gaming
Hamburg Games Conference releases program for March 1 & 2: 30+ speakers, expo, pitch competition, matchmaking & networking
An extensive program as well as the ideal opportunity for matchmaking with the German and international games industry awaits guests of the 14th Hamburg Games Conference on March 1 & 2. The main track focuses on the topic “Invest in Games”, a second track offers talks on dev, start-up, and financing topics. The complete program overview can be found on the conference website. Newly confirmed program highlights include the opening keynote by Stephanie Marchand (Behaviour Interactive, Canada), as well as panel discussions on salary transparency, M&A trends, marketing, and work for hire. Tickets for the Hamburg Games Conference 2023 are available online.
How do a strong culture and a balanced strategy help Canada’s largest indie studio with over 1,000 employees to successfully operate in the market as an independent player after 30 years? This question will be the focus of Stephanie Marchand‘s (VP Production at Behaviour Interactive) keynote titled “Behaviour Interactive – 30 years of independence and loving it!”, which will kick off the conference.
Overall, the Hamburg Games Conference is again strengthening its international relevance this year: Among the conference guests are numerous decision-makers from the international games industry, represented by companies such as MTG, InnoGames, Endava, Humble Bundle, Behaviour Interactive, Assemble Entertainment, DDM, BLN Capital or Exit Games / Photon Engine.
New talks and three panel discussions for main track “Invest in Games”
For the main track on “Invest in Games”, moderated by Prof. Dr. Christian Rauda (GRAEF Rechtsanwälte), talks by Matthew Short (Managing Director of investment bank Aream & Co.) on the development of the games market in the light of M&A deals and consolidation, and by Christopher Chancey (Founder & CEO ManaVoid Entertainment & Co-Founder Indie Asylum) on the successful concept of the indie accelerator he co-founded have been added to the schedule.
Three new panel discussions with seasoned experts and notable industry personnel promise valuable insights and exciting discussions:
Arnd Benninghoff (EVP of Gaming at MTG), Janosch Kühn (founder of BLN Capital), Ole Schaper (CTO at Sviper) will discuss the topic “M&A in the Games Industry: Current Market Trends and Outlook for 2023 and Beyond”. The panel will be moderated by Shum Singh (Managing Director and Founder of Agnitio Capital).
In the HR panel “Money Talks – We talk money”, moderated by Spiegel editor Florian Gontek, Dr. Andreas Lieb (HR Director at InnoGames), Alexander Krug (CEO of Softgames), Susan J. Moldenhauer (career coach, consultant, and author) and Steffen Behn (CEO at celebrate company) will exchange views on the topic of salary transparency.
Furthermore, Thorsten Hamdorf (Director Publisher Relations at Jung von Matt Nerd), Nikolas Angerstein (Deputy Managing Director at MSM.digital), Dirk Ludewig (CEO of NerdStar) and John-Dustin Martin (Founder & CEO of 1UP Management) will examine the challenges of games marketing in the post-pandemic era together.
Additionally, DZ Bank will contribute an exclusive workshop titled “Crafting your equity story: Show investors that you are a gem” to the program.
Further new talks and program items in the second conference track
The agenda for the second conference track on dev, startup and funding topics was extended as well: Jasmin Pfeiffer (Co-Founder of DigiTales Interactive) will recap game design and writing of the indie hit Lacuna, Ata Sergey Nowak (Managing Director of Torpor Games) will report on learnings from porting their award-winning game Souzerain, and freelance tech artist Casilda de Zulueta will give insights into the highs and lows of turning your passion into a source of income.
An overview of the funding landscape in Hamburg and opportunities for young studios offers a talk by James Rucks and Clemens Runge (founders of Soapbox Interactive), and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection will give a presentation on federal computer games funding.
An additional panel discussion with, among others, representatives from Endava and indie studio THREAKS will address the topic “Work for Hire”.
A special opportunity for indie studios is the “Pitch Royal“, where developers can present their projects in front of a jury of publishers (among others, Catherine Bygrave, Director Publishing, Strategy & Growth at Humble Games, Jerome Zenker, Business Development Manager at Assemble Entertainment, and Philipp Döschl, Co-Founder and Executive Producer at FDG Entertainment) as well as the organization team of the Indie Arena Booth to win a free spot at the joint booth at gamescom.
