BEIJING, March 24 /PRNewswire/ -- The Ministry of Culture of the P. R. China (MOC) has announced that it has officially endorsed the 2009 Game Developers Conference China (GDC China). This is the first time that the MOC has supported an international game industry conference since the China central government conferred the responsibility of supervising the game and animation industries on the MOC in June of 2008.

According to three new policies initiated by the State Council of P. R. China, the government ministries should be explicitly divided by function, organization, and establishment. The policies also declare that the MOC in particular is now responsible for supervising planning, aiding industry growth, and monitoring project management, exhibition, trade related matters for the game industry.

"GDC events - including GDC China - provide the worldwide game development community with globally inspired conferences and genuinely international fellowship to enable them to create the kind of games that will not only drive economic progress, but will truly create the uplifting new art and entertainment forms of the 21st century," commented Philip Chapnick, CEO of Think Services, a division of United Business Media (UBM). "With the support of the MOC, GDC China will look to partner with Chinese game developers once again to create games that can reach beyond the ordinary."

In 2007, UBM China brought the GDC to China for the first time and welcomed renowned industry professionals to Shanghai to speak with Chinese developers face-to-face. The 3-day conference featuring more than 60 speeches was praised by the game development professionals in attendance.

"In support of the GDC's mantra that content is king, the content design of GDC China 2009 will again be carefully and critically filtered by an advisory board consisting of the most qualified industry professionals representing the key disciplines of game development," noted Margaret Connolly, President of U.B.M China, local organizers of GDC China.

With the goal of improving the current climate of game development in China, GDC China 2009 will maintain the tracks of online game and mobile game development, and add new sessions focusing on internationalization and cooperation, audio technology, visual arts and independent game. GDC China will also feature the first China Independent Games Festival (IGF China). Simon Carless, Chairman of the 11th Annual IGF and Publisher of Game Developer magazine, one of the most authoritative game industry magazines in the world, will be honorably appointed the general advisor of IGF China.

"We are excited to return to Shanghai in October to repeat the success of the 2007 event and to bring the high quality content the GDC is known for," noted Meggan Scavio, event director, GDC. "The GDC has always been a conference presented by game developers, for game developers, and we continue to be committed to serving the Chinese game development community in the same way."

GDC China will serve as the last global event in 2009 for the GDC's global event calendar which includes the main GDC in San Francisco in March, GDC Canada in Vancouver in May, GDC Europe in Cologne, Germany in August, and GDC Austin in Austin, Texas in September.

The GDC and GDC China are not affiliated with any other event operators in China. For more information, please visit www.China.GDConf.com.

About the Think Services Game Group ( www.tsgamegroup.com)

A core provider of essential information to the professional game industry, the Think Services Game Group offers market-defining content, and drives community through its award winning lineup of print, online, event and research products and services. These include Game Developer Magazine, Game Developer Research, the Webby Award-winning Gamasutra.com, GameCareerGuide.com, WorldsInMotion.biz, GameSetWatch.com, GamesOnDeck.com, SeriousGamesSource.com, the Game Developers Conference(R), the Game Developers Conference(R) Austin, the Game Developers Conference(R) Europe, the Game Developers Conference(R) China, the Game Developers Conference(R) Canada, GDC Mobile, the Game Career Seminars, the Independent Games Festival and Summit, and the Game Developers Choice Awards.

About Think Services

Think Services connects specialized communities worldwide via professional services including educational events, consulting, training, certification, membership, and informational resources. Providing comprehensive opportunities for people to learn from, network with, and inspire each other, Think Services builds strong brands and works within communities to foster a unique affinity with its products and services. The division's flagship products include the Game Developers Conference, the Webby Award-winning Gamasutra.com, Game Developer magazine, the International Customer Management Institute (ICMI), and HDI. Think Services is a subsidiary of United Business Media, a global media and marketing services company with a market capitalization of more than $1.6 billion. To learn more, visit www.think-services.com.

    Contact: Audrey Shen
             Think Services, a division of United Business Media
             ashen@ubmtechnology.com.cn
             (86-21) 62787488-8701

             Sibel Sunar
             fortyseven communications
             sibel@fortyseven.com
             323-658-1200