Construction/Building — September 11, 2009

Jordan Mechner to Keynote 2009 Game Developers Conference(R) China


    Prince of Persia Franchise Creator to Discuss Success in Games and Soon
the
    Big Screen

    SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 11 /CNW/ -- Jordan Mechner, game designer,
programmer, screenwriter, and creator of the widely acclaimed Prince of Persia
franchise will deliver a keynote address at the 2009 Game Developers
Conference China.  GDC China presented by Think Services, a division of United
Business Media, will take place at the Shanghai International Convention
Center, October 11-13 of this year.

    Mechner's keynote address will explore the success of the Prince of
Persia series which was first released in 1989 as well as his own success as a
game designer, programmer, and finally director and screenwriter.  Following
the release of seven chapters of the series, Mechner wrote the script for the
film version of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, produced by Jerry
Bruckheimer and directed by Mike Newell.  The movie will be released by Walt
Disney Pictures in May of 2010.

    "We are so excited to welcome Jordan to the stage in Shanghai," said
Meggan Scavio, GDC China event director.  "He has a great story to share with
the audience from a game design, artistic, and storytelling perspective; as
well as the business acumen to succeed in maintaining a strong brand, building
commercial success, and further transitioning games to film."

    Mechner's first hit game was Karateka (1984), written while he was still
an undergraduate at Yale University. Prince of Persia, released in 1989, was
noted for its fluid animation of human figures. Both titles were published by
Broderbund.   In 1993, he formed Smoking Car Productions, an entertainment
software development group based in San Francisco.  In 2003, Ubisoft released
the fourth installment of the Prince of Persia saga, Prince of Persia: The
Sands of Time, on which Mechner collaborated as writer and game designer.
Mechner today divides his time between writing screenplays, graphic novels,
and designing video games. He also wrote and directed two award-winning
documentaries, including Chavez Ravine: A Los Angeles Story. He is writing the
screenplay for a film adaptation of Michael Turner's Fathom starring Megan
Fox. He is collaborating with artists LeUyen Pham and Alex Puvilland on a new
graphic novel to be published by First Second Books in 2010.

    Mechner joins a prominent lineup of GDC China speakers including Kelly
Snapka (Art Director, Volition, Inc.), Todd Coleman (Co-Founder, Wolfpack
Studios Inc.), Chris Ulm (CEO, Appy), Billy Hsu (CEO, DJL Worldwide), Mack
Growen (GM, Playfish China), Brad MacDonald (Art Director, Large Animal
Games), Tony Chen (Online Business Development Manager, Take Two Asia), Simon
Carless (Publisher, Gamasutra.com and Game Developer Magazine), and several
more.  The GDC China early bird rate ends Tuesday, September 15, 2009.

    For more information on the 2009 Game Developers Conference  China,
please visit www.gdcchina.com.

    About the Think Services Game Group

    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 and other Gamasutra Network websites,
the Game Developers Conference , the Game Developers Conference  Austin, the
Game Developers Conference  Europe, the Game Developers Conference  China, the
Game Developers Conference  Canada, GDC Mobile, the Game Career Seminars, the
Independent Games Festival and Summit, and the Game Developers Choice Awards. 
To learn more, visit www.tsgamegroup.com

    About Think Services, a division of United Business Media

    Think Services connects specialized communities worldwide using
educational events, consulting, training, certification, membership, and
innovative media. 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
                   (86-21) 62787488-8701

                   Ben Veechai, North America
                   +1-415-947-6280

For further information: Audrey Shen, (86-21) 62787488-8701,
ashen@ubmtechnology.com.cn, or Ben Veechai, North America, +1-415-947-6280,
bveechai@think-services.com, both of Think Services, a division of United
Business Media Web Site: http://www.tsgamegroup.com                
http://www.gdcchina.com

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