Sony, Pandemic To Speak At Game Connect: Asia Pacific

The Game Developers' Association of Australia has announced the opening of registration, along with its lineup of speakers slated for this year's Game Connect: Asia Pacific conference to be held November 15-17 in Melbourne. The full list includes a number of Pandemic Studios staff, such as senior engine programmer Tony Albrecht and art director Kirk Gibbons, along with Sony Europe's vice president of R&D Paul Holman and Microsoft XNA Development Connection director Pete Isensee. Other speakers include composer Hitoshi Sakimoto (Final Fantasy XII), International Game Developers Association president Jason Della Rocca, and 7th Guest and Doom 3 writer Matt Costello. The GDAA describes GCAP 07 as an "ideal opportunity for Australian and international game developers to network with industry colleagues such as publishers, programmers, developers, creative artists and with players intimately involved in the digital content sector of the industry in the Asia-Pacific region." This year the GDAA has organized the conference to address the "development needs and opportunities presented by the Asia Pacific's rapidly growing digital interactive video game industry" and says the conference is the best showcase for local exhibitors to showcase, promote and launch their new services. The organizers have added a special opening day, the 15th of November, to the 2007 lineup specifically to address national skills and investment topics. The GDAA Awards Program will honor games developed by Australian or New Zealand developers, while the GDAA will award an Independent Games award, "Best Unsigned Game," to one winner on both the professional and independent level. The GDAA offers early bird registration rates until October 11th, and interested parties can visit the official GCAP 07 website for more information.