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Rovio, Chillingo and Namco on board for Game Connection Europe's Selected Project judging panel

Applications up 20% from last year

Rovio, Chillingo and Namco on board for Game Connection Europe's Selected Project judging panel
With Game Connection Europe 2013 in Paris fast approaching, organisers have unveiled the judging panel responsible for the Selected Projects conference - the event's Dragon's Den style games showcase.

Those on the judging committee are tasked with assessing a wide range of radically different games - from console to mobile or PC to social network - with entrants coming from more than 35 different countries.

In all, Selected Projects showcases a final 15 devs and their projects in all, which each handed 5 minutes to pitch their project and "convince the audience they have the best one".

Power and responsibility

As such, a great amount rides on the knowledge of the judging committee, and Game Connection Europe's 2013 is unlikely to disappoint.

Members of the judging panel include:


  • Arthur Chow, CEO at 6Waves

  • Ed Rumley, COO at Chillingo

  • Careen Yapp, VP of business development and account management at Gaikai

  • Sebastien Tasserie, business development manager at Ubisoft Entertainment

  • Vincent Dondaine, co-founder of Bulkypix

  • Karol Fuentes-Fischer, account manager, third-party games content team at GameHouse

  • Volker Hirsch, co-founder of Oystercrowd

  • Katie Morgan, executive VP at Reverb Publishing

  • Jun Otsuka, LINE game global business development manager at LINE Corporation

  • Jessica Sachs, developer relations manager at Big Fish Games

  • Matthew Wilson, head of developer relations at Rovio Entertainment

  • Jim Ying, VP, publishing and partnerships at GREE

  • Gary Gu, CTO at Renren Games

  • Jennie Sue, developer relations manager at DeNA

  • Kyu Lee, president at Gamevil USA

  • Pete Smith, Director, product development at XDEV Studio Europe

  • Sarita Churchill-Viramontez, business development manager at Microsoft Studios

  • Samuel Gatté, publishing and product support director at Namco Bandai Games


Microsoft Studios and Sony XDEV Studio Europe have renewed their engagement in the program this year and, once again, both will provide winners with dev kits, mentoring support, and prizes.

Namco Bandai Games joined the panel this year as well, with publishing and product support director Samuel Gatté vocalising the firm's enthusiasm.

"We are very pleased to be part of Game Connection, as we want to support talented studios and original concepts," he stated.

"We are looking for innovation and as Publishers, believe that having an active role in stimulating fresh ideas and new games is necessary. Selected Projects is the perfect format to do exactly that."

Game Connection Europe 2013 will be held on 3-5 December in Paris. Those interested in learning more about the convention can do so by clicking here.

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Representing the former colonies, Matt keeps the Pocket Gamer news feed updated when sleepy Europeans are sleeping. As a frustrated journalist, diehard gamer and recovering MMO addict, this is pretty much his dream job.