Mattrick to Discuss 'The Evolution of the Canadian Game Industry' with Electric Playground's Victor Lucas

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Don Mattrick, senior vice president, Interactive Entertainment Business, at Microsoft, will deliver a keynote address at the inaugural Game Developers Conference(R) Canada (GDC Canada). Mattrick leads the Xbox 360, Xbox LIVE and Games for Windows businesses at Microsoft. Mattrick and his team are responsible for driving game development at Microsoft Game Studios as well as cultivating relationships with third-party game publishers and developers around the world. He will be joined onstage by Victor Lucas, creator, executive producer and co-host of "The Electric Playground" and "Reviews on the Run" for an engaging interview and discussion on the dynamic changes and growing influence of Canadian game development in a keynote titled "The Evolution of the Canadian Game Industry: A Conversation with Don Mattrick." Initial sessions have been announced on the GDC Canada website ( http://www.GDC-Canada.com), with speakers from Relic Entertainment, EA, Radical Entertainment and Threewave Software confirmed, and others being added continuously. GDC Canada takes place on May 12-13, 2009 at the Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Previous to his work at Microsoft, Don Mattrick helped bring to life such successful game franchises as "Need for Speed," "Harry Potter" and "The Sims" during his tenure at Distinctive Software and Electronic Arts (EA). With 25 years of broad industry and game development experience, Mattrick's portfolio includes some of the most successful games in the world, including a number of series established during his time at EA, EALA, EA Tiburon, EA Canada and Distinctive Software Inc. Raised in Vancouver, British Columbia, Mattrick has been an active member of the province's business and educational community. He has served on several public and private boards, including the advisory board for USC School of Cinematic Arts and the Premier's Technology Council in British Columbia.

"While it's one thing to discuss the thriving game development field in Canada, it's another thing entirely to have shaped the transformation of this growing industry yourself; Don Mattrick has done just that," says Izora de Lillard, Event Director at Think Services Game Group. "The mark Don has left, and will invariably continue to leave, on Canadian game development makes him the perfect person to discuss the future role that Canadian developers will play in the industry."

The keynote will be presented in the form of an extensive on-stage interview, with games journalist Victor Lucas, creator and co-host of "The Electric Playground," asking Mattrick a series of questions exploring the changing landscape of Canadian game development and Mattrick's own role in expanding Canada's role in the industry.

GDC Canada will provide insight into the thriving Canadian game development community and will serve as an opportunity for developers to share best practices for fostering excellence and quality games within their region and distributed globally. To register for GDC Canada, learn about sponsorship opportunities or to view conference information, please visit http://www.gdc-canada.com.

About Reboot Communications

Reboot Communications Ltd. is a Canadian company based in British Columbia, that specializes in organizing and implementing national and international conferences focused on information technology, public safety, privacy and security, health, electronic gaming and counterterrorism. Over the past twelve years, Reboot has provided a full spectrum of conference management services to the private and public sector, including: marketing and communications, logistics, agenda development, sponsorship sales, research and intergovernmental expertise. For more information please visit: http://www.rebootconference.com/

About the Think Services Game Group

A core provider of essential information to the professional game industry, the Think Services Game Group offers market-defining content, and drives community through its award winning lineup of print, online, event and research products and services. These include Game Developer Magazine, Game Developer Research, the Webby Award-winning Gamasutra.com, GameCareerGuide.com, WorldsInMotion.biz, GameSetWatch.com, GamesOnDeck.com, SeriousGamesSource.com, the Game Developers Conference(R), the Austin Game Developers Conference(R), the Paris Game Developers Conference(R), GDC Mobile, the Game Career Seminars, the Independent Games Festival and Summit, and the Game Developers Choice Awards. For more information, please visit http://www.tsgamegroup.com/).

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