GDC China 2012 reveals first Smartphone, Indie Summit sessions

In the latest update for this November's GDC China, event organizers have revealed the show's first three Summit sessions, which cover how to achieve long-term success on mobile platforms, some tips for improving user acquisition, and whether indies should find a publisher or work on their own. These sessions fall within the Smartphone & Tablet Games Summit and the Independent Games Summit, which will run alongside the show's Main Conference, and offer specialized content focused on these two very important realms of the modern video game landscape. These Summits will take place alongside GDC China's Main Conference on November 17-19. The full details on these new Summit sessions are as follows: - As part of the Smartphone & Tablet Games Summit, NaturalMotion Games' Struan Robertson will discuss how his studio has maintained success on mobile devices with games like My Horse and the extremely popular CSR Racing (pictured). His talk, "Mobile Social - The Future is Quality," will discuss how to attract a dedicated, sophisticated player base by focusing on specific gameplay mechanics and crafting a high-quality user experience. - In that same Summit, Chartboost's Maria Alegre will host, "User Acquisition: The Latest Trends, Tools and Best Practices." Here, Alegre will examine a number of iOS and Abdroid games that have found their way to the top of the app charts, detailing the tools they used, how successful they were, and how the mobile user acquisition market is changing. - Over in the Independent Games Summit, noted Chinese indie Wen Chen of Coconut Island Studio (One Tap Hero for iOS) will discuss the best way to distribute your independent game in "Self-Publishing or Find a Publisher?" Chen will compare these two very different publishing strategies, and will give indie developers a better understanding of how they can get their games into players' hands. These sessions join other previously announced sessions within GDC China's Main Conference, including a interactive workshop on good level design, a talk on improving studio management, and a look at how EA Sports manages its art production pipelines. More information on any of these sessions is available on the Main Conference track pages or Summit pages on the official GDC China website. Those interested in attending this November's show can secure their pass now, as online registration is now open. As noted above, GDC China's Main Conference will take place November 17-19 at the Shanghai International Convention Center in Shanghai, China. Be sure to keep an eye out for even more updates on GDC China in the weeks ahead, as show organizers have plenty more to announce for the upcoming event. For all the latest information on GDC China, visit the show's official website, or subscribe to regular updates via Facebook, Twitter, or RSS.