Women In Games International announce conference keynotes

Women In Games International, a non-profit organisation and specialist conference organiser, has announced the keynote speaker and outlined discussion topics for its forthcoming event in San Francisco this March.

Titled 'Games for Women, Games by Women', the half-day event is scheduled to take place at the Fort Mason Conference Centre on February 18th, offering a forum for discussion on all issues related to women in the interactive entertainment industry.

The keynote speech, "From the Virtual to the Real: How Second Life created an online world and community that strongly appeals to women, and how the virtual world has changed the real life of women participants," will be delivered by Robin Harper, SVP of community and support for Second Life creators, Linden Lab.

"From its beginnings, Second Life has always attracted a significant number of female residents, many of whom have prospered in the virtual world to become its chief builders, land owners and wealthiest citizens," Harper commented. "I'm looking forward to sharing some of our lessons learned with the audiences at WIGI to dispel common misconceptions and hopefully encourage greater involvement by women in gaming and other creative digital environments, such as Second Life."

The conference will also include presentations, lectures and panel discussions with a broad selection of additional guest speakers from the industry, covering topics including the games and genres that currently appeal to female players, how to develop and market games that appeal to both female and male audiences, and the skills needed for a successful career in the industry.

The closing panel, "Women Who Play," will look at the different game styles and attitudes of female players, and how that may influence the industry in the future. A guest appearance and discussion panel with members of Ubisoft's gaming collective, the Frag Dolls, is also planned for the event.

Further information on speakers, panel topics and registration for the event can be found by visiting the official conference website.