Game Connection
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[edit] Overview
Game Connection is one of the biggest business conventions of the video game industry[1]. It is an international marketplace for game developers, service providers and publishers looking to expand their network and to find the right business partners.
[edit] History
The Game Connection history began in 2001, when Pierre Carde, Director of Lyon Game, decided to set up a convention for the gaming industry with one single objective in mind: doing business. This event is far from the loud and crowded shows like E3or the Tokyo Game Show. The industry needed a quiet place in which professionals could meet the right people.
The first convention took place in Lyon on December 2001 and attracted 27 French developers and 20 international publishers. Last year Game Connection Europe brought together more than 150 development studios, 94 service providers, and 150 publishers, representing a total of about 36 countries.
In 2004, the Game Connection went abroad for the first time, and joined the Game Developers Conference in California. Now active in the main video game world markets, Game Connection has become a “must-attend” event for anyone serious about making business in the video game industry.
"Game Connection is always a great catalyst for Developers and Publishers to do business. Without the medium which E3 used to provide I doubt there is another single event like Game Connection that focuses the development community toward preparing new product pitches."
Andrew Luckett
Development Manager of Majesco Entertainment Europe
[edit] Location
The Game Connection takes place in two different locations at different periods of the year.
Game Connection Europe is held yearly in Lyon (France) during fall.
Game Connection America takes place in San Francisco (USA) in February during the Game Developers Conference.
[edit] Objectives
Game Connection provides several different services, all geared toward the same goals: matchmaking between developers, network building and enhancement, and examination of projects and companies. The Game Connection's main objective is not to put on a show, but rather to provide a private, quiet booth, where discussions and negotiations can easily take place.
“Game Connection offers a professional business environment that’s product focused and highly productive. The supporting online system and organized staff help eliminate unwanted distractions so those participating can focus on forging new relationships and bringing games to market.”
Dean Trotman
Head of A&R Sega
[edit] The Online Meeting System
Before the event, all attendees register on the Game Connection website. Through the online meeting system, participants can learn about each other’s company projects and interests; search through the database, ask questions, send meeting requests and much more. This means meetings are only scheduled when both parties are interested, increasing the efficiency of the event and the probability that the right business partners will be found. On the website, developers can display their projects to give publishers an idea of what they will be presenting at the convention.
During the event, each exhibitor (game seller or service provider) has a closed booth in which he can make its presentations to buyers during half-hour meetings. Depending on everyone's schedules, companies can conduct up to 40 meetings in three days.
“The online meeting system makes me save a great amount of time. We spend much less time on organizing the meetings and much more time focusing on actually making business, it makes the whole process much more effective.”
Fabrice Pierre-Elien
Business Development Manager,Ubisoft
[edit] Connection Events
Connection Events is the organizer of Game Connection. Created in July 2006, the company is a spin-off of Lyon Game, which initially launched Game Connection Europe. Through the years, Connection Events has developed a true expertise in the video game industry which has led it to be put in charge of organizing the Lyon Game Developers Conference, the first French edition of the original GDC held yearly in California.
This year, Connection Events is also co-organizer of the Paris Game Developers Conference, which will take place in Paris on June 23-24 2008.
Connection Events is currently working on a project called Game Credits. Game Credits will be the complete database of video game professionals and the games (or projects) they have worked on. It will offer a complete game history, complete with details about people and companies that participate in their creation. The project will be launched by spring 2008.
[edit] References
[Game Connection America: A Great Success] (2008/02/28)[1]
[A Record 5900+ Meetings Took Place at Game Connection Europe 2007] (2007/12/11)[2]
[Game Connection announces Level Up] (2007/09/14)[3]
[Biggest year ever for Lyon Game Connection] (2006/12/12) [4]
[Game Connection Event Goes Independent] (2006/07/13)[5]
[Game Connection Networking Events Get Support from Alias] (2006)[6]
[edit] External links
[Official Game Connection website] [7]
