Austin GDC Adds Keynote From Square Enix's Tanaka

Organizers of the 2007 Austin Game Developers Conference (run by the CMP Game Group, as is Gamasutra) have announced that the event will feature a keynote address on developing multiplatform MMOs by renowned game designer and Square Enix executive officer Hiromichi Tanaka. Tanaka is perhaps best recognized as the lead developer on Square Enix’s multiplatform MMO Final Fantasy XI, and in his keynote he will speak to the unique challenges and successes faced by his team while designing the game for the PC, PlayStation 2, and Xbox 360. Jane Pinckard, content manager for Austin GDC, described Tanaka’s presence at the conference as “indicative of the event's global appeal.” The keynote has been added to previously announced keynotes from World of Warcraft co-creator and Blizzard president Michael Morhaime and creative leader behind Sulake's Habbo Hotel, Sulka Haro. The three-day Austin GDC event, presented by the CMP Game Group, host of the industry-leading Game Developers Conference (GDC), will take place September 5-7, 2007 at the Austin Convention Center in Austin, Texas. In addition to Tanaka’s keynote address, the Austin GDC will feature more than 90 lectures, panels, tutorials and round-table discussions on game development across four tracks: online games, audio for games, writing for games and the new People's Choice track featuring the sessions community members want to see most. Austin GDC will also feature a Game Career Seminar for students and job-changers researching entry into the game industry, and a new event, PC Game On, focusing on the PC game enthusiast. For more information, please visit the official Austin GDC website.