ION – The Conference Formerly Known as OGDC

Evergreen Events has announced that the Online Game Developers Conference will hence forth be known as ION. With a new name, website and logo; ION is prepared to run a broad array of expert-level lectures, panels and networking events as well as an expo area exhibiting cutting-edge technology and games.

The 2008 conference is scheduled from May 13 to May 15 at the Seattle Waterfront Marriott Hotel. Last year’s conference drew 20% of its attendees from outside the U.S. with experts from Australia, Germany, Japan, Korea and other countries swelling the ranks. Evergreen hopes the new moniker will reflect the growing International appeal of the conference.

“At Evergreen Events, we wanted a new identity that represented what we offer with our conference: unsurpassed networking opportunities and unique sessions and panels you cannot find anywhere else, among hundreds of like-minded online game industry veterans from around the world,” declared Peter Freese, Conference Director for the ION Game Conference. “’ION’ best symbolizes these qualities.”

ION already has some of the brightest and best the industry has to offer lined up to speak at this year’s conference. The list includes:

• Erik Bethke — Founder & CEO, GoPets Ltd.
• Tony Park — Vice President, The9
• Brett Close — President & CEO, 38 Studios
• Alan Crosby — Director, Global Community Relations Sony Online Entertainment
• Mike Goslin — Vice President, Virtual Reality Studio Disney Online

Now the the OGDC has a cool new name, the question is what else will they be changing. E3 has been reduced to a mere shadow of its former self. Last year they featured games that were already out or in the process of coming out. Will the new ION cash in on the gap and seize the opportunity to expand like the PAX? It will be interesting to find out.

via Evergreen Events