GDAA To Host Australian Games Industry Business Networking Session At GDC 08 (San Francisco)

For immediate release

MEDIA RELEASE

MELBOURNE– Tuesday 5 February, 2008–

GDAA will be hosting a private invitation only Australian Games Industry Business Networking Event in conjunction with Austrade on 21st February during the GDC conference and expo in San Francisco. This will be a major marketing event for the export focused game developers in Australia.

“We are limiting the invitation to around 50– 60 key CEOs and decision-makers (publishers, investors, game developers etc) to the event at which real business can be conducted in relaxed and corporate environment” said Greg Bondar, CEO of the GDAA.

Australian Game Developers will be showcasing their capabilities at the business session.

“GDC is a world class event and an important event on the Australian game developers’ calendar and GDAA will be making the point to all international investors, publishers and game developers that making games is a serious business in Australia” added Greg Bondar.

Australian game developers offer the following benefits to potential business partners:

• Over 40 world class game developers[/*]
• Developing games for over 25 years[/*]
• More than 300 titles[/*]
• Fresh creative talent[/*]
• Huge skills base[/*]
• State of the art infrastructure[/*]
• Critical mass of complementary industries[/*]
• A base for global companies[/*]
• Open for business 24/7[/*]

The Business Networking Session is by Invitation Only and anyone interested in further details and/or in attending should contact the GDAA.

The event will also see key Australian Government Officials in attendance including the Australian Consul General

-ends-

Game Connect: Asia Pacific 2007 Further Details:

November, 2008 Greg Bondar

Queensland, Australia CEO GDAA

Mobile: 0411 854 115

About the Game Developers Association of Australia:

The Game Developers’ Association of Australia (GDAA) was established in December 1999. Today, the association comprises corporate members from game development companies and educational institutions, associate corporate members (in service sectors that support the industry), individuals and students.

The main purpose of the GDAA is to increase the profile of the Australian electronic games industry both domestically and internationally in order to:

• Promote the growth of the game industry in Australia[/*]
• Represent the interests of GDAA members[/*]
• Attract capital and publishers from offshore and increase local investment[/*]
• Retain and attract the talent that exists in the local industry[/*]
• Promote a sense of community within the industry[/*]

Stats and facts about the games industry:

• The Australian games industry is worth an estimated $110 million per year[/*]
• Australians spend over A$2 million per day on interactive computer games[/*]
• Total sales in 2006 for the industrywas $1 billion1[/*]
• Annual compound growth of the industry is 12.3%2[/*]
• 12.5m games were sold in 20063[/*]
• 6.1m video game consoles have been sold since 20004[/*]
• 3.6m Australian households have a video game console[/*]
• 4.8million Australian households have an internet enabled PC which is capable of playing games5[/*]
• The average age of gamers is 28 years[/*]
• 60%of gamers are male and 40% female[/*]
• 35% of gamers are parents and 8% are seniors[/*]
• Families are an integral part of playing games[/*]
• 8,500 Australians are directly employed in the video game industry in 2007[/*]
• By 2010, the GDAA estimate that 18,000 people will be directly employed in the video game industry in Australia.[/*]