2009 GDC China Announces Mechner Keynote

Author: by Staff

GDC China organizers have announced that Prince Of Persia franchise creator, game designer, and screenwriter Jordan Mechner will deliver a keynote address at the 2009 Game Developers Conference China in Shanghai next month. Mechner's keynote will explore the success of the Prince of Persia series, which first debuted in 1989 and has grown into a major multi-title game franchise, as well as his own work as a game designer, programmer, and finally director and screenwriter. Following the release of seven chapters of the Prince Of Persia game series, Mechner wrote the script for the film version of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and directed by Mike Newell. The movie will be released by Walt Disney Pictures in May of 2010. "We are so excited to welcome Jordan to the stage in Shanghai," said Meggan Scavio, GDC China event director. "He has a great story to share with the audience from a game design, artistic, and storytelling perspective; as well as the business acumen to succeed in maintaining a strong brand, building commercial success, and further transitioning games to film." Mechner joins a prominent lineup of GDC China speakers including Kelly Snapka (Art Director, Volition, Inc.), Todd Coleman (Co-Founder, Wolfpack Studios Inc.), Chris Ulm (CEO, Appy), Billy Hsu (CEO, DJL Worldwide), Mack Growen (GM, Playfish China), Brad MacDonald (Art Director, Large Animal Games), Tony Chen (Online Business Development Manager, Take Two Asia), and more. The 2009 GDC China event -- presented by Gamasutra parent Think Services -- will take place at the Shanghai International Convention Center, October 11-13 of this year, with early registration closing on September 15th. For more information, please visit the official GDC China website.