Networking, matchmaking, get-together and expo area round off the program
In addition to the extensive talks and panel schedule, networking and matchmaking are a focus of the Hamburg Games Conference. For the first time since 2020, the organizers Gamecity Hamburg and GRAEF Rechtsanwälte together with the executing event agency Super Crowd Entertainment will hold the conference as a 100% on-site event. Also, there will be two days of on-site program for the first time in the conference’s history.
To effectively broaden their networks, conference guests can use the digital matchmaking tool MeetToMatch to find valuable new contacts already ahead of the conference and schedule in-person meetings in the conference’s business area. The get-together on the evening of the first conference day will additionally be an ideal opportunity to network in a relaxed atmosphere.
On both days of the conference, (indie) studios and service providers from the games sector will present themselves to the conference audience in the Expo Area.
Conference tickets available online
Tickets for the Hamburg Games Conference 2023 are available for purchase.
The business ticket for 299 euros includes access to the two-day conference program as well as the opportunity to arrange meetings with other conference guests and make valuable new contacts via the digital matchmaking system MeetToMatch.
Start-up tickets are available exclusively for small enterprises and start-up companies. They allow participation in the entire conference program as well as use of MeetToMatch at the discounted price of 149 euros.
Students can participate in the conference program for 25 euros.
All current information on the Hamburg Games Conference is available on the website.
gaming
Portside Game Assembly: Studios behind Dead Cells, Dungeon Clawler, Dorfromantik, Blasphemous on board and ticket sales for brunch and party launched
With Portside Game Assembly, Gamecity Hamburg is welcoming studio heads and directors from successful indie game studios on a conference ship and other extraordinary locations in Hamburg on June 27. Benjamin Laulan, Co-Founder of Evil Empire, (Dead Cells, The Rogue Prince of Persia) will give a keynote on the Triple-i Initiative started by the French studio. At the Triple-i Showcase 2024, over 30 “iii games” were announced in 45 minutes, and 150,000 views were achieved on YouTube alone. Further speaker on board is Philomena Schwab, Founder of Stray Fawn Studio (Dungeon Clawler, The Wandering Village).
Portside Game Assembly celebrates its premiere as B2B-conference for international indie game leaders on June 27. There will be no direct ticket sales for the conference; instead, a curated list of participants will ensure that only studio heads and decision makers attend the conference on board a ship sailing through the port of Hamburg.
At the same time, the Networking Brunch and the Games Industry Party are open as networking events for interested contacts from the games industry to bring platform holders, publishers, and game companies into contact with the international conference participants. Studio leads from Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK, France, Spain, Canada, the USA, and Germany are already on board for the conference.
Portside Game Assembly is set to be a platform for decision makers and studio leads to exchange ideas, learn from each other, and face the challenges of the games industry through collaboration.
As the first announced talk of the conference, Benjamin Laulan (Co-Founder of Evil Empire) will present a keynote on the Triple-i Initiative and how to create your own announcement space and talk directly to your audience when you can’t really relate to other existing showcases. In addition, Philomena Schwab (Founder of Stray Fawn Studio & Publishing) will give a short talk about ways for game idea validation.
The program of the Portside Game Assembly will consist of keynotes, short talks, and roundtables.
Selection of already confirmed participants:
- Evil Empire (Dead Cells, The Rogue Prince of Persia) / France
- Stray Fawn Studio (Dungeon Clawler, The Wandering Village) / Switzerland
- The Game Kitchen (Blasphemous I & II) / Spain
- Toukana Interactive (Dorfromantik)/ Germany
- Ghostship Publishing (Deep Rock Galactic) / Denmark
- Landfall Games (Content Warning, Totally Accurate Battle Simulator) / Sweden
- Chasing Carrots (Halls of Torment) / Germany
- Foulball Hangover (Hydroneer) / UK
- Siege Camp (Foxhole) / Canada
The post Portside Game Assembly: Studios behind Dead Cells, Dungeon Clawler, Dorfromantik, Blasphemous on board and ticket sales for brunch and party launched appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Fourth Star, the cutting-edge virtual reality immersive media streaming platform, is officially available to the public. This innovative platform transforms traditional entertainment by enabling users to seamlessly watch standard 2D, 180 and 360 immersive media content and movies. Fourth Star redefines how audiences engage with immersive storytelling, offering an unparalleled first-person centric perspective on entertainment.
“Fourth Star is more than just a platform – it’s a revolution in entertainment,” said Greg Simon, Co-Founder & CEO of Fourth Star. “We’ve created an immersive experience where users can not only consume content but also actively participate in it. Our vision is to transform how people experience media content and movies in a way that has never been done before.”
