Microsoft and Electronic Arts keynote iHollywood Forum Inc.s lineup for the Digital Games Summit, addressing business opportunities in Interactive Entertainment on Jan. 7, 2004 at the Riviera Hotel, Las Vegas, in association with the 2004 International CES .
According to Michael Stroud, iHollywood Forum ceo, "The $25 billion global videogame industry has turned to Hollywood as PlayStation 2, Xbox and GameCube enter the mass market phase of the current hardware life cycle. With nearly 50% of homes expected to have a next generation gaming system by 2005, software publishers are snapping up big movie franchises like JAMES BOND, THE LORD OF THE RINGS, HARRY POTTER, THE HULK and SPIDER-MAN, and even creating original franchises with A-list stars like Jet Li. This summit will address the exploding business opportunities in this multi-billion dollar industry."
More than 50 other industry experts will address perspectives of the game retailer, publisher, developer, marketer, retailer, console maker and content creator. Topics include the battle for market share between Xbox, Nintendo, Sega and Sony; what's in store for the console business; how to negotiate a big licensing deal for entertainment brands; online strategies; the outlook for mobile and handheld games; product placement and marketing strategies.
This summit is produced in association CES, the world's largest consumer technology tradeshow, attended by more than 110,000 leaders from industries representing all facets of the global economy, Jan. 8-11.
The program also features a game developers session in the afternoon. These sessions are especially designed to enhance business development for game developers (console, online, PC and wireless) by offering sessions with publishers on how to get a publishing deal, the future of development for next generation technology and how to enhance their careers.
This summit will feature GameON! where game developers can pitch their game concepts to publishers in private pitch meetings at no charge. All registered attendees can submit a request for meetings with leading publishers to pitch their games. The selection and screening will be administered by Criterion Software based on its industry matchmaking initiative GameON!
Confirmed speakers include:
Mark Altman, Hollywood writer and producer
PJ McNealy, analyst, American Technology
Toby Trevarthen, vp, Interactive Marketing, AOL
Kevin Bachus, vp publishing, CEG Games
Darren Gladstone, previews editor, COMPUTER GAMING WORLD
Craig Relyea, evp marketing, Creative Domain
David Lau-Kee, Criterion Software
Jeff Bell, vp, Jeep, marketing, interactive communications and customer relationship management, Daimler Chrysler Corp.
David Cole, analyst, DFC Intelligence
Ben Sawyer, president, DigitalMill
Chris Charla, sr. producer, Digital Eclipse Software
Ken Goldstein, evp/gm, Disney Online
Nathan Solomon, director of business development, EB Games
Neil Young, vp/exec in charge of production, Electronic Arts
David DeMartini, coo (Redwood Shores studio), Electronic Arts
Carole Brickner, director of human resources L.A., Electronic ArtsGreg Thomas, founder and Visual Concepts Entertainment, president (wholly-owned by Japan-based SEGA Corp.), ESPN Videogames
Chris Bergstresser, ceo, Gamer TV
Jon Epstein, president, GameSpy Industries
John Gaudiosi, columnist, HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
Chris Marlowe, new media/tech associate editor, HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
Michael Stroud, ceo and journalist, iHollywood Forum
Mike Sabine, market analyst, IDG Consulting
Hal Halpin, exec director, IEMA
David Frederick, vp of marketing, Infinium Labs
Tasos Kaiafas, game software marketing specialist, Intel Enterprise Platforms Group
Keith Boesky, head, video games division, International Creative Management (ICM)
Neal Trevet, president, Khronos Group John Olshan, category director, interactive games, Major League Baseball Players Assoc.
Robbie Bach, chief Xbox officer and svp home & entertainment division at Microsoft Corp.
Jon Dean, vp sports business unit, Midway Games
Matt Firor, exec producer, Mythic Ent.
Starr Long, producer, NCSoft
N' Gai Croal, general editor, NEWSWEEK
Nada Usina, gm of media and entertainment, Nokia Americas
Richard Ow, video games analyst, NPD Group
Matt Attaway, software engineer, Perforce Software
Ryan Smith, publisher, Polygon MAGAZINE
Andrew Wright, gm, consumer games, RealNetworks
Chris Roberts, svp marketing, Rentrak
Emmanuel T. Valdez, cco, Sammy Studios
Dave Perry, president, Shiny/Atari
Andrew House, evp, Sony Computer Entertainment Corp.
Michael Arrieta, svp for strategic alliances, Sony Pictures Digital Networks
Raph Koster, cco, Sony Online Ent.
Gordon Walton vp & exec. Producer, Sony Online
Craig Allen, president, Spark Ltd.
Don Daglow, president/ceo, Stormfront Studios
Byron Connell, founder & svp marketing, Tapwave
Dan Kletzky, evp of business development, TDK Mediactive (a division of Take-Two Software)
Noah Falstein, president, The Inspiracy
Andrew Donkin, vp marketing, There.com
Mark Tuffy, director of advanced technology, THX
Brad Foxhoven, president (Game Studio founded by Film Director John Woo), Tiger Hill Entertainment
Jeff Anderson, ceo, Turbine Ent.
Jason Rubenstein, gm, Ubi.com
Jill Steinberg, director of media and promotions, Ubi Soft
Mike Wallace, md, UBS Investment Research
Michael Pole, svp of product development, Vivendi Universal Games
Jennifer Hillner, reporter, WIRED MAGAZINE
Media and association partners include the HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, Rogers & Cowan, Gigex, GAME DAILY, Business 2.0 and Business Wire. Sponsors include Alias, Perforce Software, Maxtor, THX, The Khronos Group and Sabarkan.
Los Angeles-based iHollywood Forum produces roundtables and conferences for Hollywood, entrepreneurs and mobile technology professionals. More information is available at www.ihollywoodforum.com, www.digitalmediasummit.com and www.iwirelessworld.com.
