PlayIT is a chance to interact in our learning and entertainment IT playground for kids aged 10 to 100.
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Workshops
The Play IT stream will incorporate a variety of workshops. Please click here to view a list of the workshops that are being run in conjunction with the Play IT stream
Associated Conferences
Industry Speakers
| Name | Job Title | Organisation | Abstract Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feargus Carroll | Krome Studios | ||
| George Fidler | Consultant | ||
| Morgan Jaffitt | Consultant | Impossible Changing Brain Foundation | The changing face of games and game development |
| Peter Neate | Consultant | Myself as a Professional Gamer | |
| John Passfield | Chief Creative Bloke | 3 Blokes Studios | Social Games |
| Eve Penford-Dennis | Co-Director | FreePlay | Creativity in the Game Industry |
Abstracts and biographies
The interactive entertainment industry has been in turmoil over the past couple of years with many major publishers experiencing record losses and significant downsizing. Is now a good time to consider a start up in this volatile economic climate? Despite the turmoil, George Fidler identifies the opportunities that exist for smart innovative entrepreneurs and gives a practical guide to managing start-ups in a difficult climate.
George has has spent the past 20 years working in almost every facet of the video games industry, from General Manager & COO of Electronic Arts Publishing and development business in Asia Pacific to Studio Director of The Creative Assembly / Sega Studios in Brisbane. He has just left Sega to look at the new and exciting areas of social games and E-Learning. Specialising in business startups, George has a Bachelors Degree in Economics and started his working career as a Chartered Accountant with KPMG, before moving into industry.
Games now covers a huge range of interactive media, from serious games, social games and ARGs (Alternative Reality Games) through to cinematic blockbusters, motion based play (Kinect, Move, and Wii), and augmented reality. Morgan will discuss the many ways in which games and game technology are changing the shape of the world we live in.
Morgan Jaffit is one of Australia's leading game developers, having worked both locally and internationally on a large variety of projects. He is currently the founder (along with partner Dan Treble) of Defiant Development, an independent developer focused on high end interactive experiences with a strong narrative focus. Morgan has been involved with developing games for the world's biggest publishers, including Electronic Arts, Ubisoft, and THQ. He's a regular speaker on creative process, game development, and the many ways in which interactive media are becoming an essential part of our day to day lives.
The presentation will provide an overview of the StarCraft phenomenon and the Korean e-sports industry. It will also touch on the growth of amateur gaming with spectators into the profession e-sports industry of today. As well as providing an insight into the current professional nature of the gamers, their training, the broadcasting setup, and details on the televised matches that are broadcast daily to millions of adoring fans.
Peter Neate, aka "Legionnaire" is one of the most renowned players in the StarCraft gaming scene. His professional career saw him spend 3 years in Korea, the e-sports Mecca of the world. During his time on the world stage, he represented Australia on 4 separate occasions, which included winning the Bronze medal at the 2005 World Cyber Games in Singapore.
With fewer barriers to entry, there's a huge increase in the number of people making video games. And with an increase in the number of games reaching the market, there are new challenges to creating a game that will capture the attention of the game-playing public. Eve Penford-Dennis explores what makes games stand out from the crowd, and the concept of creativity in the game industry.
Eve Penford-Dennis has nearly two decades experience in game development both in Victoria and overseas as an artist, outsourcing manager, and teacher. In addition to her extensive development experience, Eve has been instrumental in spearheading a number of initiatives aimed at improving conditions within the industry. She runs the Australian Women in Games site & groups; has spoken at the Australian Game Developers Conference; has taken part in the Game Connect Asia Pacific Skills Forum; is a member of numerous advisory boards for Deakin University, Verve, and Multimedia Victoria; and is a mentor with VIC ICT for women. Eve was also an active member of the Freeplay 2007 steering committee and responsible for the highly successful Game Girls event, held at ACMI in March 2008, one of the first targeted public events to encourage women into the games industry. Currently Eve co-directs the Freeplay Independent Games Festival, held every August in Melbourne, which focuses on the creative, artistic and innovative side of making games.
