Game Developers Conference 2008 - (Page 39) Casual Games Summit MonDAY & tuesDAY (303) casual games summit 10am-6pm room 2014 • West Hall Through new user interfaces and more dedicated resources to the segment, casual games have become more advanced, and advanced games have become more accessible. The game industry as a whole is making clear efforts to appeal to the vast population beyond core gamers. At the Casual Games Summit, professionals and experts discuss hot topics in the casual games sector such as: keys to making a simple yet addictive game, originality and innovation, international opportunities, casual games in the console sector. Casual Games Summit ADVisors Kenny shea Dinkin pLAYFirst As one of the first management team members and executive producer at PlayFirst, Kenny directed content strategy and oversaw game production for the first 24 PlayFirst titles. Now as vice president and creative director, he drives the portfolio’s aesthetic considerations guiding game design, art, audio, character, and story development for all PlayFirst games, which include DinEr Dash, chocoLatiEr, wEDDing Dash and DrEam chronicLEs. A visual artist, writer, musician, game designer, and avid comic book reader, Kenny was also the co-creator of the critically acclaimed, top-selling brand thE cLuEfinDErs. Kenny earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Brown University and an M.F.A. in fine arts from the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Design. founding and managing PopCap Games’ San Francisco development studio; and creating some of Pogo’s best known and loved products including worD whomP, tumBLE BEEs, and casino isLanD. He is currently working as a freelance producer/designer for multiple clients including Electronic Arts’ SIMS label. business today MonDAY, FebruArY 18 cAsuAL gAMes toDAY Kenny shea Dinkin (playFirst), nick Fortugno (rebel Monkey), David Fox (iWin), steve Meretzky (blue Fang), Dave rohrl 10-11am • Definition • History • Audience demographics • Design principles • Look & feel principles (art, audio, writing) • Overview of tools/engines edward Allard (popcap games), Kate connally (Addictinggames, MtV networks), Dave rohrl, paul thelen (big Fish games studios) 2-4pm > Web Downloadables paul thelen (big Fish games studios) 2-2:30pm Are web downloads going away? How are the alternatives to try-and-buy working? Will web downloads continue to be the “lead SKU” with other markets following in the footsteps of successful downloadable games, or is that changing? intro to casual games (part i) steve Meretzky bLue FAng > console Downloads & Derivative Markets edward Allard (popcap games) 2:30-3pm XBLA paved the way; now the newer consoles want a piece of the action. What should content providers expect? How do you design for this market? Steve joined Blue Fang, developer of the bestselling zoo tycoon games, in late 2006. Steve has been designing games since 1982, starting with the legendary adventure game company, Infocom. His titles there included PLanEtfaLL, thE hitchhiKEr’s guiDE to thE gaLaxy (a collaboration with Douglas Adams), LEathEr goDDEssEs of PhoBos, and zorK hEro. He co-founded Boffo Games, where he created hoDj ‘N’ PoDj and thE sPacE Bar. He was creative content director for five years for the tournament skill game site WorldWinner. com, where he continues to serve as an advisor. Prior to joining Blue Fang, Steve was lead designer for Floodgate Entertainment, and has also done consulting work for Activision, Blizzard, Disney, EA, Harmonix, Hasbro, Legend, and many others. coffee break 11-11:15am intro to casual games (part ii) James gwertzman (popcap games), Dave rohrl 11:15am-12pm > Advertising/Advergaming Kate connally (Addictinggames) 3-3:30pm • Historically successful business models, by platform • Roles in the value chain • Major players in the category > can You compete with really Free? business today panel edward Allard (popcap games), Kate connally (Addictinggames, MtV networks), Dave rohrl, paul thelen (big Fish games studios) 3:30-4pm Dave rohrl Over the last seven years, Dave has a unique mix of experience and skills that make him highly qualified to offer insight into many areas of the industry—he has worked in the PC casual space in developer, publisher, and portal operator roles and he has a strong track record as a game designer, producer, and business leader. Among Dave’s accomplishments in the casual space are conceiving and launching Pogo To Go; Keynote: the promise of casual games John Welch (playFirst) 12-12:30pm Lunch coffee break 4-4:15pm 12:30-2pm Visit www.gdconf.com for daily coverage of GDC 2008 39 http://www.gdconf.com/?cid=GDC08_showguide http://www.gdconf.com/?cid=GDC08_showguide
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