Social & Casual Games

Sessions | Speakers

Few areas of our industry have moved as fast as the rise of socially connected gaming. Today we see that many of the most popular games in the world are played on social networking services such as Facebook, MySpace, and hi5. These games are capturing tens of millions of mainstream users, people who do not consider themselves gamers. At the same time, the idea of the casual game has changed and is engaging new audiences, moving mainstream brands into an increasingly connected world through the medium of games.

The Social and Casual Games Track covers the converging trends, bringing together leading thinkers and business people to provide the attendee a snapshot of the industry and where it is going. Attend to learn about the secrets of virality, the next generation of monetization, and the ways in which casual games are changing to meet the demands of an ever-growing audience.

Featured Sessions

• Beyond Mafia Wars: The Rise of Next-Generation Social Entertainment
  Speaker: Steve Bocska (President, Pug Pharm Productions Inc.)
  
  Mafia Wars, Farmville, Kart Rider, Maple Story -- Can new entrants effectively compete in the casual online gaming space? Or have they already missed the boat? And more importantly, where is the next Blue Ocean opportunity in casual online gaming? This session explores how truly social games represent the current low-hanging fruit for designers and developers. Read More.
  
  
• The Art of Conversion: How to Manage Players through Your Game Service
  Speakers: Andrew Mayer (Media Shifters), Nick Fortugno (Co-Founder/CCO, Playmatics)
  
  One of the most profound changes in the game industry recently is the transition of games from a boxed product to a service business. The developer’s relationship with their customer no longer ends at the point of purchase, but begins with installation. But as the platforms for delivering these new games grow more mature, traditional channels for viral growth are rapidly becoming less effective. Read More.

View all conference sessions here.