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| Games Convention Asia 2007 Opened at Suntec Singapore The Games Convention Asia 2007 was opened yesterday by Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports and Second Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts at the Suntec International Convention and Exhibition Centre. In his address, he welcomed delegates and distinguished industry leaders from the global games community. The inaugural Games Convention Asiaґs arrival is timely as the global games industry is expected to grow to more than $55.6 billion US dollars by 2008. The Asia-Pacific online games market, last valued at $630 million in 2003, is projected to hit a staggering $7.5 billion in 2008. Games Convention Asia has been strategically organized to address the development needs and opportunities presented by Asia's rapidly growing digital interactive games industry. Its segmentation into two main areas, the Business Convention, and the Public Convention, positions Games Convention Asia as a gateway for European and North American companies to gain better insights into Asia and its fast-paced interactive entertainment market trends. For developers in Asia, the 'East-meets-West' platform will help them reach international publishers and distributors. More than 10,000 square meters of space was transformed into a high-energy world of computer games by 81 exhibitors from 13 countries, including major industry players Electronic Arts, Nintendo, Sony, Asiasoft, Nokia and more. The opening ceremony heralded the start of a two-day conference, the GCA Conference (GCAC), which is bringing together luminaries from the gaming world. 65 speakers addressing delegates from more than 20 nations. GCAC in playing host to the leading international publishers and game developers from the entire Asia-Pacific region, North America and Europe. "Opportunities to the World" - the conference's slogan challenges all participants to discuss new target groups and the growing markets for online and mobile games. Games Convention Asia 2007 also witnessed the signing of the first-ever Memorandum of Intent (MOI) by the presidents of the national game associations from 10 countries in the Asia Pacific region. All the 10 countries have thriving games industries at varying states of development. The MOI marks the beginning of greater understanding and collaboration between the various national game associations, and the games industry in each country. write your comments about the article :: © 2007 Game News :: home page |