September 25-26, 2008 | New York, NY
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Museum of Jewish Heritage
36 Battery Place, New York, NY 10280
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Digital Media Wire, Inc.
8721 W. Sunset Blvd. P8
Los Angeles, CA 90069
ph. 310-855-0033

Submit Speakers and Request Sponsorship Today! Attendee Registration Now Open!

New Downtown Venue!

Digital Media Wire is pleased to announce the launch of the first annual NY Games Conference, an executive media conference focused on the future of gaming in New York City, September 25-26, 2008. Please note that there has been a change of venue. This conference will now be held at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in Battery Park and not at the Javits Center because of the postponement of the Digital Life consumer show.

NY Games Conference is a dedicated insider forum for media and tech executives to network, do deals, and share ideas about the future of console, PC, online and mobile games. The two-day conference is modeled on Digital Media Wire's highly-acclaimed annual LA Games Conference and will bring together the leading video game publishers and developers, carriers, portals, technology companies, advertising execs, venture capitalists, lawyers and analysts to discuss the future of video games and social media. The conference will also feature elements from DMW's cutting edge series of Millennials conferences focused on digital entertainment trends and strategies and consumer marketing for the youth market.

For more information, including details about submitting speakers and sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities, please contact Event Director, Jay Baage at jay@digitalmediawire.com.

Keynotes &
Featured Presentations

John Smedley, President, Sony Online Entertainment LLC Matt Mason, Author, The Pirate's Dilemma
John Smedley
President
Sony Online Entertainment
Matt Mason
Author
The Pirate's Dilemma
Kyle 'kSharp' Miller, Professional Gamer, The CGS Team 3D New York
Kyle "kSharp" Miller
Professional Gamer
The CGS Team 3D New York


Speakers

Jim Crowley, President & CEO, Turbine Alex St. John, CEO & Co-Founder, WildTangent, Inc. Ranah Edelin, VP, The Sims Internet Group, EA Reuben Steiger, CEO, Millions of Us
Jim Crowley
CEO &
President

Turbine
Alex St. John
CEO & Co-Founder
WildTangent
Ranah Edelin
VP, The Sims Internet Group
Electronic Arts
Reuben Steiger
CEO
Millions of Us
Peter Blacklow, President, WorldWinner Dan Porter, SVP, Corporate Development, Virgin USA Matthew Bellows, VP, Consumer Strategy, Vivox Erik Hauser, Founder, Experiential Marketing Forum
Peter Blacklow
President
WorldWinner
Dan Porter
SVP, Corporate Development
Virgin USA
Matthew Bellows
VP, Consumer Strategy
Vivox
Erik Hauser
Founder
Experiential Marketing Forum
Michael Cai, Director, Broadband & Gaming, Parks Associates Eric Goldberg, Managing Director, Crossover Technologies Mark Fischer, Principal, Fish & Richardson Joakim 'Jay' Baage, VP, Content, Digital Media Wire
Michael Cai
Director, Broadband & Gaming
Parks Associates
Eric Goldberg
Managing Director
Crossover Technologies
Mark Fischer
Principal
Fish & Richardson
Joakim 'Jay' Baage
VP, Content
Digital Media Wire
Nick Smith, Graphic Designer & Gamer, PWN or DIE Dave Andersen, Senior Director of Business Development and Licensing, Activision, Inc. Shawn DuBravac, Chief Economist, CEA John Welch, President & CEO, Playfirst
Nick Smith
Graphic Designer & Gamer
PWN or DIE
Dave Andersen
Senior Director, Bus. Dev. and Licensing
Activision
Shawn DuBravac
Chief Economist
CEA
John Welch
CEO
Playfirst
Eric Zimmerman, Co-Founder & CEO, gameLab Mike Vorhaus, Managing Director, Frank N. Magid Associates Rob Uhrich, Senior Director, Digital Markets, PaymentOne Ned Sherman, CEO & Publisher, Digital Media Wire
Eric Zimmerman
Co-Founder & Chief Design Officer
Gamelab
Mike Vorhaus
President
Magid Advisors
Rob Uhrich
Senior Director, Digital Markets
PaymentOne
Ned Sherman
CEO & Publisher
Digital Media Wire
Russ Crupnick, VP, Sr. Industry Analyst, The NPD Group, Inc. Matt Palmer, EVP & GM, Stardoll.com Jonathan Epstein, President & CEO, Double Fusion Craig Sherman, CEO, Gaia Online
Russ Crupnick
VP, Sr. Industry Analyst
The NPD Group
Matt Palmer
EVP & GM
Stardoll.com
Jonathan Epstein
President & CEO
Double Fusion
Craig Sherman
CEO
Gaia Online
Jason Katz, VP, Global Marketing, Championship Gaming Series Jeremy Monroe, Dir. of Bus. Dev., Sports & Entertainment, North America, Sulake Inc. Jacquie Lane, Vice President, joined C&R Jacquie Lane, Vice President, joined C&R
Jason Katz
VP, Global Marketing
Championship Gaming Series
Jeremy Monroe
Director of Bus. Dev., Sports & Ent., N.A.
Sulake
Jacquie Lane
Vice President
C&R Research
Manny Anekal
Sr. Manager,
In-Game Advertising

