More activity is building behind this year’s Develop conference and expo, which takes place in Brighton from July 24th to 26th this summer.

Sony Computer Entertainment Europe has re-signed as the event’s Platinum Sponsor, with Philips amBX and Autodesk taking Gold and Silver sponsorship status, respectively. Nokia returns as the sponsor of the Develop Mobile conference.

“Sony Computer Entertainment Europe is delighted to be the platinum sponsor of the Develop Conference for a second year. This is becoming a key event in the European development calendar, and we are proud to be supporting it,” said Jamie Macdonald, vice president, SCE Worldwide Studios Europe

Jo Cooke, chief marketing officer, Philips amBX, added: "Philips amBX was a sponsor of the Develop Conference & Expo in 2006 and we were so impressed with the depth of the conference and quality of the delegates that we've decided to become the Gold Sponsor for 2007. Develop was a resounding success last year and we're very much looking forward to repeating that success for amBX this year.”

A raft of companies have also signed up to exhibit at the conference’s accompanying expo. Participating companies this year include Animazoo, artemdigital, Audiokinetic, Autodesk, Beyerdynamic, CRI Middleware, Develop Magazine, Emergent Game Technologies, Hansoft, IGDA, Instinct Technology, Mobile Entertainment, Nokia, Perforce Software, Philips amBX, Sony Computer Entertainment, Southampton Solent University, Tech Excel, Testronic Labs and Tiga.

“Delegate registrations are up on this time last year, we are lucky enough to have video games heavyweights Chris Satchell and Richard Garriott delivering keynotes and we have an impressive line up of world-class speakers set to deliver a 60-session strong conference,” commented Andy Lane, event director. “Our sponsors can be 100 per cent confident they are aligning themselves with a first class event.”