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OVER 850
ATTENDEES MARK SUCCESSFUL DEBUT
FOR FIRST ANNUAL AUSTIN GAME CONFERENCE
AUSTIN, Texas, September 15, 2003
The Austin Game Initiative announced today that official attendance
at the first annual Austin Game Conference has surpassed 850 from
around the world. “The game industry has a new place to meet and do
business,” said Christopher Sherman, Executive Director of the
Austin Game Conference. “We were always confident the strength of
the Conference Program, focused on massively multiplayer online game
(MMOG) and Mobile game development, would establish a sound
educational foundation, but it is clear that senior executives have
come here to do business as well.”
Drawing from an international audience
with attendees from as far away as China, Korea, France, UK, Hong
Kong, Japan and Australia, the Austin Game Conference has attracted
a diverse mix of companies participating in the high growth game
market. In addition to game developers and publishers, the
conference drew from individuals from the recording industry,
television, venture capital and other industries.
The Conference’s LivePitch
component attracted 10 top game publishers looking to view game
demos from developers. LivePitch offers an extremely efficient way
for developers to present their ideas. Over 50 developers applied to
present to the high caliber publisher audience and over 20% were
accepted for one-on-one meetings. "I look forward to the event and
my LivePitch,” said Eric Kinkead Owner/Studio Director, Game Titan,
LLC. “It saves me a bundle as it reduces the number flights to meet
publishers directly this year," he added.
“We are already planning the 2004
Austin Game Conference and expect to add to the Program and
Technology Pavilion,” said Conference Director Steve Farrer. “Our
Advisory Board have been magnificent and we are looking forward to
working with them to make the event even more attractive.”
Conference attendees heard from
industry veterans and luminaries in a program offering 77 speakers
in 45 sessions and 6 tracks. The event also featured a Technology
Pavilion showcasing the latest tools, technologies, products and
services, plus LivePitch, an exclusive opportunity for independent
developers to demo their games to leading publishers and a Machinima
Theater showing examples of the convergence of filmmaking, animation
and game development.
About the Austin Game Initiative
The Austin Game Conference is produced
by the Austin Game Initiative (AGI). The AGI is chartered with the
growth of the computer and video game industry in Austin, Texas,
thereby increasing its overall contribution to the economic
development of the region. Austin is the # 3 location in the U.S.
for game development with more than 50 companies making major
contributions to the game industry, including game development,
publishing, tools and middleware and chips and hardware. Industry
leaders in the area include more than 35 game studios producing both
top hit franchises and original titles. Nintendo, Microsoft,
Motorola, Dell, Electronic Arts, Criterion Software, Sony Online
Entertainment and dozens of other companies maintain offices in the
region. The AGI is dedicated to serving the needs of companies
involved in producing interactive entertainment software and
hardware for video game consoles, handheld devices, personal
computers and the Internet. More information about the AGI and
Austin’s game industry can be found at
http://www.AustinGame.com
For more information:
Steve Farrer
Heavy Metal Marketing
(512) 415-8300
steve@heavymetalmarketing.com
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