Electronic Arts
Jon Radoff, CEO, gamerDNA Kay Gruenwoldt, Head, N.A. Marketing Team, Nokia Games Publishing Brian Dunn, CEO, Brickfish, Inc. Andrew Schneider, President and Co-founder, Live Gamer
Jon Radoff
CEO
gamerDNA
Kay Gruenwoldt
Head, N.A. Marketing Team
Nokia Games Publishing
Brian Dunn
CEO
Brickfish
Andrew Schneider
President and Co-founder
Live Gamer
Michael Kane, Entertainment Features Writer, NY Post Justin Townsend, CEO & Co-Founder, IGA WorldWide
Michael Kane
Entertainment Features Writer
NY Post
Justin Townsend
CEO & Co-Founder
IGA WorldWide





Agenda

September 25, 2008 - Day 1

11:00AM–12:30PM Exhibitor Set-up
12:30PM–1:00PM Registration & Networking
1:00PM–1:30PM Welcome to the Conference By Co-Chairs
Ned Sherman, CEO & Publisher, Digital Media Wire
Paul O’Reilly, Vice President, Ziff Davis Media, Inc.
1:30PM–2:45PM Top Gaming Trends -
Analyst Presentations

Three leading analysts kick-off the day’s discussions with an overview of the latest research that reflects and illustrates the current state of gaming and the directions in which the industry is heading, including: consumer behavior & attitudes; adoption & penetration rates of key technology channels & platforms; and business & economic performance numbers.

Panelists
Russ Crupnick, VP & Senior Industry Analyst, The NPD Group Shawn DuBravac, Chief Economist, CEA
Moderator: Ned Sherman, CEO & Publisher, Digital Media Wire
2:45PM–3:30PM
PANEL 1
Debate Club: 
Is the Console Entertainment Hub of the Future or Fighting to Stay Alive?

Some are arguing that the console with its powerful operating system is destined to be the entertainment hub of the digital home, interfacing with the PC, the TV, the set-top box and mobile devices, and others arguing that the console's death is imminent. Structured as a formal academic debate over the future of the console and what role it will play in the digital home, panelists are divided into two teams that are either pro or con console gaming. Each team will be given 10 minutes for initial arguments and 5 minutes for rebuttals. The audience will determine the winner via text messaging. Some of the topics the teams will discuss include the role of the console, the PC, set-top boxes and mobile devices. Who will be the winners and losers in a fully connected world? This debate is one session that you don’t want to miss. Sparks will surely fly!

Con-Console Position
Alex St. John, CEO & Founder, Wild Tangent
Pro-Console Position
Justin Townsend, CEO & Co-Founder, IGA WorldWide
Moderator: Mike Vorhaus, President, Magid Advisors
3:30PM–3:45PM Refreshment & Networking Break
3:45PM–4:30PM
PANEL 2
Get a (Virtual) Life!
The Challenges and Opportunities For Monetizing Virtual Worlds and MMOGs

The lines between social networks, virtual worlds and games are blurring - so how do you monetize these new social gaming environments? This panel will discuss the relative effectiveness of premium subscriptions, sales of music, video and virtual goods and ad supported content. What is working and what isn’t? How are brand marketers and their agencies navigating this new space? How do advertisers measure ROI and the effectiveness of these new and relatively untested campaigns? How do you handle license and rights issues as well payments effectively? This group of panelists will share their experiences with different business models as well as give advice for how to make smart marketing investments in this ever-changing landscape.

