Online Game Development & Business

GDC China Session The explosive growth of online games connects people across the globe within the comfort of their homes. Communities are rapidly developing around connected games and with it, opportunities for innovation, creativity, and revenue are growing for game developers and businesses alike. Online gaming has its own set of opportunities and set of challenges. From simple flash-based browser games to massively multiplayer environments the possibilities are only limited by one's imagination. Matched with increased technological infrastructure and support, online gaming will only continue to experience exponential growth and possibilities. Join GDC China with your thoughts on Online Game Developer & Business by submitting a session today.

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Session Highlights from GDC China 2009

Integrate the R&D and Operating – Grasp the Overall Chinese Online Game Market Situation
Speaker: ALI (Yanqing Li) (President, China Game)
Description: It needs three years or even more to develop a perfect online game, however, it is often found that when the product is presented to the market, the subject, content or style no longer fits the current market demands. The speaker will start with the cooperation between R&D and operating department, narrate his experiences and skills, emphasis the establishment of a better working system, in order to ensure the intended R&D direction as well as the adaptability to the changing market. There are no conflicts between a game ideal for the developers and popular in the market!

From Evolution to Revolution: Upgrading the Graphics Engine of EVE Online
Speaker: Halldor Fannar (CTO, CCP)
Description: The session focuses on the many challenges overcome in upgrading the graphics technology and content of a classic MMOG, EVE Online. The game is played in a non-sharded universe and updates are pushed to all subscribers (250,000). Metaphorically the developers were tasked with swapping out the engine of a running car--and putting in a radically different engine while only allowed to make minor modifications to other parts of the car. The artists had evolved their skills with the previous engine over multiple expansions and now had to adapt to radically new technology. How did we handle this? Did anybody survive? We will explore the decisions made and demonstrate how the technology works.

Keys to Overseas Success for Asian Online Games
Speaker: Steve Jeong (Director and Division Head, Overseas Business, NHN)
Description: This talk presents key factors on Asian game’s global success. To be successful in oversea market, companies have to consider both localization strategy and business strategy. Concerning two strategies, there are 4 Keys for overseas success. These are contents localization, people management, building friendly partnership and NHN’s unique philosophies in branching out. With these keys, most Korean game companies made it possible to branch out into the Global market successfully. Steve Jeong will present 4 keys in detail and how NHN has made global game portals with them.

Industry Integration and Value Session on Game World Online
Speaker: Zhiren Fu (GM & Secretary of the Party Committee, Leadership of Information & Networking Department, Shanghai Telecommunication, Senior Engineer)
Description: Game World Online is a public platform elaborately designed and structured by China Telecom, Shanghai branch for game industry chain. The platform, depending upon special data game zone and gathering platform such as net bar, links the upstream and downstream ends contained in the industry chain together. Game World Online integrates the components--the game vendors (game developers and game operators) at the upstream end, the main promotion channels at downstream end (net bar), as well as network service provider for game (telecom vendor) contained in the game industry chain, the object of such is to provide facilitators participating in the game industry chain partnership with resource share, strength complement and mutual development opportunity.

How can Medium- and Small-sized Teams Make Breakthrough in Fierce Competition of Online Game Industry?
Speaker: Alex Xu (Strategic Development Director, Giant Interactive Group Inc.)
Description:

The general problems 300 teams have encountered: Many teams are constantly trying to solve the problems that should have been solved in the last ten years in online game industry. These problems have greatly hindered the process of the newly established teams and might even jeopardize the whole project.
What is the key factor of a successful team? The "person" is the biggest key to success. A successful product makes a successful team.
What are the key factors of a successful product? What's the real feature of 'gameplay' in online games? How do we analyze a successful online game?
The merits and demerits of difference sources of funding. How to abstain the fund support?