Game Connection, the game business matchmaking event returns to San Francisco this year and is launching for the very first time, the American edition of its Level Up program. The scheme allows five young studios the chance to exhibit their projects to a huge selection of industry buyers at their event, which takes place from March 8th to 10th, as well as have their own private meeting room.

To be eligible, companies must be less than two years old, be independent and must not have been a previous Game Connection attendee. Entrants will be judged by the Game Connection Advisory Board based on the sole criterion of 'innovation', looking for studios willing to take risks and think outside of the box.

For the Lyon edition last year, companies from no less than 24 countries applied.

We were completely blown away. The show was extremely well orchestrated. The online meeting system made it very easy to contact and coordinate with other teams. We were a little afraid that as the new kids on the block, we would fly all the way to the show and get ignored, but that was certainly not the case. We got face time with Microsoft, Sony, Nintendo, Apple, Epic, Namco, Konami, 2K, Intel, AMD, Nvidia and Havok among others and all may lead us in extremely beneficial directions. We almost have more leads than I know how to organize! - John Graham, COO Wolfire, 2009 Lyon winner.