Compared to last year's sold-out event, Game Design Expo 2008 event is bigger, with two days of lectures and panels by the designers, producers, and CEOs behind some of the biggest games of yesterday and today. Speakers from top companies such as Activision, BioWare, Eidos, EA, and Stormfront Studios will present topics ranging from the Console Wars to Digital Acting & Interactive Narrative to Game Audio.
For those thinking about working in the game industry, the Game Design program at VFS will be holding a free day-long Open House event in conjunction with Game Design Expo 2008, with workshop classes and hands-on game demos.
Game Design Industry Expo
Saturday, January 19th, 9:00am – 7:30pm
Vancity Theatre, 1181 Seymour St.
Sunday, January 20th, 10:30am – 5:00pm
Vancouver Film School, 420 Homer St.
VFS Game Design Open House
Sunday, January 20th, 12:00pm – 4:00pm
Vancouver Film School, 390 West Hastings St.
Last year's Game Design Expo & Open House was a success, attracting more than 500 game lovers who were treated to lectures by luminaries like Glenn Entis of Electronic Arts, and Eric Zimmerman of Gamelab.
Game Design Expo 2008 features an expanded schedule, and speakers and panelists include:
Activision
Carl Schnurr
Senior Director – Game Design
Backbone Vancouver
Joe Bonar
Studio Head
BioWare Corp.
Kevin Barrett
Director of Design
Ken Thain
Cinematic Group Design Coordinator
Steve Sim
Senior Sound Designer
Mac Walters
Senior Writer
Crystal Dynamics/Eidos Interactive
Arnab Basu
Associate Producer
Jason Botta
Senior Designer
Riley Cooper
Senior Designer
EA
David McCarthy
Executive Producer - Fusion Business Unit
EA Blackbox
Charles Deenen
Senior Audio Director
Hothead Games
Vlad Ceraldi
Co-Founder
Joel DeYoung
Producer
Ron Gilbert
Design Consultant
Next Level Games
Douglas Tronsgard
CEO
Chad York
Audio Director
Propaganda Games
John Holmes
VP & Studio General Manager
Radical Entertainment
Kelly Zmak
President
Relic Entertainment
Tarrnie Williams
General Manager
Stormfront Studios
Don Daglow
President & CEO
Tickets to the Expo (on sale November 21, 2007, prices in Canadian dollars) are $80 for both days, $50 for Saturday, and $35 for Sunday.
Check www.gamedesignexpo.com for up-to-the-minute information, schedules, registration, and ticket sales.
More speakers will be announced in the coming weeks, including a special keynote presentation.
On Sunday, January 20, Game Design at Vancouver Film School will host a free Open House event aimed at providing a unique look inside the intensive one-year program. Visitors will meet Head of Department Dave Warfield, see demonstrations of student games, and experience workshop classes on such topics as Game Art, Level Design, and Sound Design and Music for Games, taught by expert VFS instructors. The Open House was booked to capacity last year, so those interested in attending are encouraged to register early.
Registration and event information are available at gamedesignexpo.com.
Game Design Expo and its Event Partners G4TechTV, EA, CAEAA, Annex Pro, Crystal Dynamics, Radical Entertainment, Big Fish Games, Next Level Games, Metropolitan Hotel, and The Province are looking forward to another fantastic event.