Conferences
During the next three months, Bruce Hoggard, Far Vista Studios’ Vice President of International Market Development and Business Relationships, will be attending the following Conferences and Game Competitions.
If you are interested in meeting with him at any of these events you are encouraged to contact Bruce directly at bhoggard@shaw.ca or farvistastudios@shaw.ca or on his mobile at 1 306 241 8443. For more information regarding the particular event please visit the corresponding websites.
GCDC 2007 www.gcdc.eu Leipzig, Germany, August 20-22
During the past five years, GC Developers Conference (GCDC) has become the leading conference for game companies across Europe. Simultaneously, the German game developer scene has strengthened its international position and is gaining a leadership role in the industry. The GCDC annual conference is a must attend forum for game developers as well as for game research and marketing professionals and an excellent location to pre-hype the launch of Far Vista Studios’ new online game.
GC Games Convention www.gc-germany.com Leipzig, Germany, August 23-26
Playing is part of human nature – only the toys have changed during the course of time. At GC the current and future of play can be experienced and. As Europe's largest show for interactive entertainment it offers 115,000 square metres of something for everyone: high-tempo, exciting games for younger players, games suitable for children and families,
and sophisticated educational software for every interest. In addition, GC also provides a wealth of entertainment, with numerous shows, an outdoor beach club and cool fun sport activities. In fact, GC becomes Germany's most spectacular amusement park!
GCA Games Convention Asia www.gc-asia.sg Singapore, September 6-9
GCA Games Convention Asia is the only exhibition in the region to reflect the trends of the rapidly expanding Asian electronic games market. It is an outstanding forum attracting exhibitors and visitors from throughout ASEAN and Asia’s three key markets. It will spotlight the growth of the local digital media and games market, and strengthen the international perception of Singapore as the region’s games axis. GCA Games Convention Asia 2007 is designed to appeal to trade visitors and professional developers and fans of computer games.
London Games Festival www.londongamesfestival.co.uk London, October 22-26
The London Games Festival is a celebration of games and the interactive entertainment industry. The Festival features a series of diverse events in different venues for different audiences. Whether you’re a gamer, a parent needing advice on games, someone working in the industry, or someone wanting to find out more about how games work and where the future of entertainment will take us, this is the festival.
Games Convention Asia 2007 (GC Asia 2007)
As broadband internet becomes more common and prices to connect continue to fall, the Asian games’ market continues to grow rapidly. According to figures from the Conference, global turnover in this industry will approach US$23 billion by 2009. Meanwhile, the Asian online games sector currently produces revenues of US$6.3 billion and is projected to reach US$7.5 billion in 2008.
Heralded by these impressive numbers and growth, the first Games Convention Asia, the combination of an exposition, game developers conference, business center, and game competition was held September 6-9 at the Suntec Singapore International Convention & Exhibition Center . The Leipzig Fair, organiser of Game Convention (GC), Europe’s biggest games’ show and second globally only to Tokyo, teamed up with Singapore’s CEMS (Conference & Exhibition Management Services Pte Ltd) to deliver this new event based on the highly successful Leipzig GC. The Leipzig event, August 20-26, was outstanding in both its shear size and wealth of information and industry contacts available to meet. (picture 1)
The Singapore event offered an exhibition where games were presented, tested, and played, a Business Centre providing an area for trade visitors to meet, the actual Conference and finally, a Cyber Games Competition designed for amateur gamers from Singapore and region. This all combined to produce the country’s first international showcase for the interactive entertainment, infotainment, edutainment, hardware, and technology industries.
Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan , the Minister for Community Development, Youth, and Sports, and Second Minister for Information, Communication, and the Arts officially opened GC Asia on Thursday September 6. Welcoming addresses were also presented by Wolfgang Marzin, (picture 2) President, and CEO of the Leipzig Trade Fair and Edward Liu, Managing Director, CEMS. (picture 3)
Following these presentations, a historical and significant event occurred showing the emergence of a unified Asian front in the game industry. Organized in part by iDA, the Presidents from ten (10) Game Associations representing Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, Taiwan, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Australia, the Philippines, South Korea and Singapore signed a Memorandum of Intent (MOI) to work together in developing a regional body to oversee this fast and emerging industry. It will be interesting to see how this ambitious undertaking develops over the next several months. (picture 4)
Several key industry people presented at the event including, Steve Schnur (Worldwide executive of Music and Marketing for Electronic Arts), Desmond Lu Guangyuan (Director of International Business Development for Shanda , China ) and Gilles Langourieux (CEO for Virtuos , China ). Over all, the majority of presentations were interesting, providing good breadth and depth of information and insight. However, there were a few blatant examples of “corporate sales pitches” resulting in the room becoming empty relatively quickly.
