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JOHN SMEDLEY, DR.
RICHARD BARTLE TO KEYNOTE
AUSTIN GAME CONFERENCE ON OCTOBER 27-28, 2005
Online Game Conference
to Host 130 Speakers from Around the World;
70+ sessions in 8 conference tracks.
Austin, Texas -
September 16, 2005 - The Game Initiative, a leading producer of
conferences and events for professionals in the computer and video game
industry, today announced the conference keynotes for the Austin Game
Conference taking place October 27-28, 2005, in Austin, Texas. Keynotes
will be presented by John Smedley, President of Sony Online
Entertainment and Dr. Richard Bartle, Visiting Professor in Computer
Game Design, University of Essex and a leader in the online game
industry for over 25 years. Mr. Smedley and Dr. Bartle will be joined by
more than 130 speakers from around the world participating in 70
sessions in 8 conference tracks.
The Austin Game Conference
is the only conference dedicated to online game development. Conference
tracks include: Multiplayer Business/Production; Multiplayer Design;
Multiplayer Tech/Art; Multiplayer Service & Support; Mobile and Wireless
Design and Profits Track; Future of the Development Pipeline, Next
Generation Game Development, Khronos Developer University.
Austin Game Conference
earlybird registration of $145 ends September 30th. Attendees who
register by Sept. 30th save $50 off the price of the full conference
price. Registration can accessed by logging on to
http://www.GameConference.com
"Austin Game Conference has
established itself as the must-attend event for professionals focused on
online games, massively multiplayer online games (MMOG) and mobile game
development," said Christopher V. Sherman, executive director of the The
Game Initiative. "We are extremely proud to have Mr. Smedley and Dr.
Bartle, two well respected industry leaders, share their experience and
insight at this year's conference. 1,400 individuals around the world
participated in AGC 2004."
John Smedley, President of
Sony Online Entertainment and co-founder of Verant Interactive, Inc.,
will deliver the AGC opening keynote address. He has over 12 years of
experience in the gaming industry. Mr. Smedley's start in the gaming
industry began in 1989 when he worked as a programmer for ATG. Shortly
after developing his first game (QIX) for the Apple IIe, Mr. Smedley
founded and his own company called Knight Technologies. At Knight
Technologies, he developed various contract games like Double Dragon
(Atari Lynx), Dirty Larry Renegade Cop (Atari Lynx) , Qix (Atari Lynx) ,
Keys to Maramon (Amiga) and Kawasaki Carribean Challenge (SNES). Mr.
Smedley also served as Director of Development for five years at 989
Studios and began a PC Group that evolved into Verant Interactive, now
Sony Online Entertainment.
Dr. Richard Bartle, will
deliver the AGC day two keynote address entitled "Why Are We Here?". Dr.
Bartle co-wrote the first virtual world, MUD ("Multi-User Dungeon") in
1978, and has thus been at the forefront of the online games industry
from its very inception. A former lecturer in Artificial Intelligence
and current Visiting Professor in Computer Game Design (both at the
University of Essex, U.K.), he is an influential writer on all aspects
of virtual world design, development, and management. As an independent
consultant, he has worked with most of the major online game companies
in the U.K. and the U.S. over the past 20 years. His 2003 book,
Designing Virtual Worlds, has already established itself as a foundation
text for researchers and developers of virtual worlds alike.
Austin Game Conference
Program
Austin Game Conference (AGC)
is dedicated to meeting the needs of professionals focused on mobile and
networked game development including MMOGs and multi-player games for
PCs and the next generation consoles. The AGC program has been expanded
to deliver more critical information on creating and developing mobile,
multiplayer and massively multiplayer games with a special emphasis on
business strategies for emerging products and platforms. More than 130
speakers from around the world will be participating in 70 sessions in 8
conference tracks. The expanded program consists of panel sessions and
workshops plus a TechPavilion showcasing the latest tools, technologies,
products and services for developers, technologists and business
professionals.
Registration Information
Early-Bird Registration is
now open and can be accessed by logging on to
http://www.gameconference.com
Early registration for professionals prior to September 30th is $145.
After September 30th the price for professionals is $165 and onsite
registration is $195. Conference Registration grants access to the
Khronos Developer University (Oct. 26), the Austin Game Conference (Oct
27-28), the TechPavilion (Oct 27-28), the Women's Game Conference (Oct.
26-27), and the Game Writers Conference (Oct. 26-27).
Austin Game Conference
highlights:
- Microsoft will hold
in-depth presentations covering Xbox 360Live/Marketplace, XNA studio,
Windows Vista, DirectX 10 and more.
- George Dolbier, IBM Senior
Executive Architect for Games, will deliver the keynote at the private
Game Technology Association meeting. Mr. Dolbier will discuss details of
the IBM Processors powering the next generation game platforms and how
the new processors and consoles will drive new and unique infrastructure
considerations for connected console and online games. Details and
registration information are available at
http://gametechnologyassociation.com
- Mobile Game Conference at
AGC speaker roster includes executives from Sprint, Verizon Wireless,
Mofactor, Amplified, Yahoo! Games, Real Networks, Microsoft's Casual
Games Group and more.
- TechPavilion and Attendee
Lounge - The TechPavilion showcases the latest tools, technologies,
products and services. Booths and/or private meeting rooms are
available. The Attendee Lounge includes comfortable couches and chairs
where attendees can relax and network in a casual environment.
- LivePitch - This well
respected industry matchmaking event puts development projects in front
of the world's leading game publishers.
- Khronos Developer
University - This one day hands-on work shop on Oct. 26th provides
up-to-the-minute training on industry standard APIs for embedded
graphics and video processing. These APIs, including OpenGL ES and
OpenVG, are vital for state-of-the-art game development on emerging
handheld platforms including cell phones.
- Career Pavilion - By
popular demand a career area has been added to the TechPavilion. For
everyone at the show looking for a career change this is the place to
go.
- Women's Game Conference -
The second annual Women's Game Conference (WGC) on Oct 26-27, 2005
focuses on women in the computer and video game industry. The conference
program will cover women as an essential market for game growth and
diversity as a necessary tool for game development. Kris Soumas, Vice
President, Interactive for Lifetime Entertainment Services will deliver
the keynote address at WGC.
- Game Writers Conference -
The first annual Game Writers Conference (GWC) on Oct 26-27, 2005 is
dedicated to the art and craft of game writing. GWC is guided by a group
of leading game industry professionals: Susan O'Connor, Scriptwriter &
Game Writers Conference Chair; Hal Barwood, Designer/Writer, Finite
Arts; Dana Fos, User Experience Manager, Microsoft; Clint Hocking,
Creative Director, Ubisoft; Patricia Pizer, Lead Designer, 4orty 2wo
Entertainment
About The Game Initiative
The Game Initiative is a
leading producer of conferences and events for professionals in the
computer and video game industry. The Initiative is chartered with the
growth of the industry through events, public awareness, information and
supporting programs and serves the needs of companies and people
involved in producing interactive entertainment software and hardware
for video game consoles, handheld devices, personal computers and the
Internet. Game Initiative events include the Austin Game Conference, the
Mobile Game Conference, the Women's Game Conference, the Game Writers
Conference, the Advertising In Games Forum, the Casual Games Conference,
Game Technology Association Meetings and the How to Break into the Game
Industry national conference series. More information about The Game
Initiative can be found at
http://www.GameConferences.com
Contact:
Tim Williams
Austin Game Conference
512.289.8687
tim@engagedigital.com
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