GDC Europe 2012 details new Facebook Developer Day

Over the past several years, Facebook has changed quite a bit as a game platform. It's expanded onto mobile devices, added its own app marketplace, and has continued to grow as one of the largest venues for online web games. There are a lot of changes to keep track of, and if you're interested in learning how to make the most of the popular social network, next month's GDC Europe in Cologne, Germany will address that very topic in its sponsored Facebook Developer Day. This full-day event will be held the second day of the show, on Tuesday, August 14, alongside the show's Main Conference, and will include nine distinct presentations and discussions where attendees will learn how to develop, grow, and maintain successful social games. The Developer Day is available only on a first-come, first-served basis to all GDC Europe pass holders (except IGS Pass). Those who have not registered for GDC Europe 2012 yet can now pick the Facebook Developer Day as an option when registering online. If you've already purchased your pass, and wish to attend, please contact us via our web form or phone with your name and pass type, and we'll add you while spaces are available. (There may also be an opportunity to attend individual talks on the day of the event, if attendees drop out to join other classes.) The full details on GDC Europe's Facebook Developer Day are as follows: - First, Julien Codorniou, Facebook's head of games partnerships in Europe, will host "Growing Social Games With Facebook: Lessons From European Partners," during which he will showcase some of the most successful developers on the platform, noting what they've achieved and how they got there. - In "Building Your Next Generation Social Game With Facebook," product manager for games and apps Matt Wyndowe will share his vision for social games on Facebook and offer his advice for how developers can grow their games on both the web and mobile devices. - Next up is a technical talk dubbed "Simple Steps To Build & Grow A Social Game On Facebook," in which partner engineer for games Colin Creitz walks attendees through the best ways to set up Facebook's Developer App, incorporate social channels, leverage achievements, and much more. - During the lunch break, a number of developers will take a moment to share their experiences on Facebook, noting how they incorporated social features into their games, how they leveraged the specific features on the platform, and where they think social games are headed. - After the break, engineer Ali Parr will discuss how developers can integrate Facebook into their native iOS or Android games in a lecture titled "How Mobile Games Can Plug Into Facebook For Massive Growth." - In "Driving Installs And Re-engagment With Open Graph," Facebook's Gareth Morris will showcase how Facebook's Open Graph has helped increase traffic and user engagement for games such as SongPop (FreshPlanet) and Marvel Avenger's Alliance (Playdom). - After a short afternoon break, Gareth Morris and Namita Gupta will host "Advanced Features For Getting The Most Out Of Facebook," which will offer an in-depth look at how developers can make use of Faceook's social channels, customize experiences for specific platforms, use ads to amplify growth, and much more. - Later, Colin Creitz, partner engineer for games and payments, will present "Turning Players Into Payers: Best Practices For Monetization," a lecture outlining how developers can make more money from their games using subscriptions, local currencies, promotions, and a number of other essential business techniques. - Finally, attendees will get a chance to participate in a live Q&A, where they can speak with Facebook engineers and get answers to their pressing questions about social game development. For more details on GDC Europe's Facebook Developer Day, or to see the current list of the numerous lectures, panels, and presentations announced thus far, check out the show's nearly complete Schedule Builder. GDC Europe will take place Monday through Wednesday, August 13-15, 2012 at the Congress-Centrum Ost Koelnmesse in Cologne, Germany. Those interested in attending GDC Europe can secure their pass for the Gamescom co-located event via the show's online registration page. For more information, visit the GDC Europe website, or subscribe to regular updates via Facebook, Twitter, or RSS. GDC Europe is owned and operated by Gamasutra parent company UBM Technology.