusing the topic on the state of the industry in Vancouver and Canada at large.

On day two, doctors Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk, co-founders of BioWare, developers of Star Wars(R): Knights of the Old Republic(TM) and Mass Effect(TM) among many others, delivered the second keynote, which focused on their studio's core value - the evolution and power of storytelling in video games.

GDC Canada featured an expo area and networking receptions where attendees met with representatives from Blue Castle, Hansoft, Microsoft, Next Level Games, Radical, Relic, Super Rewards, and Yummy Interactive, among others. GDC Canada also hosted a Canadian version of GDC's popular Game Career Seminar -- designed for individuals looking to make a career move within the game industry. In addition, attendees could take part of the Future Play Conference @ GDC Canada, an exploration of groundbreaking ideas alongside some of the world's most interesting games researchers and developers.