08:45 Registration, coffee & networking
09:20 Chairman’s welcome and opening remarks
Matthew Thomas, Strategy Consultant, Media, Entertainment & Tech, MTM London
09:30 Opening Keynote: Mixed Reality - Unlocking a world of possibilities beyond games
- What industries can games developers and publishers extend into using their growing AR & VR expertise?
- How will AR/VR developments in the commercial and enterprise space eventually feed back into games and interactive entertainment?
- What kind of experiences does HoloLens offer to both the enterprise and videos games markets?
Roger Walkden, Senior Director, Commercial Lead, HoloLens EMEA, Microsoft
09:55 Keynote panel discussion: BREXIT and the role of games in the economic future of the UK
09:55 Keynote panel discussion: BREXIT and the role of games in the economic future of the UK
- What are the immediate considerations post-BREXIT?
- Can creative industry tax breaks continue in their current for, and if not, how might they evolve?
- How will changes to the movement of labour impact the games industry in the UK and in mainland Europe?
Moderator: Rob Crossley, Head of Games & Digital, Creative England
Panellists:
Dr Jo Twist, CEO, UKIE
Alan Moss, Partner, Harbottle & Lewis
Dr Jo Twist, CEO, UKIE
Alan Moss, Partner, Harbottle & Lewis
Donal Phillips, Digital Executive, Northern Ireland Screen
Kim Parker-Adcock, Managing Director, OPM Response
11:00 Coffee & Networking
11:00 VIP Speed Networking
TRACK 1 – FUTURE TECH
11:45 Your first big data project - don't fear the future
11:45 Your first big data project - don't fear the future
- Unless you’ve got Kim Kardashian or Arnold Schwarzenegger, who’s going to buy your game?
- What’s the future of free to play?
- Understanding the impact of Big Data & real-time analytics on mobile game consumption
Dan Bergin-Holly, Engagement Manager, Gamesparks
12:05 Interactive Panel Discussion: Augmented Reality Games – Where Do We (Pokémon) Go from here?
- What does the Pokémon Go story mean for the future of mobile games development?
- Developing new revenue streams with AR
- The role of AR in increasing opportunities for creative brand marketing
Moderator: Michele Baker, Content Strategist, The Digital Marketing Bureau
Panellists:
Simon Gardner, CEO, Climax Studios
Simon Gardner, CEO, Climax Studios
Dr Tomas Rawlings, Design & Production Director, Auroch Digital
Roger Walkden, Senior Director, Commercial Lead, HoloLens EMEA, Microsoft
Steve Dann - Co–Founder & CEO, Amplified Robot and ARVR Association
12:45 Interactive Panel Discussion: Has VR blown its chance of being the future of games?
12:45 Interactive Panel Discussion: Has VR blown its chance of being the future of games?
- Where’s all the content?
- When will hardware prices drop?
- Has AR already stolen a march?
Moderator: Tanya Laird, CEO, Digital Jam
Panellists:
Imre Jele, Co-Founder & Creator in Chief, Bossa Studios
Nick Button-Brown, Head of Games, Improbable & BAFTA Games Committee Chair
Patrick O'Luanaigh, CEO, nDreams
Imre Jele, Co-Founder & Creator in Chief, Bossa Studios
Nick Button-Brown, Head of Games, Improbable & BAFTA Games Committee Chair
Patrick O'Luanaigh, CEO, nDreams
James Dean, Founder & CO-MD, ESL
TRACK 2 – FUTURE BUSINESS
11:45 Interactive Panel Discussion - Games investment & funding trends
11:45 Interactive Panel Discussion - Games investment & funding trends
- Kickstarter, Seedrs or Crowdcude: Which crowdfunding mechanisms have been the most successful for games companies?
- What kinds of games and/or companies are investors looking for?
- Maximising the potential of initiatives like the Creative England Games Fund
Moderator: Nicholas Lovell, Founder, Gamesbrief
Panellists:
Alexis Marz, Director, MMP Tax
Tony Pearce, CEO, TeePee Games
Alexis Marz, Director, MMP Tax
Tony Pearce, CEO, TeePee Games
Tom Leigh, Senior Equity, CrowdCube
Travis Winstanley , Co–Founder, Kuju Start-Ups
12:40 LIVE DEBATE: The evolution of the modern games publisher
12:40 LIVE DEBATE: The evolution of the modern games publisher
- Many publishers have been late to the table with eSports – is this a sign of a new direction in the industry?
- Are media conglomerates looking at games once more?
- Who are the super publishers of the future?
Moderator: Dr Jo Twist, CEO, UKIE
Panellists:
Paul Sulyok, Founder & CEO, Green Man Gaming
Harvey Elliott, Founder & CEO, PlayStack
Paul Sulyok, Founder & CEO, Green Man Gaming
Harvey Elliott, Founder & CEO, PlayStack
Garry Williams, Managing Director, Sold Out
Hans van Brakel, Executive Manager, Soedesco
13:30 Lunch & speaker roundtables, & networking
13:30 Lunch & speaker roundtables, & networking
During this lunch break, some of our expert speakers will be hosting roundtables, allowing delegates to ask them questions in more detail and continue conversations beyond presentations and panels.
14:45 Interactive Roundtables
14:45 Interactive Roundtables
During this session, delegates will be able to pick one table from a series in the room, each with a separate topic and a specific industry expert leader. This format enables delegates to get deeper into each of the topics in question, and facilitates an enhanced sharing of information and opinions in a smaller and more informal manner.
Topics for discussion include:
- The next generation of console hardware (Scorpio, etc.)
- Roundtable leader: Nick Parker, Founder, Parker Consulting
- Serious games and ‘games for good’
- Roundtable leader: Mick Morris, Trustee, SpecialEffect
- The importance of building games communities
- Roundtable leader: Sam Bennett, Community Director, Edge Case Games
15:15 Interactive Audience Discussion: What does Facebook Gameroom mean for Steam?
15:15 Interactive Audience Discussion: What does Facebook Gameroom mean for Steam?
This session is an open discussion with the audience – microphones will be provided and opinions are welcome! Can Facebook Gameroom really compete effectively against Steam? What will another free engine do to an already crowded market for new games? Is it really necessary?
Discussion Leaders:
Nick Parker, Founder, Parker Consulting
Jake Tucker, Journalist
15:45 Coffee & Networking
15:45 VIP Speed Networking
16:15 Interactive Panel: Who are the games media influencers of the future, where will you find them and are we giving too much content away for free?
16:15 Interactive Panel: Who are the games media influencers of the future, where will you find them and are we giving too much content away for free?
- Where next for the YouTubers and Streamers of today?
- Next stop Periscope, Facebook Live and SnapChat?
- Does the future lie in ‘Closed’, own-brand social & discovery networks?
Moderator: Gareth Williams - Director, Games, Premier
Panellists:
Sam Barkaway, Director, UChannel Management
Simon Byron, Publishing Director, Curve Digital
Simon Byron, Publishing Director, Curve Digital
Sean Fee, CEO & Co-Founder, Player.me
Oliver Gediehn, CEO, adspree media GmbH
17:05 Closing keynote: A new chapter: Why other sectors are turning to games
Damian Horner, Brand Development Director, Hachette
17:30 Closing remarks from the chair
Matthew Thomas, Strategy Consultant, Media, Entertainment & Tech, MTM London
