ADVENTURES IN GAMES DEVELOPMENT: NEWS, VIEWS & MORE
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Event Preview, p12
London calls for developers Industry set to examine the real power and potential of digital distribution at must-attend event later this month by Michael French
LONDON GAMES CONFERENCE
SONY, NINTENDO, Microsoft, leading edge developers, big name publishers, and pioneers of digital distribution will all form part of a wide-ranging programme at the first ever London Games Conference on Tuesday, October 27th. Taking place at BAFTA and sub-titled Digital Distribution and the Future of the European Games Market, LGC will be the biggest standalone UK event dedicated to the issue that is currently top of the industry’s agenda. From developers through to retail, digital distribution is a disruptive force empowering studios and throwing into question many elements of the traditional business model. The London Games Conference, a one-day event designed to offer as much networking opportunities as food for thought from its speakers, will examine all the issues related to digital distribution. An impressive and eclectic line-up of speakers, panellists and topics have been chosen, including how established firms are adapting to the emergence of online sales, and how specialist companies and new business models are rising up to challenge them. The event, which takes place at BAFTA in Piccadilly, starts at 5pm with an opening address from Ed Vaizey, the shadow minister for culture, who will
Tuesday, October 27th at BAFTA, 195 Piccadilly, London
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4:30pm – Registration 5:05pm – Opening Address Ed Vaizey, Shadow Minister for Culture The man who may well be the games industry’s next voice in government talks directly to the London Games Conference for the event’s opening speech. 5:10pm – The Future of Digital Distribution Nick Parker, Parker Consulting Where are we headed next? One of the games market’s most respected analysts outlines the current digital distribution landscape and offers up exclusive pointers to the future of the sector. 5:35pm – Daddy, What’s a Disc? A panel discussion on the death of physical media and the business models that will replace them. Host: Phil Harrison, former president of Sony Worldwide Studios Panellists: Kristian Segerstrale, CEO and co-founder, Playfish; Mark Gerhard, CEO, Jagex; Thomas Bidaux, CEO, ICO Partners 6:10pm – Coffee
outline the Conservative Party’s plans to support the industry. Vaizey said: “I’m delighted to be speaking to the London Games Conference. The games sector is one of the most successful creative industries in the UK, but it has been forgotten by Government. "While Canada and France aggressively compete to attract talent, all our politicians can talk about is video games violence. “Yet games should be a dream for a politician – it recruits people qualified in difficult subjects, like maths and computer science; it’s regional; and it’s successful and world-beating.
Government backing should be a no-brainer.” Other highlights include a session chaired by former Sony Computer Entertainment boss Phil Harrison looking at the decline and possible demise of physical media. A special panel discussion will also feature the three hardware kings, Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft, discussing their online gaming services and plans to expand them (full schedule to the right). Tickets, priced at £229, are selling fast. To secure your delegate place, please contact Rob.Baker@intentmedia.co.uk or call 01992 535647. Discounts are available for ELSPA and Tiga members. londongamesconference.com
6:30pm – The New Food Chain Video games will still be made, sold and distributed. But not like they have been. This panel discussion will look at the new lines of demarcation between development, retail, publishing and distribution. Host: Andy Payne, ELSPA Panellists: Charles Cecil, CEO, Revolution Software; Nick Pili, Network Director, SEGA; Gian Luzio, Product Director, The Hut; Rich Keen, Marketing Director, Direct2Drive 7:00pm – Charting the Progress of PC Downloads Dorian Bloch, GfK-ChartTrack The man behind the UK games sector’s invaluable sales charts (and holder of vast amounts of market data) talks on how digital distribution is the future of the PC games market – and makes a forceful case for a industry download chart. 7:20pm – Outside the Box Key figures from the market’s three established format holders discuss their roles in the brave new digital future. Host: Tony Mott, Edge Panellists: Pete Edwards, Director, PlayStation Home, SCE; Neil Thompson, Senior Regional Director, UK & Ireland, Microsoft; TBA, Nintendo 8:00pm – Dinner and Networking OCTOBER 2009 | 05