The Game Developers Conference Online (GDC Online) returns to the Austin Convention Center in Austin, TX for its ninth iteration of the conference.

More than 120+ lectures taught by leading industry experts will focus on a wide-ranging scope of topics pertinent to industry professionals in the online and connected games space, including cloud gaming, casual, MMOs, virtual worlds, and social networking games.

Fresh for 2011 is the notable Customer Experience track. Evolving from last year's Live track, it will feature successful strategies to attract, retain and effectively monetize players.

GDC Online also debuts a new summit lineup this year. Focused on emerging sectors of the connected games space, the two-day summit series welcomes the return of the Game Narrative Summit, and the addition of the new Smartphone & Tablet Games Summit and GDC Virtual Items Summit. The summits will take place on Monday, October 10 - Tuesday, October 11, and are accessible to All Access or Summits & Tutorial pass holders.