Panelists
Craig Sherman, CEO, Gaia Online
Matt Palmer, EVP & GM, Stardoll
Reuben Steiger, CEO, Millions of Us
Andrew Schneider, President & Co-founder, Live Gamer
Rob Uhrich, Senior Director, Digital Markets, PaymentOne
Moderator: Eric Goldberg, Managing Director, Crossover Technologies
 
4:30PM–5:15PM
PANEL 3
Reality Check!
Q&A with our Panel of Gamers from the Millennial Generation

Hear directly from our panel of Gamers from the Millennial generation (born between 1982-2000) from various backgrounds and age groups. How to connect with teens, tweens and college consumers? What media do they use? What games do they play? What brands do they like? How do they spend their money? What is the relationship between political, social and environmental causes, technology, marketing and the Millennial generation?

Sponsored by:


Moderator: Jacquie Lane, VP, C&R Research
5:15PM–5:45PM Keynote
5:45PM–7:30PM Cocktail Reception

September 26, 2008 - DAY 2

8:30AM–9:00AM Registration, Breakfast & Networking
9:00AM–9:15AM Opening Remarks
9:15AM–9:45AM Keynote
John Smedley, President, Sony Online Entertainment
9:45AM–10:30AM
PANEL 1
Games of Tomorrow
and the Future of MMOGs

The success of the massively multiplayer online games genre is undeniable. This panel of gaming heavyweights will share their views and predictions on MMOGs and the games of tomorrow. What can we expect for the games of the future? What platform is best suited for this form of social gaming? Which aspects of gaming will remain constant? Is the evolution of gaming in countries such as Korea and China a sign of things come?

Panelists
Jim Crowley, CEO & President, Turbine
Jon Radoff, CEO, gamerDNA
John Smedley, President, Sony Online Entertainment
Matthew Bellows, VP, Consumer Strategy, Vivox
Moderator:
Michael Cai, Director, Broadband & Gaming, Parks Associates
10:30AM–11:00AM Refreshment & Networking Break
Sponsored by:
11:00AM–11:45AM
PANEL 2
How to Win The Social Game -
Harnessing the Power of Online Communities & Social Networks

If the key to reaching the youth generation of today is to go to where they are, then online communities and social networks are sure to become central to marketing strategies, brand-building and media and entertainment experiences in the 21st century. What are the opportunities for social networks to intersect with the next generation of games and interactive entertainment? How can games and interactive entertainment incorporate features such as user-generated content, sharing, rewards and referral programs? How are social networks incorporating game play? What's happening with virtual worlds? This panel of executives from social networks, technology and games companies will tackle these questions and more.

Panelists
Dan Porter, SVP, Corporate Development, Virgin USA
Ranah Edelin, VP, The Sims Internet Group, Electronic Arts
Brian Dunn, CEO, Brickfish
Nick Smith, Founder, PWNorDie.com
Moderator:
Mark Fischer, Principal, Fish & Richardson
11:45AM–12:30AM
PANEL 3
Games as a Marketing Tool - Connecting Brands With With the Favorite Medium of the Millennial Generation
This panel of advertising, brand and games executives will discuss opportunities for advertisers and brands to reach consumers through the games, virtual worlds and social networks. How are brand marketers and their agencies navigating this space? What advertising campaigns work in games and online communities? How are consumers reacting to ads in games? How are advertising executives working with game developers? What are the opportunities and challenges in incorporating advertising and brands into games and online communities? On the other side of the coin, how can game companies generate revenue and free mass advertising by incorporating digital game content into brand advertising?

Panelists
Dave Anderson, Senior Dir., Bus. Dev. & Licensing, Activision
Manny Anekal, Sr Manager, In-Game Ads, Electronic Arts
Jeremy Monroe, Director, Bus. Dev., Sports & Ent, N.A., Sulake
Jonathan Epstein, President & CEO, Double Fusion
Jason Katz, VP, Global Marketing, Championship Gaming Series
Moderator: Erik Hauser, Founder, Experiential Marketing Forum
12:30PM–1:10PM Lunch
1:10PM–1:30PM Piracy and Games
Special presentation by
Matt Mason, Author, The Pirate's Dilemma
1:30PM–2:15PM
PANEL 4
Mass Market Gaming -
What's Next For The Casual Games Industry?

