Nordic Game 2008

The Nordic Game conference has secured its position as the largest industry-exclusive event for the computer games community in Europe. After two event-filled days from 14-15 May in Malmö, Sweden, the organisers can look back at a conference where records were beaten and many exciting announcements were made.

Nearly 1200 delegates from around the world attended Nordic Game 2008; a new record and an increase of 38% compared to last year’s conference.

Delegates from more than 300 different games related companies attended the conference, including game developers, publishers, content delivery firms, hardware manufacturers as well as educational and government organisations.

Twenty countries were represented at Nordic Ga! me 2008, from Asia and North America to Europe and the Nordic region.

Thirty exhibitors displayed in the Congress, Career Expo and Recruitment Day halls, also a record, including Autodesk, Emergent Game Technologies, NVIDIA, and TeliaSonera International Carrier.

Press attention was higher than ever, with coverage from major media outlets including Gamesindustry.biz, Edge Magazine, Next-Gen.biz, Games TM, SVT (Swedish national television) and Nordic news media such as Metro, Politiken and Aftenposten.

Nordic Game also saw the launch of the new Gamesindustry.biz Network online community, and hosted a new business lounge and reception to mark the event.

More than 110 speakers participated, including Fumito Ueda and Keichiiro Toyama, SCEI, Mark Rein, Epic and Peter Zetterberg, Microsoft.

Keynotes were held in a new and inspiring form, with appearances by Jonathan Smith, TT Games, Rob Kay & Ryan Lesser, Harmonix, Ste Curran, Z! öe Mode and representatives from leading Nordic game developers including Alex Peters, DICE, Matias Myllerine, Remedy and Hilmar Petursson, CCP.

A host of networking and social events included the Nordic Game Party at HIPP in central Malmö and the Delegate Dinner, which also featured the second annual Nordic Game Awards. “Kaptein Sabeltann” by Norwegian developer Artplant took the prize for Best Nordic Children’s Game at the awards event, and Swedish Starbreeze received the Best Artistic Achievement Award for “The Darkness”, while Massive Entertainment danced on stage to accept the award for Best Nordic Game 2008.

The Development Support Grants Ceremony for the first round of this year’s support program also took place during the conference, and ten Nordic game companies were granted funds for new game projects. Three million Danish crowns (DKK) were distributed, with ZOINK Games from Sweden receiving the largest g! rant, 600,000 DKK for the game ”WIIWAA”.

Nordic Game also hosted a new Recruitment Day in the Career Expo, and more than 300 students had the chance to present themselves and explore job opportunities with game developers such as CCP, Ubisoft, Crytek, Starbreeze, Remedy and many more.

Nordic Game would like to thank the 2008 Advisory Board for their support and invaluable contributions to the conference program. A warm thank you as well to our sponsors, Autodesk, CCP, NVIDIA, Intel, HP, Gamesindustry.biz and Massive Entertainment, as well as our partners EGDF, Edge, Metro Teknik, Next-Gen.biz, DFC, Pelaaja, PixelTV, Media Mötesplats Malmö, City of Malmö and Region Skåne.

Selected quotes from Nordic Game 2008:

"The Nordic Game Conference has claimed its rightful place in developers’ calendars. It provides an opportunity to exchange views and share insights on the topics that impact us all."! - Matias Myllyrinne, Business Director, Remedy Games.

”We had a blast sharing lessons we learned making Rock Band with everybody at the Nordic Games Conference. Thanks to our fellow speakers who gave us real insights into their own development methodologies. Thanks also to the hardworking behind-the-scenes team who ran the show impeccably, fuelled by a clear passion for games and the people who make them” - Rob Kay, Director of Design and Ryan Lesser, Art Director, Harmonix

“Nordic Game was a total delight – brilliantly well-run, full of good people and good cheer. We got an awful lot out of it, and had fun too.” – Jonathan Smith, VP Publishing, Traveller’s Tales

”The city was beautiful, the weather was glorious, and I had a fantastic time meeting different game designers and other people in a relaxed Swedish atmosphere. Nordic Game was different from the conferences held i! n Tokyo or Los Angeles. I think it was more intimate and imaginative and unique to the local culture. I am grateful that I was offered such a wonderful opportunity.” - Ryuuta Ueda, Sega of Japan

The Nordic Game conference is organised by the Nordic Game Program, an initiative financed by the Nordic Council of Ministers. Read more about the Nordic Game conference & events at www.nordicgame.com and about the Nordic Game Program at www.nordicgameprogram.org.