Edinburgh Interactive Festival
2008 & 2009
Taking a Look Back
For several years this was the official website for the Edinburgh Interactive Festival, the world’s most important festival that sought to expand the creative culture of games and interactive entertainment. Edinburgh Interactive Festival was the only event that brings together the games industry’s key decision makers from games publishing, hardware and development alongside Government, TV, film, press and other entertainment industries as well as students seeking to work within the creative industries.
Content is from the site's 2008 -2009 archived pages, as well as from a number of outside sources.
Edinburgh Interactive Festival 2009
Welcome to the Edinburgh Interactive Festival 2009! The spirit of Edinburgh Interactive springs from the genuine passion for celebrating the creative aspects of games, technology, interactivity and community to enhance the enjoyment of learning and leisure. This year’s programme will entertain and excite as well as feed your aspirations.
Public Areas: Play Games for Free!
Members of the public can enjoy two days of video game play from Thursday 13th until Friday 14th August 2009 for FREE. Play the latest titles available including the latest blockbusting games from Nintendo. Gamestation will be to hand offering festival promotions, competitions and give-aways.
In the same area Scotland’s best games development studios will also be showcasing their most popular games. Come along and meet the legends behind your favourite titles. Students and up-and-coming developers should bring their CV’s as these guys will be on the scout for new talent. An opportunity not to be missed!
If that wasn’t enough excitement, running alongside the games play area will be the popular games screening programme which will offer up previews of the latest titles before they hit the shelves in Gamestation. Wannabe games developers will be able talk to the people who make the games to find out the hows and whys behind game design. We’ll also be running competitions and the chance to make your own video game.
FREE game screenings tickets will be available in Gamestation stores in Scotland Tickets will be available from July 10th 2009 onwards.
Edinburgh Interactive Industry Conference
The Edinburgh Interactive Festival Conference will deliver a lively schedule from a wide range of industry sectors including video games, social networking, mobile entertainment, education, music, film and television. The two-day industry conference runs from Thursday 13th until Friday 14th August. Participants will share and gain knowledge and insights into innovations, trends and the coolest possibilities. Keynotes, panel sessions and presentations makeup the key components of the festival conference.
Conference delegates will be able to relax and network in an intimate environment during the conference and at the various Festival Networking events. More details will be announced shortly.
Who will attend the Edinburgh Interactive Conference?
Around 300+ entrepreneurs, producers, developers and executives in all sectors of the industry including:
• Video Games Publishers & Developers
• Tools providers
• Interactive Entertainment Companies
• Media Companies
• Marketing Companies
• Industry Stakeholders
• Venture Capitalists
• Academics and students
• Government agencies
• Press
Come to the Edinburgh Interactive Conference to share your ideas and innovations.
Key companies who attended the 2008 conference included:
Activision |
Geomerics |
PLAYFISH CONFIRMED FOR EDINBURGH INTERACTIVE FESTIVAL 2009
June 22nd 2009
Segerstrale will be addressing the audience with a session titled “Lessons from Social Games - or How Today’s Social Networks Will Change the Way You Make, Play and Sell Games Tomorrow”. He leads Playfish, one of the largest and fastest growing social games companies in the world, which creates titles for friends to play together over social and mobile platforms such as Facebook, MySpace, iPhone and Android. Each of the company’s seven games has been a top 10 hit on Facebook, including Pet Society, the platform’s most popular game enjoyed by more than 11 million people every month.
Segerstale will discuss how social games – or games designed for play with friends on social networks such as Facebook and MySpace – have experienced explosive growth and are right at the centre of broader industry trends such as free-to-play, games-as-a-service, social game design, user-generated content, and digital distribution. He’ll also offer some predictions of how the game industry might change as a result.
Kristian Segerstrale, CEO of Playfish, said: “I’m delighted Playfish has been invited to deliver a keynote presentation at this year’s Edinburgh Interactive Festival, an important showcase event for the gaming industry.
“Social gaming has attracted tens of millions of enthusiastic players and rapidly risen to become a key gaming sector. I’m looking forward to offering insight on how companies such as Playfish and social networks are changing the way games are created, played and sold.”
Industry consultant and former EDGE magazine editor, Margaret Robertson, will offer the Edinburgh crowds a rare insight into the videogames industry with a session titled ‘Stop Telling Tales’.
What if someone told you that you could make fans just as happy for a fraction of the effort and cost? Typically, fans of triple ‘A’ game titles expect lavishly told and epic stories. Though anyone who’s been on the thinking end of the development process for such titles will tell you that it’s a very expensive, cumbersome and inefficient process – which can often take its toll on the overall quality, budget and deadline of a game.
As a consultant and advisor to companies such as EA, Sony and Channel 4 on game design and industry trends, Robertson will draw on her consultancy experiences across a wide range of story-based games. While breaking down concepts and highlighting elements to which fans relate and demonstrating how studios might deliver these to consumers in a more timely and cost-effective fashion.
