Game Connection
Encyclopedia
Game Connection is a business convention of the video game industry. It is an international marketplace for game developers, service providers and publishers looking to expand their network and to find the right business partners.
The first convention took place in Lyon on December 2001 and attracted 27 French developers and 20 international publishers. In 2009, Game Connection Europe brought together more than 500 companies, representing a total of about 36 countries. In 2004, the Game Connection joined the Game Developers Conference
in California.
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.
, which took place in Paris on June 23-24 2008.
Since 2007, Connection Events has also developed an expertise on Master Classes which took place in Lyon and in Paris. With a 20 person limit per training session, these master classes are designed for video game professionals who want to develop their skills in different domains in a concrete way: production, arts, game design, programming and business. Among other professionals, Mike Acton from Insomniac Games
Christophe Balestra from Naughty Dog
, Thomas Bideaux, Noah Falstein
, Clinton Keith, Doug Mealy shared their skills during these master classes.
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 the objective of doing business.The first convention took place in Lyon on December 2001 and attracted 27 French developers and 20 international publishers. In 2009, Game Connection Europe brought together more than 500 companies, representing a total of about 36 countries. In 2004, the Game Connection joined the Game Developers Conference
Game Developers Conference
The Game Developers Conference is the largest annual gathering of professional video game developers, focusing on learning, inspiration, and networking...
in California.
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 ConferenceGame Developers ConferenceThe Game Developers Conference is the largest annual gathering of professional video game developers, focusing on learning, inspiration, and networking...
.
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.
Connection Events
Connection Events is the organizer of Game Connection. Created in July 2006, the company is a spin-off of Lyon Game, a non profit organization, 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 as well as the Paris GDC Game Developers ConferenceGame Developers Conference
The Game Developers Conference is the largest annual gathering of professional video game developers, focusing on learning, inspiration, and networking...
, which took place in Paris on June 23-24 2008.
Since 2007, Connection Events has also developed an expertise on Master Classes which took place in Lyon and in Paris. With a 20 person limit per training session, these master classes are designed for video game professionals who want to develop their skills in different domains in a concrete way: production, arts, game design, programming and business. Among other professionals, Mike Acton from Insomniac Games
Insomniac Games
Insomniac Games, Inc. is an American video game developer headquartered in Burbank, California. Founded in 1994, Insomniac has released titles for the PlayStation, PlayStation 2, and PlayStation 3 video game consoles. It created Disruptor, the first three Spyro the Dragon games, and the Ratchet &...
Christophe Balestra from Naughty Dog
Naughty Dog
Naughty Dog, Inc. is an American video game developer based in Santa Monica, California. Founded by Andy Gavin and Jason Rubin in 1986 as an independent developer, the studio was acquired by Sony Computer Entertainment in 2001...
, Thomas Bideaux, Noah Falstein
Noah Falstein
Noah Falstein is a freelance game designer and producer who has been in the video game industry since 1980. He was one of the first 10 employees at Lucasfilm Games , DreamWorks Interactive , and The 3DO Company...
, Clinton Keith, Doug Mealy shared their skills during these master classes.