Conference

Film Victoria CEO Sandra Sdraulig opens the Summit with the announcement of the Downloadable Games Initiative and an overview of Film Victoria’s support of Victoria’s digital media industry.

See more: film.vic.gov.au/www/html/1136-downloadable-games-initiative.asp?intSiteID=1

David opens the day with an insightful keynote presentation about the business of digital distribution. David is the Manager and Principal of Fuzbi, an independent consulting firm focused the business and design of digitally distributed games. His experience is second to none as a research affiliate at MIT and former Worldwide Portfolio Manager for Xbox Live Arcade. David will present an industry overview and key statistics, case studies of successful games designed for XBLA, pitching titles for XBLA and PSN, innovation in digitally distributed games and after market support.

David Gaider, Lead Writer, Bioware Corp

Looking at some of the concepts and processes that Bioware uses to create a story driven game, from narrative and dialogue to character and cutscene.

Since 1999 David Gaider has been working as a writer for premier video game developer BioWare, and is a key contributor to creating the BioWare way of writing: epic player-based stories, meaningful choices with deep consequences and emotional impact, engaging dialogue, and unique characters.

He has worked on such RPG titles as Baldur's Gate 2: Shadows of Amn, Neverwinter Nights and Knights of the Old Republic, for which he was a co-winner of the Game Developer's Choice award for writing in 2004.

Currently he is the lead writer for the upcoming Dragon Age: Origins, due out in the second half of 2009, and became a published author in March of 2009 with the release of the novel Dragon Age: the Stolen Throne.

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Bruce Jenkins, Head of School, Academy of Interactive Entertainment (Melbourne Campus)

How can education ensure they provide industry ready graduates?

Since its establishment in 1996, the Academy of Interactive Entertainment (AIE) has earned much recognition as Australias leading educator for the Computer Game Development and 3D Digital industries. AIE has grown significantly in the past 10 years and now has campuses in Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra.

AIE continues to contribute to the development of the Games and interactive industries in Australia, as an active founding member of the Australian Game Developers Association, and is involved in consulting both government and other education institutions on policy and content. In 1999, AIE initiated the Australian Games Developers Conference and in 2005, organised Australias first academic and secondary schools summits on games education.

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Adrian Murray, General Manager

Adrian provides interesting look at the history of the Mushroom groups of companies, and an explanation on what a music publisher does for their artists including protecting copyright, looking after royalties and licneses, and exploiting markets.

Mushroom Music is the largest independent music publisher in Australasia and has been in operation since 1972, as part of Michael Gudinskis Mushroom Group of Companies. Our songwriting repertoire is focused on Australian and NZ writers and currently includes Kylie Minogue, Neil Finn, multi platinum band Eskimo Joe, Faker and Gyroscope amongst others.

The historic catalogue extends from the late 60s classics such as Eagle Rock and The Loved One, and through the entire three decade history of the acts on Mushroom Records. We are very proud to focus on a new wave of composers such as Josh Pyke, The Panics, plus Australian Music Prize winners from 3 of the past 4 years in The Drones, Eddy Current Suppression Ring and The Mess Hall. Mushroom Music also represents many major international catalogues (such as the renowned Chrysalis and Kobalt catalogs) covering successful artists including co-writers for Katy Perry, Gwen Stefani, The Hives, Leona Lewis, and we also do direct deals with the international artists for this territory (for instance Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jack Johnson, The White Stripes).

Our strengths are in our catalog, and our user-friendly attitude to Licensing music to external parties film, tv, advertising, corporate, gaming etc. TV series such as Home and Away and Neighbours have trusted our music variety and service for over 20 years on an exclusive basis. We know how to make our music work for any project.

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ANTONY I. GINNANE
President, Screen Producers Association of Australia (SPAA) and President, IFM Films

Antony I. Ginnane is a 38 year veteran of the film and television industry. Since 1970 Ginnane has produced, co-produced and executive produced 60 feature films, TV movies and mini series in Australia, New Zealand, the USA, Canada, the Philippines and Eastern Europe including classics such as Patrick, High Tide and The Lighthorsemen, and more recently Screamers, Look @ Me, Ten Dead Men and Screamers 2: The Hunting.

He is currently President of SPAA (Screen Producers Association of Australia), a member of the Producers Guild of America and BAFTA Los Angeles and served on the Board of IFTA from 2004-2008. He is a member of IFTAs TV, Legal and Export Alliance sub-committees. He has written numerous articles on the motion picture industry and served on many panels relating to film financing, distribution and co-production. His memoir Reel Life Real Life Some Scenes Objectionable is due for publication in 2009. Ginnane is co-founder of SPAAs digital film festival, DigiSPAA, now in its fifth year.

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Darren Macbeth
Managing Director, Sega Australia & New Zealand

Darren Macbeth has worked in the video games industry in Australia for over 15 years. He has worked in various sales and marketing roles with Electronic Arts and GT Interactive and in that time worked with Australian developers to launch EA Sports ARL, EA Sports Cricket and also KKND. He was Managing Director of Ubisoft Australia and New Zealand for 7 years and now is the Managing Director for SEGA Australia and New Zealand, re launching SEGA in the region in 2007. He has been on the Executive committee of the Interactive Entertainment Association of Australia for over 4 years.

Darren holds a Masters of Commerce degree from the University of New South Wales in Marketing and Organisational Behaviour.

We will look at some of the factors that have made movie video games successful and try to build a framework of ideas for people to consider when they are looking at movie video games.

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Framework Resources presents:

SIMPSON SOLICITORS

Adam Simpson, Managing Director

Knowing and Commercialising your IP
- What are you creating?
- Protecting your ideas, content, software, IP
- Ownership and Control
- Potential Use and Value

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A behind the scenes look at Shatter PSN, an original title from Sidhe. This video focuses on Visuals, including the creative process, story and graphical presentation.

Morgan Jaffit, an experienced game designer and creative director, has lent his extraordinary expertise to a range of titles, working for companies such as Sierra, THQ, Ubisoft, Midway, EA Games and Pandemic Studios. With a view to the 48-hr Game Making Challenge in October, Morgan provides tips on handling the demands of designing under pressure to meet strict deadlines without compromising your creativity and vision.

A behind the scenes look at Shatter PSN, an original title from Sidhe. This video focuses on the Sound and Music featured in the game. For more information on Shatter, see www.shattergame.com To stream the Shatter soundtrack for free or purchase, see http