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Nintendo President to Keynote Game Developers Conference

by Nick DiMola - January 29, 2009, 12:41 pm EST
Discuss in talkback! Source: Press Release

Satoru Iwata is returning to GDC 09 to kick-off the conference with a keynote focused on discovering new development opportunities.

Earlier this week it was revealed that Nintendo President Satoru Iwata would deliver a keynote address at this year's Game Developers Conference. 2009 marks Iwata's third appearance as a speaker at GDC. In 2005, Iwata revealed the technology behind Nintendo's codenamed "Revolution" project, now known as Wii, with the following year's speech focused on "disrupting development," a concept that has propelled Nintendo to the market leader position this generation.

This year, Iwata's keynote, "Discovering New Development Opportunities," will likely give some insight into the current workings of Nintendo and hopefully inspire developers present at the conference.

Game Developer's Conference 2009 will take place at the Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco from March 23 to March 27. Iwata's keynote will be held in the Esplanade Room from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. PST, Wednesday, March 25.

NINTENDO PRESIDENT SATORU IWATA TO KEYNOTE THE 2009 GAME DEVELOPERS CONFERENCE

Nintendo Chief Returns to the GDC to Kick-Off Main Conference With Lecture Focused on Discovering New Development Opportunities

SAN FRANCISCO—Jan. 27, 2009— Satoru Iwata, President of Nintendo Co., Ltd. will deliver a keynote address at the 2009 Game Developers Conference, kicking-off the main conference’s schedule of lectures, panel discussions and roundtables that provide the central forum for learning, inspiration, and networking in the games industry. The address, “Discovering New Development Opportunities” marks Iwata-san’s first return to the GDC keynote stage since 2006. The Game Developers Conference takes place March 23-27 at the Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco.

Being a developer himself, Iwata’s keynote lectures at the Game Developers Conference are known for inspiring other developers to think about creating games in new and different ways. His 2005 keynote gave developers the first information about the technology being used for the next-generation console then codenamed “Revolution” which has since become known as the Wii. In 2006, Iwata spoke about “disrupting development,” and introduced the Western development community to philosophies on engaging new players, surprising existing players and the role the company’s video game systems would play in expanding the market and widening the possibilities for developers.

“The Game Developers Conference is thrilled to welcome Satoru Iwata back to the keynote stage,” said Meggan Scavio, Event Director of the GDC. “His previous talks at the GDC can be credited with setting the stage for much of the huge growth the games industry has since seen, and attendees continue to talk about how both lectures impacted their perspective on development. We are confident that Iwata’s keynote this year will be added to the list of memorable GDC talks. Attendees are eager to know how he will inspire them this year.”

Born in 1959 in the Hokkaido Prefecture of Japan, Iwata studied at and graduated from the Tokyo Institute of Technology University, where he majored in computer science. Shortly after graduating, Iwata joined HAL Laboratory, Inc. and in 1983 began coordinating the software production and development of Nintendo titles, such as the Kirby series. By 1993, he had become president of that company. In 2000, Iwata moved to Nintendo Co., Ltd. as the head of the Corporate Planning division, where he was responsible for Nintendo’s global corporate planning. In 2002, he was named president of Nintendo Co., Ltd. where he continues to guide development of games with the passion of a game creator.

Satoru Iwata’s keynote, “Discovering New Development Opportunities,” is scheduled for Wednesday, March 25, 2009 from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. PST in the Esplanade Room of the Moscone Center’s South Hall.

The Game Developers Conference is the largest professional industry event dedicated to the creation of games, including computer, console, mobile, arcade, online games, and location based entertainment. It is the central forum for learning, inspiration, and networking in the games industry. The GDC attracts over 18,000 attendees, and is the main global forum where programmers, artists, producers, game designers, audio professionals, business decision makers and others involved in the development of interactive games gather to exchange ideas and shape the future of the industry.

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