The Game Developer's Association of Australia (GDAA) is announcing that early bird registrations are now open for this year's Game Connect: Asia Pacific 2007 (GCAP 07) conference. The conference - formerly known as the Australian Game Developers Conference - is hoped to be a gathering place for the discussion of best practice, learning, and growth of game development.

In line with these goals, the organizers have invited several well-known gaming industry personalities as guest speakers. Here are among the more notable people that were announced at the GCAP site:

• Paul Holman, Vice President of Euro R&D, Sony Computer Entertainment
• Pete Isensee, Director XNA Development Connection, Microsoft
• Jason Della Rocca, Executive Director, International Game Developers Association
• Careen Yapp, Vice President of Licensing and Business Development, Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc.
• Tony Albrecht, Senior Engine Programmer, Pandemic Studios
• Susan O'Connor, Writer, Susan O’Connor Writing Studio
  

We're also informing the readers that nominations are now open for the GCAP's upcoming GDAA and Independent Games Awards. The GDAA Awards is Australia and New Zealand's award for game developed by studios in their home territories. The Independent Games Award covers winners for both Best Unsigned Game (Professional), and Best Unsigned Game (Indie) categories.

Nominations for for the GDAA Awards 2007 will end October 31, while nominations for the Independent Games Awards will end October 26. Votes for both will be done so by the GCAP delegates from November 16 to 17, with the conference scheduled to run from November 15 to 17.

This year's GCAP event is expected to take place at the Melbourne Convention Centre, in Melbourne, Australia. Those interested can read up on the finer event details at the GCAP official site via the provided read link.

If the European game industry thought they were alone in their uphill crusade, they are definitely not alone. Reports are coming in that representatives of the Game Developers' Association of Australia (or the GDAA for short) have demanded that the federal government of Australia bestow the same 40% tax rebate it has granted to the film and special effects industry.

 

The GDAA claims that the local game industry has been actively contributing to the economy of the country, emphasizing AU$ 400 million (US$ 343.37 million) in domestic sales, AU$ 1 billion (US$ 855.99 million) in 2006 Australian video games sales, over AU$ 2 million (US$% 1.72 million) in local expenditure for game purchases, and over AU$ 100 (US$ 85.6) million in export growth, while only having 8,500 Australians employed in the sector's workforce.

The GDAA estimates that if the 40% tax rebate was also awarded to the game industry, the grant would triple their development workforce (2,000 developers to 6,000) in three years, while hitting an approximate of 18,000 by 2010. GDAA president Tom Crago and CEO Greg Bondar said, "The federal government could do much to learn from the Canadian government which has created over 10,000 jobs in video game development over the last four years through the right financial incentives."

In contrast, the Canadian government has been pro-active in the development of the game sector of their local entertainment industry, not only encouraging the opening of jobs in the game development stretch alone but also granting financial support to studios that decide to expand or establish new branches in the country. Morocco is one other country actively pushing forth for a more active local game industry.