Game Developers Conference Director Clarifies GDC China Confusion

Following recent confusion, Game Developers Conference organizer Think Services has clarified that its conference in Shanghai this October is the only official GDC event scheduled for China -- despite an unrelated upcoming event going by "ChinaGDC." Think Services (which publishes Gamasutra) has scheduled its GDC China for October 11 through 13 in Shanghai. The unlicensed naming overlap has roots in a 2007 deal that saw Think Services work with IDG China for the first GDC China event, GDC executive director Meggan Scavio said in a statement. "In 2007, Think Services partnered with IDG China and produced the first ever GDC China in Shanghai. The event was very successful, and received well by the local and international game community," she explained. Howell International Trade Fair, which organizes the ChinaJoy trade expo where the unofficial ChinaGDC is to be held, became involved as well. "Howell came aboard at the end of 2007 GDC China event and their participation was limited at best," said Scavio. "This partnership was dissolved in 2008 due to irreconcilable differences regarding the content model and operation processes. As per the written agreement, Think Services (a division of United Business Media) retains sole ownership of Game Developers Conference China (GDC China) trademark and related intellectual properties." Think Services' GDC China will be the sixth and final Game Developers Conference event of 2009; the GDC calendar kicks off with the main GDC 2009 event in San Francisco this month.