GDC Europe highlights Social & Online Games Summit talks, reminds on reg deadlines

With GDC Europe just a couple of weeks away, show organizers are highlighting a trio of new talks in the Social and Online Games Summit, and are reminding that the deadline for regular registration is next Tuesday, August 7. Those who register online before the August 7 deadline will be able to secure reduced-pass prices for this month's show. Be sure to pick up your tickets soon, as all ticket sales after that date must be done on-site. Meanwhile, the new Social and Online Game Summit talks are just the latest to join the growing lineup for GDC Europe, which will be held Monday through Wednesday, August 13-15, 2012 at the Congress-Centrum Ost Koelnmesse in Cologne, Germany. Here are the full details on these newly-announced sessions: - In "Core Games, Real Numbers: Comparative Stats for MMOs & Social Games," Kongregate co-founder Emily Greer will look at the data from the service's numerous online games, sharing the details for how and why certain titles find long-term success. During her comparative analysis, Greer will outline the basic trends in the online space, noting which mechanics and game types will make your game more likely to make money. - Elsewhere, Riccardo Zacconi, CEO of social giant King.com will host "Building A Multi-Platform Game Business Out of Facebook and Onto Mobile & Tablet." Here, he will peel back the curtain on King.com's development process, detailing how the company designs, markets, and monetizes social games that can exist across Facebook, mobile, and other platforms. - Finally, Papaya Mobile's Oscar Clark will present his case for why almost all mobile games need to embrace the free to play model, lest they be destined for obsolescence and eventual failure. The talk, "A Developer's Guide to Surviving the Zombie (Freemium) Apocalypse," Clark will explain why he thinks developers that follow the traditional premium model are looking more and more like the walking dead. These talks join numerous other sessions already announced for GDC Europe, including talks on the Battlefield franchise, World of Tanks, and The Witcher 2. For a full list of all GDC Europe sessions announced thus far, check out the show's now completed Schedule Builder. As mentioned above, those interested in attending GDC Europe have roughly a week to secure their standard-cost pass for the Gamescom co-located event via the show's online registration page. For more information on GDC Europe, visit the show's official website, or subscribe to regular updates via Facebook, Twitter, or RSS. GDC Europe is owned and operated by Gamasutra parent company UBM Technology.