To purchase a delegate pass, download the booking form http://www.edinburghinteractivefestival.com
If you would like receive more details about partnership opportunities available for this year’s festival contact jodie.holdway@edinburghinteractivefestival.com
Press enquiries should be directed to sarah.hartland@bhpr.co.uk or tom.sargent@bhpr.co.uk
Ends.
About Edinburgh Interactive Festival 2009
Now celebrating its seventh year, the Edinburgh Interactive Festival is powered up to showcase the continued popularity, growth and influence of video games. And this year, the Interactive Festival is more synchronised with the world famous Edinburgh Festival than ever, appealing to the press, public and professionals from film, television and interactive media backgrounds alike, offering a bigger event for delegates, more consumer focusing – an overall spectacle for all.
The Edinburgh Interactive Festival 2009 will again host a Free Game Play and Recruitment areas specifically tailored to cater for the public - allowing them access to the latest games and job opportunities in games.
As ever, the Interactive Festival wouldn’t be complete without the cornerstones of conferences, keynotes, panel sessions, debates, games screenings and even more people than ever jostling to get through the doors.
The Edinburgh Interactive Festival is managed by a committee drawn from all areas of the games industry, including publishers, developers and the two industry trade bodies: The Independent Game Developers Association (TIGA) http://www.tiga.org and the Entertainment & Leisure Software Publishers Association (ELSPA) http://www.elspa.com.
~~~~~
My world: As a kid growing up in England, the Edinburgh Interactive Festival was my idea of paradise. Video games. Free Game Play. What more could you want? I really didn't care about the conferences, keynotes or panel sessions, but the debates were sort of fun to listen to. But the games. Hey, that was my thing. Jump ahead to 2020. I now live in NYC, the Big Apple. Really! According to a Google search there are 67 gaming companies in NYC. I happen to work for Quytech, an award-winning Custom Mobile Apps Development, Augmented Reality / Virtual Reality, Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain and Game Development company. It's not gaming development. I'm doing mobile App development. They do some game development but its a small percentage (10%) of their business. On the side I was freelancing as a video game tester. Fun, but not a lot of money. I may eventually end up out in California, but it's pretty competitive there in the gaming industry.
Meanwhile, here I am helping out my brother who is recovering from a maritime accident aboard a supply vessel operating in the Louisiana Gulf near of New Orleans. He slipped on the quarter deck and dislocated his hip so severely that he was hospitalized for a week. He still can't walk without support, but he's getting better. I arranged for him to fly to NY so he could stay with us so we could help with his physical therapy. His Louisiana maritime attorneys got him a settlement that covers all the costs, including the airfare to get him here. I'm impressed with what his legal representation did for him because it cost him nothing. Anyway he has a lot of time to help me test games and I think he may have found his calling.
My final thoughts on the gaming industry. Boy, there have been a lot of advances since the 2009 Edinburgh Interactive Festival. a Take a look at emerging technologies in gaming. You can use natural body movements to control the characters in the game, since 3D cameras can track all of your movements. New hi-def display will make 1080p look like ancient history. Look for new advancements such as 4K gaming, and even 8K in upcoming PlayStation 5. Thanks to cloud gaming, computers are not required to be very powerful to run modern realistic games. Got to bounce. Time to play Final Fantasy VII Remake (PlayStation 4).
~~~~~
Conference
Thursday 13th - Friday 14th August 2009
The Edinburgh Interactive Festival Conference will deliver a lively schedule from a wide range of industry sectors including video games, social networking, mobile entertainment, education, music, film and television. The two-day industry conference will run from Thursday 13th until Friday 14th August. Participants will share and gain knowledge and insights into innovations, trends and the coolest possibilities. Keynotes, panel sessions and presentations makeup the key components of the festival.
Conference delegates will be able to relax and network in an intimate environment during the conference and at the various Networking events held around the conference.
“Edinburgh Interactive Festival celebrates the creative culture of games and looks beyond where we are right now to predict the future and gain some inspiration and analysis. It's not a trade show and it's not a business meeting; it's really a collaboration amongst people who really enjoy what they do and although they compete with each other most of the year this is just a little bit of relaxation and a bit of blue sky thinking –a glimpse of what could lie ahead from the creative community”
Chris Deering, Chairman
Speakers and Sessions for the Edinburgh Interactive Conference 2009
KEYNOTE: The Challenge of Reinventing the Iconic Sports Brand Game
Peter Moore - President, EA Sports
Evolution of TV Branded Games
Peter Cowley - MD of Digital Media, Endemol UK
Sound Only Games
Martin Owen - CEO, Smalti
It's All In The Browser
Timo Soininen - CEO, Sulake Corp
Simon Guild, Chairman of Bigpoint Games
Simon Seefeldt , Head of Business Development, Jagex Ltd
Improving the Multiplayer Experience Through Social Technology
Jim Crowley - President and CEO, Turbine
The More Things Change...
