While Canada is a few steps behind other countries, especially the United States, in developing a serious game industry, there is still hope. This presentation will examine opportunities, and hurdles, in the field of serious games that apply distinctly to the Canadian industry. It also looks at how innovation in these projects can have far-reaching benefits not only in areas such as education, training, medicine and social outreach, but in entertainment game design as well.

An in-depth, informative look at government incentives such as the Ontario Interactive Digital Media Tax Credit and the Scientific Research and Experimental Development Program. These two programs can recover a digital media company up to 60% of costs back associated with starting and running a digital media company.

Description.

An open discussion / question and answer dealing with publishers vs self-publishing, digital distribution, intellectual property, marketing, government funding and other topics of interest for game developers.

Videogames and education go together hand-in-hand. Based on an upcoming book by the presenter, this session outlines 25+ activities that are the perfect starting points for independent game design in the classroom. Getting students to think critically about video games - as consumers, critics, and creators - is the focus.

Blurring the boundary between working and gaming can create productive play. This 1-hour lecture compares and contrasts tasks associated with work and play, discusses "the grind" associated with MMO play, and presents a case-study example of how airport screeners could become not only playfully productive, but more effective.

In the gaming community, a new game development startup or an independent studio is born everyday, but what separates the 'Blizzard to be' from the one that never makes it to E3? Is it just the game or are there other factors? This presentation outlines the key to business management of a gaming startup and not just the business administration. It is an intimate look beyond the Gaming Engine and into the understanding of the Business Engine that drives a startup to studio fame.

Description.

Description.

With several class action lawsuits having been filed against publishers for unpaid overtime, Quality of Life has become much more of an issue to both workers and companies. This round table will discuss the current state of Quality of Life in the game industry.