A New Era of Interactive Entertainment
The largest immersive media streaming platform available on Sidequest, users can explore nearly forty unique environments, interact with AI-driven crew, and experience entertainment in an entirely new way. Fourth Star offers a groundbreaking approach to digital engagement, whether socializing in the Cafe, customizing avatars in private Apartments or Ships, or stepping directly into a movie’s storyline.
“The combination of VR, AI, and blockchain in Fourth Star sets a new standard for immersive entertainment,” said Craig Wiltshire, CTO of Fourth Star. “Our vision is to seamlessly integrate all three technologies into the user experience. We are redefining the entertainment experience from passive observation to active creation.”
Built for Content Partners
Fourth Star is a self-serve platform designed for content partners of all sizes, from individual creators to blockbuster studios. Content partners can set up an account, create content channels, and begin monetizing their work immediately. No integration is required, allowing for seamless onboarding and instant access to a global audience. The Creator Portal empowers partners to distribute and profit from their immersive media with ease, making Fourth Star a truly open and accessible metaverse for digital entertainment.
Key Features of Fourth Star
- VR Streaming Platform – Users can access nearly forty environments and own their own luxury apartments and ships all equipped with an immersive media streaming entertainment hub.
- Social & Customization – Connect with others in dynamic social hubs, personalize your avatar, and invite your friends to your own luxury apartment and ship.
- Player Portal – Users can access the web-based marketplace to explore content, invite friends,
- Creator Portal – Set up an account, create content channels, and begin monetizing your work immediately. No integration is required, allowing for seamless onboarding and instant access to a global audience.
- Blockchain Integration – The FSTR token, built on the Polygon blockchain, powers the ecosystem, providing secure transactions and exclusive rewards.
- AI-Powered Companions – Coming soon
FSTR: The Utility Token Powering Fourth Star
FSTR serves as the primary ecosystem currency within the Fourth Star platform, enabling users to purchase Apartments, Ships, AI Companions, and exclusive content. Token holders benefit from:
- VIP Access – Exclusive events, early screenings, and red carpet experiences.
- Discounts – 25% savings on in-app purchases (IAPs) and entertainment content.
A New Paradigm in Entertainment
Fourth Star is designed to deliver the future of entertainment through merging cinematic storytelling with interactive gaming, offering:
- A seamless transition from passive to interactive experiences.
- A thriving community for players, creators, and investors.
- Advanced AI integration for interactive AI characters.
- Don’t just watch the star in the movie, become the star.
Availability and Access
Fourth Star is now live and available for users worldwide on Sidequest. Whether you’re an explorer, content creator large to small, storyteller, or entertainment enthusiast, Fourth Star provides an immersive space to experience digital entertainment like never before.
The post Fourth Star Launches Immersive Media Streaming Platform appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry in the Americas.
Significant industry first will see game launch from day one across 5 alternative stores in addition to Apple and Google.
Flexion, the games marketing company, announces a partnership with preeminent developer King to market new game Candy Crush Solitaire© in alternative app stores.
Expected to be one of the exciting game announcements of the year, Candy Crush Solitaire© will be available on the Amazon Appstore, Samsung Galaxy Store, Huawei App Gallery, Xiaomi GetApps and ONE store from the get-go thanks to Flexion’s expertise and technology. The game launches globally across platforms on 6 February and is already available for preregistration in all the stores.
Flexion has had a partnership with King since June 2024 to market Candy Crush Saga© on the alternative stores. With this latest deal, both companies are breaking new ground with concurrent launches, taking them to the leading edge of games marketing.
“This is the first time King will launch simultaneously across such a wide range of platforms,” says Jens Lauritzson, Flexion’s CEO. “King has recognised that mobile audiences come from a more diverse range of markets these days, and we are thrilled to be able to help them reach those markets. Flexion has brought to the partnership the tech, experience and expertise to ensure the ultimate in user choice.”
Commenting on the deal, Benjamin Pommeraud, General Manager of Strategic Initiatives at King, says: “We’re excited to partner with Flexion to make Candy Crush Solitaire available to more players. As our first expansion of the Candy universe into a new genre, this collaboration reflects our ongoing commitment to delivering high-quality experiences that are accessible to everyone, no matter where they choose to play.”
The post Flexion partners with King to launch Candy Crush Solitaire© simultaneously across platforms appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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