Sean Dromgoole - CEO, Some Research
Today’s Games Industry – The Search for Profits
Ed Williams - Managing Director, BMO Capital Markets
Grow Up and Stop Playing with Yourself
Mike Bennett, CEO / Creative Director, Oil
Stop Telling Tales
Margaret Robinson
What’s on Gamers’ Minds
Kieran O’Neill, Co-Founder and Managing Director, Playfire
The Great Age of Big Blockbuster Games is Coming to an End?
Panel Session
EDGE AWARD
KEYNOTE: The Challenge of Reinventing the Iconic Sports Brand Game
Peter Moore - President, EA Sports
One of Sports Business Journal ‘s Most Influential People in Sports in 2007 and 2008, Peter Moore has more than 25 years of leadership experience in gaming, entertainment and consumer products. Since taking over as President of EA SPORTS in September of 2007, Mr. Moore has revitalized one of the most recognized brands in sports and entertainment. He is responsible for strategic leadership of the brand, from product development and global product management to marketing and planning for all packaged goods and online offerings within the EA SPORTS brand. Mr. Moore’s global operation of EA SPORTS is anchored by headquarters in Redwood Shores, California, and development studios in Vancouver, B.C. (EA Canada) and in Orlando, Florida (EA Tiburon).
Mr. Moore has driven innovation in EA SPORTS’ core games business, with FIFA 09 and NHL 09 netting the highest critical acclaim of any sports products in the current console generation. FIFA 09 received 25 international awards and honors, and NHL 09 was named “sports game of the year” by 12 media outlets EA SPORTS’ portfolio has also expanded under Mr. Moore’s leadership to captivate a broader audience of sports fans, releasing its first new IP since 2002. The latest new title, EA SPORTS Active, launches in May 2009.
In addition, Mr. Moore has lead new strategic initiatives to expand the reach of the EA SPORTS brand throughout the fabric of sports. Mr. Moore was instrumental in the formation of a strategic licensing partnership with IMG,, as well as the the development of breakthrough technologies such as EA SPORTS Virtual Playbook, an “augmented reality” that integrates EA SPORTS industry-leading video game graphics into real-world television broadcasts on ESPN.
Prior to joining EA, Mr. Moore was Corporate Vice President of the Interactive Entertainment Business of Microsoft Corp., where he was responsible for leading both the Xbox® and Games for Windows® businesses, driving games development at Microsoft® Game Studios, as well as cultivating relationships with third-party game publishers and developers around the world. Before joining Microsoft, Mr. Moore was president and COO of SEGA of America, where he was responsible for overseeing SEGA’s videogame business in North America. Prior to his role at SEGA, Moore was senior vice president of marketing at Reebok International Ltd.
Mr. Moore holds a bachelor’s degree from Keele University, United Kingdom, and a Master’s Degree from California State University, Long Beach. Mr. Moore also maintains an executive blog for EA SPORTS fans and followers at http://itsinthegame.ea.com
President, EA SPORTS
Electronic Arts
Career Timeline:
1982-92 - Patrick USA
1992-99 – Reebok
1999-2003 - Sega
2003-2007 - Microsoft
2007-present - EA
Evolution of TV Branded Games
Peter Cowley - MD of Digital Media, Endemol UK
As Managing Director of Digital Media for Endemol UK, Peter’s role is to develop and implement Endemol’s digital media strategy in the UK. The role is a UK board level position, reflecting the significance of interactive media within Endemol's business.
Peter is also Global Head of Original Digital Productions for Endemol Group, overseeing the creation and commercialisation of shows produced for digital platforms internationally.
Strategically, Endemol looks to exploit its TV brands on a multi-platform basis as well as creating entertainment properties that are tailored for new media platforms such as mobile, broadband and interactive TV.
Previous to Endemol, Peter has worked in the media, marketing and advertising industries at Freeserve, Cable & Wireless, Videotron and Bartle Bogle Hegarty.
Sound Only Games
Martin Owen - CEO, Smalti
Martin Owen is at present developing unique playful, tangible devices for early learning with his own company Smalti. He is also working as an independent consultant, developer and researcher in technology enhanced learning with particular emphasis on games, mobility and augmented reality.
He was the initial Director of Learning and Head of Concept Development at Futurelab. At Futurelab I was responsible for the key concepts in the mobile game Savannah and the Physics game Racing Academy. Previously he was an academic researcher and teacher trainer at University of Wales, Bangor. He has also been a school teacher.
