Game Technology Association Announces First Meeting

The Game Initiative, a group who produces videogame-related conferences and events including the Austin Games Conference and the Advertising In Games Forum, has formed the Game Technology Association, an organization devoted to bringing together companies making advances in game-related hardware and software technologies. Those qualified to join the GTA, which is apparently a for-profit industry-centered association, include game development tools providers, middleware developers, console manufacturers, video/audio processing card companies, and peripherals manufacturers. The first annual meeting of the GTA, announced concurrently with the group's formation, will be held in San Francisco, at a venue to be announced, on June 7, 2005 from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM. Any company qualified to be a member can attend the meeting without necessarily holding membership, though an attendance fee will be in effect regardless of membership status. Online registration at the GTA site will last until May 22, 2005, after which the per-attendee price will increase. "Traditionally the game industry has been limited to the personal computer and to game consoles which connect to TV sets," said GTA executive director Chris Sherman, explaining the apparent need for the group's formation. "Mobile games and Internet games are growing at an astounding pace. New software tools, technologies and peripherals continue to push the envelope for creativity and game play, in some cases blurring the lines between games and other forms of entertainment. Production values continue to increase and new game formats are being created."