In the exhibition hall, 81 exhibitors from 13 countries, including major players such as Electronic Arts, Nintendo, 10tacle, Sony, Asiasoft, and Nokia transformed more than 10,000 square meters of space into a high-energy world of computer games and free-gifts. The most impressive display went to Asiasoft, with its central stage and programming that included dancers, competitions, and video of its newest games. (pictures 5, 6, 7)
Photo opportunities were endless! Company mascots, game characters, and young women dressed in corporate “uniforms” were always happy to have their pictures taken in the effort to promote the company or game. Although Asiasoft may have had the “softest” mascot, 10tackle Studios’ arrays of female game assistance were second to none at the show . (pictures 8, 9, 10, 11)
Close to 196 games covering all game types and platforms including console, mobile, online, and PC games, were presented and played at the exhibition. This allowed more than 70,000 game enthusiasts from the Asia-Pacific region the opportunity to see and play some of the hottest and newest games . (picture 12)
When it came to game playing competition, the Razor booth had the ultimate challenge at this year’s event. Attendees who registered were given the opportunity to go head-to-head with China ’s very best professional gamer. All the challenger had to do was get three kills against the Champion to win an array of Razor products. During the first three days, this was only accomplished twice from approximately 150+ challengers and both times, it was by young women – proving everyone can be a video game player!
Meanwhile approximately 300 trade visitors networked and expand their business horizons in the business centre and at the conference. Conference topics included outsourcing, mobile games, online and casual games and the business opportunities and perspectives from North America , Europe , and Asia . One of the very few Canadians participating at the event was Mr. Bruce Hoggard the Executive VP for Far Vista Studios who are developing an online First Person Shooter and an online adventure game for release in 2008. (picture 13)
The event was officially supported in part by EDB, iDA, MDA and SiTF along with leading Singaporean business organisations such as the Digital Media Chapter, Games eXchange Alliance and Singapore Gamers’ Association.
GC Asia 2008 will again take place in Singapore . However, this time the dates are October 9-12 with the GC Asia Conference portion running from October 9-10.
Bruce Hoggard (Far Vista Studios, Saskatoon Canada) with Storm Troopers at the first Games Convention Asia, September 6-9, 2007 at the Suntec Singapore International Convention & Exhibition Center.
Bruce Hoggard (Far Vista Studios, Saskatoon Canada) with “Swordsman” characters at the first Games Convention Asia, September 6-9, 2007 at the Suntec Singapore International Convention & Exhibition Center .
Cherry Credits Booth and Stage at the first Games Convention Asia, September 6-9, 2007 at the Suntec Singapore International Convention & Exhibition Center .
Bruce Hoggard (Far Vista Studios, Saskatoon Canada) at the entrance to the first Games Convention Asia, the combination of an exposition, game developers conference, business center, and game competition held September 6-9, 2007 at the Suntec Singapore International Convention & Exhibition Center .
Asiasoft Booth and Stage at the first Games Convention Asia, September 6-9, 2007 at the Suntec Singapore International Convention & Exhibition Center .
Bruce Hoggard (Far Vista Studios, Saskatoon Canada) with 10tacle Studios’ booth staff at the first Games Convention Asia, September 6-9, 2007 at the Suntec Singapore International Convention & Exhibition Center .
Asiasoft Booth and Stage at the first Games Convention Asia, September 6-9, 2007 at the Suntec Singapore International Convention & Exhibition Center .
EA Games popular FIFA Online at the first Games Convention Asia, September 6-9, 2007 at the Suntec Singapore International Convention & Exhibition Center .
On tour of the Games Convention Asia Exhibition Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan ( Minister for Community Development, Youth, and Sports, and Second Minister for Information, Communication, and the Arts - second from right) and Wolfgang Marzin (CEO of Leipzig Trade Fair) talking with Aroon Tan (10tackle Asia CEO) and Thomas Lim (Director iDA, far left)
EA Games popular SIMS series at the first Games Convention Asia, September 6-9, 2007 at the Suntec Singapore International Convention & Exhibition Center .
On tour of the Games Convention Asia Exhibition Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan ( Minister for Community Development, Youth, and Sports, and Second Minister for Information, Communication, and the Arts - second from right) and Mr. Wolfgang Marzin (CEO of Leipzig Trade Fair) talking representatives Mr. Chris Thompson Vice-President from EA Games.
Bruce Hoggard (Far Vista Studios, Saskatoon Canada) with Characters from Asiasoft’s “Cabal, Darkness and Light” at the first Games Convention Asia, September 6-9, 2007 at the Suntec Singapore International Convention & Exhibition Center .
Bruce Hoggard (Far Vista Studios, Saskatoon Canada) with A siasoft’s Corporate mascot at the first Games Convention Asia, September 6-9, 2007 at the Suntec Singapore International Convention & Exhibition Center
Preparing for the World Championship Gaming Series at the first Games Convention Asia, September 6-9, 2007 at the Suntec Singapore International Convention & Exhibition Center .