Press release from the Minister for Innovation, Services and Small Business
Minister for Innovation, Services and Small Business Louise Asher announced today that three of the world’s most influential games developers will headline a games symposium for Australian games developers in June 2012.
Ms Asher said independent developers Peter Molyneux (Populous, Dungeon Keeper and Fable), Tim Schafer (Full Throttle, Psychonauts and Brutal Legend) and Warren Spector (System Shock and Deus Ex) would lead the two-day symposium, funded by the Victorian Coalition Government through Film Victoria and the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI).
“Securing these international gurus of the games industry to share their experiences will stimulate business and professional development opportunities for Victorian and Australian games developers,” Ms Asher said.
“In addition to keynote presentations, selected games developers will also have an opportunity to engage in one-on-one meetings with these outstanding international games experts.
“Participation in Game Masters: The Forum will provide an exciting kick-start to ACMI’s 2012 Melbourne Winter Masterpieces exhibition, Game Masters, which opens on 28 June and features over 125 playable games from more than 30 internationally-renowned game designers.
“The Game Masters exhibition clearly demonstrates the growing popularity and importance of games in contemporary culture,” Ms Asher said.
Game Masters is the first locally-curated exhibition in the Winter Masterpieces series, reflecting Victoria’s long and extensive contribution to the video games field.
ACMI’s Chief Executive Officer Tony Sweeney said Game Masters was an opportunity to bring the games and cultural industries together.
“Having highly respected international guests coming to Melbourne for the launch of Game Masters provides a forum to explore the synergies and intersection between the games industry and the broader cultural industries,” Mr Sweeney said.
Film Victoria’s Chief Executive Officer Jenni Tosi welcomed the opportunity to partner with ACMI in jointly funding the symposium.
“I’m delighted with this partnership and I’m sure it will provide inspiration and new connections for our talented games developers, stimulating ideas and business opportunities for this important sector of our industry,” Ms Tosi said.