First GDC 07 details confirmed

The Game Developers Conference is set to return to San Francisco next year, with representatives from all areas of the industry including SCEE, Microsoft, Epic Games, Havok, Rare, Vicarious Visions, Sony Online Entertainment, Factor 5 and Volition some of the first to sign up.

The next-generation of console gaming is represented with Epic Games' Cliff Bleszinski discussing the design of Gears of War for Xbox 360, while Factor 5's Mark Teare will talk about upcoming PlayStation 3 title Lair.

Other highlights include a session entitled 'PC Gaming in the Age of Connected Consoles' with contributions from Microsoft's David Edery, acclaimed designer Warren Spector, Soren Johnson of Firaxis and Epic's Michael Capps.

Non-gaming companies present include DC Comics, with vice president Jim Lee discussing licensee relationships with SoE's John Blakely ahead of the release of an MMO based on the DC universe, while Microsoft and SCEE will collaborate on a practical 'Audio Boot Camp'.

GDC 07 is still to announce keynote speakers and other lectures. The event takes place on March 5th to the 9th at the Moscone Convention Centre in San Francisco, and is expected to attract more than 12,500 industry professionals, and around 1000 members of the press.

The event organisers recently announced plans to expand the event in the wake of the downsizing of the annual E3 show, and will now incorporate the Independent Games Summit amongst other changes.