Casual games are growing in popularity due in part to their availability on multiple platforms - mobile, Internet, handhelds, PCs and consoles - and new market entrants who are making a big push in the space. This panel will discuss the opportunity in casual gaming with a focus on innovation, pricing and distribution models. What has changed in the last year? What changes can we expect in the coming year? What innovations will fuel growth? How are new consumers being targeted? What business models are working? Who are the new market entrants? What is the outlook for product placement, in-game advertising, and advergaming? What is the future for online casual games?

Panelists
Peter Blacklow, President, WorldWinner
John Welch, Co-Founder & CEO, Playfirst
Eric Zimmerman, Co-Founder/Chief Design Officer, Gamelab
2:15PM–2:30PM Gaming in the Military
Special presentation by
Stripes Gamer
2:30PM–2:45PM Life as a Pro Gamer
Kyle "kSharp" Miller, Professional Gamer, The CGS, Team 3D New York
Interviewed by
Michael Kane, Entertainment Features Writer, NY Post
2:45PM–3:15PM Keynote
3:15PM–3:45PM Refreshment & Networking Break
3:45PM–4:30PM
PANEL 6
Making The Games Work -
The Importance of Online Game Infrastructure Deploymen

As more and more games are going online, it's of critical importantance to make sure that the games actually work. Today's gaming companies are challenged with a tremendous complexity in terms of development and deployment of MMOGs and game infrastructures. This is a process which involves hardware platform vendors, data centers, ongoing support services, as well as city, state, and country governments. All of these elements supporting an online game have the potential to break in a way that can take the game, or part of the game, offline. Some of these elements are under the control of the developer, some are under the control or influence of the hosting provider, and some are outside of anyone's control. This panel will give you an insider look under the hood of the growing online game industry. You will walk away with a better idea of the stakes involved and the challenges and opportunities facing the games industry.

Moderator:
David Reitman, VP, Content & Ent. Practice, Switch and Data
4:30PM–5:00PM Keynote
5:00PM–5:45PM
PANEL 7
Games on the Go -
Challenges & Opportunities In Creating and Distributing Mobile Games

By some estimates, mobile games is a $3.3 billion industry and forecasted to increase to $10 billion by 2009, yet there are challenges that need to be collectively overcome for the industry to progress to a mass market phenomenon. This panel of decision-makers in the mobile games value chain will discuss the state of the industry with a focus on innovation, pricing, new devices, marketing and distribution models for mobile games. What has changed in the last year? What changes can we expect in the coming year? What factors are driving and hindering the industry? How is the mobile games market working with successful online games and brands to grow the mobile games market? Is a licensed game or branded title needed to succeed in the current mobile games market? When can we expect to see a more reasonable ecosystem for developers and publishers to bring games to market?
Produced by
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  About DMW

Digital Media Wire, Inc. launched in early 2000 with a simple yet compelling proposition to provide busy executives with a daily briefing of the most important news stories about the business of digital media. On July 20, 2000, we published the first issue of Digital Media Wire Daily — our daily email newsletter dedicated to objective coverage of news stories about the convergence of media, entertainment and technology. Today, we are a full scale media company that owns and produces 9 major conferences, publishes 6 daily newsletters and 3 directories, and operates the popular www.dmwmedia.com news and community portal.


  About DigitalLife

DigitalLife is a four-day consumer event, produced by Ziff Davis Media, dedicated to educating consumers on what the digital lifestyle means in every aspect of life — at work, home and play. And, how the convergence of affordable, accessible technologies is enriching and empowering people’s lives.

Held September 25–28, 2008 in New York City, DigitalLife is focused on educating and inspiring consumers, press and retailers. Products include, home entertainment, TVs, consumer electronics, home networking, gaming hardware and software, PCs and laptops, mobile technologies such as phones, PDAs, MP3 players as well as digital culture.

DigitalLife sponsors & exhibitors include Best Buy, Microsoft, Dell, HP, Toshiba, UT Starcom, Pentax, and many more.

more info...