Game Connect Asia Pacific 2011 returns to Melbourne.  The think-tank talk-fest of the Australian interactive entertainment development community provides an opportunity to bring and share ideas for the future of an ever changing industry.

I thought integration with Xbox LIVE would be a strong selling point for the new Microsoft attempt at taking on the iPhone and Android with Windows Phone 7.  But alas there are just too many restrictions that will hold it back.

Game Connect Asia Pacific 2010 has kicked off with a keynote from Eedar CEO Greg Short espousing the positive future for a local video game industry that was starting to believe its reputation as being recession resistant was beginning to waver.

The general feel of the Game Connect Asia Pacific 2009 conference is one of guarded optimising for the future.  The final day has kicked off with a frank discussion from Transmission Games former senior producer Justin Halliday.  Halliday spoke about the chequered development process for the award winning WWII flyer game Heroes Over Europe.

Game connect Asia Pacific 2009 is a chance for the Australian video game development industry to come together, exchange ideas, support each other and of course, compete for the annual awards that GCAP announces.  This year’s winners highlight the subtle shift in video game development over the past twelve months.

Part of the Game Connect Asia Pacific 2009 conference is the showcasing of student and independent game developer work.  This year the range is broad indeed.

Tim Stellmach design director Vicarious Visions opened Game Connect Asia Pacific in Melbourne with a discussion about the momentous choices designed into modern games.  Stellmach talks about the decisions that went into the design of Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 and the past sources of inspiration that helped.

His first release from his own company Eat Sleep Play remains shrouded in mystery, but God Of War creator David Jaffe says that he's already decided on the game he wants to work on when that title is finished.

The first day of Game Connect Asia Pacific has focused on the education side of the video game development industry.  In an effort to sound buoyant in troubled times the industry speakers have so far painted a rosy picture for game development in Australia.

The speaker program for Game Connect Asia Pacific 09 has now been set.  The list of speakers presenting at next weekend’s Melbourne based conference includes international guests such as David Jaffe (Eat Sleep Play), Tim Stellmach (Vicarious Visions) and Jay Wilbur (Epic).