Key speakers confirmed for London Games Conference

The programme for the London Games Conference has been announced, with an impressive and eclectic line-up of speakers, panellists and topics.

Tickets are still available to order too, from Rob.Baker@intentmedia.co.uk.

Themes already emerging for the first event dedicated to digital distribution in the video games space include how established firms are adapting to the emergence of online sales, and how specialist companies and new business models are rising up to challenge them.

Digital distribution is of particular relevance to the PC gaming sector, where businesses such as Steam have been running direct-to-consumer services for years, which some say is having a damaging effect on bricks and mortar retail.

The event, which takes place at BAFTA in Piccadilly on Tuesday, October 27th, starts at 5pm with an opening address from Ed Vaizey, the shadow minister for culture, who will outline the Conservative Party’s plans for the industry.

The conference proper then gets underway with a ‘big picture’ presentation from Nick Parker, one of the industry’s most respected analysts, outlining the current landscape and projected growth for digital distribution.

Other highlights include a session chaired by former Sony Computer Entertainment boss Phil Harrison looking at the decline and possible demise of physical media.

There is also a panel headed by Edge editor Tony Mott in which the three hardware kings, Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft, will all discuss their online gaming services and plans to expand them.

Xbox UK boss Neil Thompson and the director of PlayStation Home Pete Edwards will both attend this discussion.

Tickets, priced at £229, are selling fast. To secure your delegate place, please contact or call 01992 535647. Discounts are available for ELSPA and Tiga members.

Tickets are available to order from Rob.Baker@intentmedia.co.uk.

All information about the event can be found at www.londongamesconference.com

The full London Games Conference programme is as follows:

Tuesday, October 27th BAFTA, 195 Piccadilly, London

4:30pm – Registration

5:05pm – Opening Address
Ed Vaizey, Shadow Minister for Culture
The man who may well be the games industry’s next voice in government talks directly to the London Games Conference for the event’s opening speech.

5:10pm – The Future of Digital Distribution
Nick Parker, Parker Consulting
Where are we headed next? One of the games market’s most respected analysts outlines the current digital distribution landscape and offers up exclusive pointers to the future of the sector.

5:35pm – Daddy, What’s a Disc?
A panel discussion on the death of physical media and the business models that will replace them.
Host: Phil Harrison, Former president of Sony Worldwide Studios
Panellists: Kristian Segerstrale, CEO and co-founder, Playfish; Mark Gerhard, CEO, Jagex; Thomas Bidaux, CEO, ICO Partners

6:10pm – Coffee

6:30pm – The New Food Chain
Video games will still be made, sold and distributed. But not like they have been. This panel discussion will look at the new lines of demarcation between development, retail, publishing and distribution.
Host: Andy Payne, ELSPA
Panellists: Charles Cecil, CEO, Revolution Software; Nick Pili, Network Director, SEGA; Gian Luzio, Product Director, The Hut; Rich Keen, Marketing Director, Direct2Drive

7:00pm – Charting the Progress of PC Downloads
Dorian Bloch, GfK-ChartTrack
The man behind the UK games sector’s invaluable sales charts (and holder of vast amounts of market data) talks on how digital distribution is the future of the PC games market – and makes a forceful case for a industry download chart.

7:20pm – Outside the Box
Key figures from the market’s three established format holders discuss their roles in the brave new digital future.
Host: Tony Mott, Edge
Panellists: Pete Edwards, Director, PlayStation Home, SCE; Neil Thompson, Senior Regional Director, UK & Ireland, Microsoft; TBA, Nintendo

8:00pm – Dinner and Networking

Tags: digital distribution, mcv, video games, lcg