2012 Agenda

8:15AM–9:00AM
Registration, Breakfast & Networking  

9:00AM–9:15AM
Welcome to the Conference
Ned Sherman, CEO & Publisher, Digital Media Wire  
Jay Baage, Event Director, NYGC

9:15AM–10:00AM
The State of the Games Industry - View From The Top  
Industry leaders discuss the current state of the games industry as the business continues its transition towards a digital future. What does it take to make a successful game these days across platforms? What emerging gaming platforms will be the most important in the years to come? How do you make money in this more and more complicated gaming universe with new digital platforms competing with the time and pocketbooks of consumers?  

10:00AM–10:30AM
KEYNOTE

10:30AM–11:00AM
NETWORKING BREAK

11:00AM–11:45AM
PANELS

TRACK A - DISTRIBUTION
From Console to Cloud: Exploring Today’s Multiple Distribution Possibilities
Videogames are an important part of the migration of content "into the cloud." But despite the disruptive impact the Internet is having on traditional retail, physical goods aren’t likely to disappear any time soon, or will they? If so, when can we expect that to happen? What new forms of distribution work for different types of games? Which devices are going to be driving the future growth of the gaming business? This panel will give you an overview of current trends, provide relevant case-studies and give you the unfiltered truth of technological opportunities and challenges facing the games industry in a digital age.

TRACK B - MONETIZATION

Free, Pay-To-Play and Subscription: Monetizing Games in a Multi-Platform Universe
Games account for the largest portion of paid online content, well ahead of other forms of content, such as movies/video and news. While subscriptions have proven a very successful model for games such as World of Warcraft, it might not be suitable for other online games. When it comes to mobile games and casual games, is freemium the way to go? Is there enough money to go around for subscriptions? This panel of game experts will give you a glimpse into the future of game monetization and provide many good ideas for what models will work for your products/services.
 

11:50AM–12:35PM
PANELS

TRACK A - DISTRIBUTION
From Console to Cloud: Exploring Today’s Multiple Distribution Possibilities
This panel of decision-makers in the mobile games value chain will discuss the state of the industry with a focus on innovation, pricing, new devices, marketing and distribution models for mobile games. Is the iPhone app model the way of the future for the rest of the business or what are the alternatives out there? How is the market for iPad and tablet games evolving?

TRACK B - MONETIZATION
Madison Avenue Got Game! Creating Successful Campaigns In and Around Games
This panel of advertising, brand and games executives will discuss opportunities for advertisers and brands to reach consumers through the games, virtual worlds and social networks. How are brand marketers and their agencies navigating this space? On the other side of the coin, how can game companies generate revenue and free mass advertising by incorporating digital game content into brand advertising?
 

12.40PM-1.10PM
KEYNOTE

1:10PM–2:00PM
Lunch Buffet

2:00PM–2:30PM
DEBATE CLUB: You Pick The Topic!
Structured as a formal academic debate, panelists are divided into two teams that are either pro or con the trend or topic. Each team will be given 2 minutes for initial arguments and then it's time for rebuttals. The audience will determine the winner via show of hands. This is a classic DMW games event session that you don’t want to miss. Sparks are sure to fly!
Moderator: Mike Vorhaus, President, Magid Advisors

2:30PM–3:00PM
Keynote / DEMO / Case Study

3:00PM-3:45PM
PANELS

TRACK A - DISTRIBUTION
The Power of Community – Integrating Social Design in Creating, Promoting and Distributing Games
Flash and browser-based games that work both stand-alone and as application widgets on social networking websites such as Facebook have been a growing segment of the gaming industry lately. So how important is the social factor in gaming and how do these games find distribution? How do you create a hit social game and how is it different from console, to PC to smartphone and tablets? This panel of executives from social networks, technology and games companies will tackle these questions and more.

TRACK B - MONETIZATION

The Future of Virtual Goods and Legalized Gambling? New Opportunities, New Challenges
There is a growing consensus that successful online games companies, social networks and virtual worlds need to complement advertising and freemium with a virtual goods micro-transaction business models. The selling point is higher user monetization relative to advertising revenues and the business of virtual currencies (both earned and bought) have already become a big business – but are there any inherent limitations in the future growth of the industry given the fragmented nature of it today (e.g., a game’s currency is, for the most part, tied to that specific game and cannot be used elsewhere or exchanged for other items of value)?
 

3:45PM–4:15PM
NETWORKING BREAK

4:15PM–5:00PM
FUTURE GAMING TRENDS - Analyst Presentations, Predictions and Demos
Leading analysts and industry experts end the day's discussions with an overview of the latest research that reflects and illustrates the current state of gaming and the directions in which the industry is heading, including: consumer behavior & attitudes; adoption & penetration rates of key technology channels & platforms; and business & economic performance numbers.

4:15PM-4:30PM
Presentation 1

4:30PM-4:45PM
Presentation 2

4:45PM-5:00PM
Presentation 3

5:00PM-5:30PM
EAST COAST GAME DEVELOPER ROUND TABLE AND OPEN MIC
Upstairs Ball Room
NYC Rants: Five game industry vets sound off on the trials and tribulations of being a game developer in Los Angeles. This session comprises five 5-Minute Rants from some of the East Coasts loudest and most opinionated game industry leaders. This will be a fun and relaxing session with opportunities from the audience to jump into the discussion. Co-sponsored by IGDA Wine and Beer will be Served!

6:30PM–8:30PM
After-Party