Jorg Zeissig, Managing Director LMI Asia Pte. Ltd.

The third annual Games Convention Asia will be held from 17th to 20th September 2009 at Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre. We spoke to Jorg Zeissig, Managing Director LMI Asia Pte. Ltd., event organizer for GCA about what to expect this year.

GAX: So how is this year’s GCA going to be different?

Jorg: I feel that the quality of the speakers at GCA2009 is better than it’s ever been. We have really top notch, CEO level people who are veterans of the industry. We’ve got the One Asia Cup, which is going to bring together the best FIFA gamers from around South East Asia for one tournament. We’ve also got the first ever Asian D.I.C.E. summit.

GAX: Can you tell us about the D.I.C.E. summit?

Jorg: Sure, D.I.C.E. is an annual gathering of video game executives held in Las Vegas every year. They’re host to the Entertainment Software Association’s Interactive Achievement Awards, which is basically gaming’s version of the Oscars. The plan is to bring some of that red carpet appeal to Asia. We’ve partnered with them and, this year we’ll be talking about how to make an Asian Video Games Awards a possibility for 2010.

GAX: Has the absence of a Leipzig Games Convention this year affected the planning of GCA 2009 at all?

Jorg: Not at all. We’ve always said that GCA is an Asian games conference. Yes, it is a spin off of GC, but it’s localized to this region. That means we focus on what’s important for Asia. Currently, that means online, browser and mobile games. In fact, Europe is a little behind in this aspect right now. We run GCA differently from European and U.S. conferences. For example, we have some great deals out on the show floor, that’s very Asian. You never see that in the U.S. or Europe.

GAX: Since GCA first started in 2007, a couple of new games conventions have started up. How do you think GCA separates itself from the rest?

Jorg: I feel that our strength is with our connections. Where we differentiate ourselves is with our clear focus on business opportunities and solutions. We’ve built up the best network in Asia, and like we’ve said before, GCA is a convention for the entire South East Asia region. We don’t just have the big names like Sony and EA, we have companies from China, from Korea and the rest of the region. This is the best chance for them to meet.

We have speakers that are really the best at what they do. Our first day, every single speaker is really keynote level. And their expertise is what’s important to Asia. They’ll be talking about Micro-transactions, how to develop games in Asia, how to make games successful in Western cultures, how to outsource etc.

GAX: One of the criticisms of many Asian games conventions is that there are rarely any global exclusives or announcements. Will GCA 2009 be different?

Jorg: Honestly, this year has been a slow one for announcements worldwide. Even at E3, the only big announcement that we didn’t know about was Microsoft’s Project Natal. But, for 2010, there’s a high chance of some big announcements at GCA. There’s a strong focus on the region, it’s the fastest growing region in the world for the games industry. Companies can’t afford not to do anything here, and we have a strong media angle and network. Any announcements that happen, the world will know, so we expect big things for 2010.

GAX: Has the economic recession affected GCA 2009 at all?

Jorg: In some areas. Obviously marketing expenditure has been cut back, for example with visual effects. But the show floor isn’t weaker, the content isn’t weaker. In a way, it’s good that we’re having GCA now, because I think there’s a strong need for the industry to sit down and talk – to generate new ideas, find fresh capital and find potential new business and partners.

GAX: What’s the big draw for gamers who don’t care so much for the business side of things?

Jorg: Our show floor will have lots of great stuff going on. We have cosplay, tournaments, demos of all the latest releases. The focus is on entertainment, which is what gaming should always be about right?

GAX: Right. What about people interested in joining the games industry?

Jorg: Our student’s day will be happening on Saturday. It’s really one of the highlights of GCA. It’s free of charge and people interested in becoming part of the industry can really learn a lot from it. You’ll be able to learn about what opportunities there are in the industry and how to get into it. Of course, it’s also a great place to make contacts, and we have a career fair as well – I know many companies will be looking for fresh talent at GCA.