GDC China 2013 adds DayZ, Ubisoft, Crytek production talks

GDC China organizers have announced new sessions added to its Production Track, including the Arma II mod DayZ's rise to 2 million users, Ubisoft's Splinter Cell Blacklist level art, and Crytek's game design-minded management tips. UBM Tech Game Network's GDC China, now in its sixth year, has moved up to September this year, running from the 15th to the 17th at the Shanghai International Convention Center in Shanghai, China. The event will be co-located with Cloud Connect China. As part of the full line-up of announced sessions for the event, the following talks are being highlighted by organizers: - In 'DayZ: Producing the Ultimate Accidental Project,' Bohemia Interactive's Dean Hall discusses how his Arma II mod propelled to having over 2 million users in a year, becoming a standalone title. Topics will include negotiating a deal, agile planning, the pitfalls of open development, and how to get the best out of developers from vastly different cultures. - Elsewhere, in 'Game Design Hacks for Better Management,' Crytek's Joshua Howard (free-to-play FPS Warface) will discuss how approaching management through the lens of game design can lead to happier and more productive teams. - Finally, in 'A Believable World Meet with Dramatic Lighting" - The Level Art of Splinter Cell Blacklist,' Ubisoft's Liao Jun Cheng and Liu Yan Feng will explain how map development benefits art design, and how their experts balance technique and art in lighting all the maps. Organizers previously announced IGF China 2013's finalists, picked out of over 250 entries this year (almost a 60% increase from 2012's event), along with sessions for the growing Independent Games Summit lineup, which, as with the rest of the show, will be simultaneously translated into Chinese and English language for delegates. Those interested in attending GDC China can do so by registering for a pass on the official GDC China website. For all the latest information on GDC China, visit the show's website, or subscribe to regular updates via Facebook, Twitter, or RSS. Gamasutra and GDC are sibling organizations under parent UBM Tech.