International Games Summit to explore future of computer and video gaming
Sony and NCsoft Presidents join speaker line-up; First major Xbox keynote after E3; Government Minister steps up to the podium; Mobile moves into the spotlight; Latest games industry research to be unveiled; ELSPA sets out convergence theme in 2005
Friday 29 April 2005/... Robert Garriott, president and CEO of NCsoft North America, David Reeves, president of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe and Peter Moore, Xbox's worldwide head of marketing - in the first post-E3 keynote - are just three of the high-level speakers who have confirmed their participation in the ELSPA International Games Summit in June.
As the event draws near, the list of industry leaders committing to take part is getting ever more impressive and has been supplemented by contributions from UK government departments, DCMS and DfES. In addition, the rapid commercial development of the mobile games sector will be spotlighted by Vodafone Group's director of global content development, Graeme Ferguson. A number of speakers and sessions looking at the commercial reality of converging entertainment are also being lined up.
The list of confirmed speakers include:
- Robert Garriott - president and CEO - NCSoft North America
- David Reeves - president - Sony Computer Entertainment Europe
- Peter Moore - corporate VP worldwide marketing and publishing, Microsoft XBox
- UK Minister of Arts - Department of Culture, Media and Sport
- Alain Corre - executive director EMEA, Ubisoft
- Adrian Hall - head of multimedia - Department for Education and Skills
- David Gosen - chief operating officer, I-Play
- Graeme Ferguson - director of global content development, Vodafone Group
- Greg Ingham - chief executive officer, Future PLC
- Ben Keen - chief analyst, Screen Digest
The International Games Summit is one of the most important events in the industry calendar, bringing together individuals and organisations not only from the entire value chain of the computer and video games industry but also from more wide ranging entertainment sectors. Leading speakers, keynotes and panellists from across the globe will deliver wide ranging opinion and thinking - sometimes contentious, but always relevant - to an audience whose businesses sit in the heart of both gaming and entertainment.
Roger Bennett, director general of ELSPA, says: "As we enter a new chapter in the history of computer and video games, the insights and opinions of the industry's leaders will make essential listening for anyone with a stake in the industry. In addition, the Summit offers an unparalleled opportunity for decision makers in convergent industries such as film, music and books to get to grips with the business potential for creating new IP in the gaming sector.
"ELSPA is the catalyst for collective action and collective identity for the computer and video games industry and it is ideally placed to deliver the right people, speaking about the issues that matter," Bennett concluded.
The modern games business is a massively competitive environment, which is constantly evolving and developing as each cycle of games hardware systems engenders ever increasing convergence with film, TV, music and other entertainment sectors, resulting in rapidly developing consumer trends, tastes and expectations. New challenges and developing demographics; new formats; new ways of addressing the consumer; new and emerging market, new and emerging technologies and ways of thinking, plus the opportunities presented by other entertainment channels keep the industry fresh and competitive. The Summit has evolved to get directly to the heart of industry issues and to help business leaders - from both within and without the industry - develop winning strategies to overcome the challenges.
For details on the ELSPA International Games Summit and to find out how to book your place, please visit www.elspa.com, or contact Kathryn Humphrey, events manager, Barrington Harvey on +44 (0)1462 456780, kathryn.humphrey@bhpr.co.uk.
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EDITORS NOTES
About the ELSPA International Games Summit
The ELSPA International Games Summit takes place on 21st and 22nd June at the Royal Garden Hotel, Kensington, London and is partnered with: BARD, BT Openworld, Develop, gamesindustry.biz, MCV, Mobile Entertainment, Screen Digest and TIGA.
About ELSPA - http://www.elspa.com
ELSPA (The Entertainment & Leisure Software Publishers Association) was founded in 1989 to establish a specific and collective identity for the computer and video games industry. Membership includes almost all companies concerned with the publishing and distribution of interactive leisure software in the UK.
ELSPA's activities include: Official Chart and Industry Reports, Anti-Piracy UK and EU, PR and Communication, Events. More information on all these activities can be found at http://www.elspa.com.