Contact:
www.medruslearing.com; www.smaltitech.com
It's All In The Browser
Sean Dromgoole - CEO, Some Research
Simon Guild, Chairman of Bigpoint Games
Simon Seefeldt , Head of Business Development, Jagex Ltd
Simon Seefeldt , Head of Business Development, Jagex Ltd
Simon Seefeldt is Head of Business Development at Jagex Ltd. and is responsible for commercial partnerships, marketing and promotions. Previously, Simon pioneered Jagex’s international development as Localisation Manager, formulating the company’s strategy and overseeing the translation of titles into multiple languages. Its flagship title, Runescape, is a massively multi-player game, which is supported in three languages on 170 servers worldwide. Founded in 2001 to support ‘RuneScape’, Jagex’s community of players quickly went from one million to over 8 million accounts with both a free and premium version for subscription-paying members. The game and the upcoming Mechscape, are browser-based in Java, using a proprietary 3D rendering engine. Headquartered in Cambridge, England, with 3 offices, Jagex has over 350 employees.
Simon Guild, Chairman of Bigpoint Games
Simon Guild is chairman of Bigpoint Games, one of Europe’s leading browser-based developers. Based in Hamburg, it has 30 online games in 20 languages. In 2009, Bigpoint had 70 million registrants, up from 45 million in the prior year. Simon was previously President and Chief Executive, MTV Networks Europe (MTVNE) for 10 years. In this position, Guild created the number one cable and satellite broadcasting group in Europe in terms of distribution and revenue, encompassing a portfolio of 66 niche TV channels and 48 Websites including the MTV, VH1, TMF, VIVA, Paramount Comedy, Nickelodeon and Game One brands. Prior to joining MTVNE, Guild spent six years with Mercer Management Consulting in Paris and London. He studied French and German at Cambridge University and holds an MBA from Insead.
Timo Soininen - CEO, Sulake Corp
Timo Soininen is CEO of Sulake Corporation since 2001. Sulake was founded in 2000 as an online entertainment company focused on virtual worlds and social networking. It’s largest virtual world, Habbo, has 12.1 million teenagers visiting each month, where they have created over 135 million characters in 31 countries. The company is headquartered in Helsinki, Finland, supported by 12 other offices around the world with 300 employees. Soininen holds a M.Sc. (Econ.) degree in Marketing from Helsinki School of Economics.
Improving the Multiplayer Experience Through Social Technology
Jim Crowley - President and CEO, Turbine
Jim Crowley is Turbine's president and CEO. He brings a wealth of operational experience to Turbine and is responsible both for the vision and the day-to-day operations of the Company. Prior to joining Turbine, Jim spent three years as Chief Operating Officer of m-Qube, Inc which he helped turn into one of North America's largest mobile media companies.
Jim also spent eight years as the Chief Operating Officer of Network Plus, Inc., one of the country's largest publicly traded competitive telecommunications and data providers. Crowley is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Law School and Connecticut College.
The More Things Change...
Sean Dromgoole - CEO, Some Research
Sean has been delivering consumer research to the games industry for 12 years. It all started in a grubby corridor in Great Marlborough Street – but he doesn’t like to talk about that these days. 30 projects for Sony and then he started to share his favours up and down the industry. His strategic work can be blisteringly insightful but is more usually a guided tour of the patently obvious with triangles and arrows – none the less he has recently contributed to Guitar Hero, Wii Fit, Mario and Sonic at the Olympics, Professor Layton and World of Warcraft. Sean also runs GameVision, a regular series of reports that detail who has been playing what and why. Prior to working for the games industry he worked in Television, Film, the European Commission and Turkey Plucking.
Today’s Games Industry – The Search for Profits
Ed Williams - Managing Director, BMO Capital Markets
Edward is a senior analyst in BMO Capital Markets’ Equity Research Group, covering the interactive entertainment and leisure industries. Edward has hosted our annual interactive entertainment conference, which is considered a premier industry event for institutional investors. Edward publishes GamePlay, a monthly review of the interactive entertainment industry. Prior to joining BMO Capital Markets, Edward spent five years covering entertainment and leisure companies for Monness Crespi Hardt & Co., Inc. He is a member of the New York Society of Security Analysts. Edward joined BMO Capital Markets in 1999. Edward holds a Bachelor of Arts from Bucknell University.
Lessons from Social Games - or How Today's Social Networks Will Change the Way You Make, Play and Sell Games Tomorrow
Kristian Segerstrale - Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, Playfish
Kristian Segerstrale is chief executive officer and co-founder of Playfish, one of the largest and fastest growing social games companies in the world. As an experienced games entrepreneur, Kristian brings strategic vision and expertise in leadership of creative teams and corporate growth to the company.
Prior to founding Playfish in late 2007, Kristian was a co-founder and later managing director of Europe, Middle East and Asia (EMEA) for Glu Mobile (NASDAQ: GLUU), a leading global publisher of mobile games. During his 6-year tenure he successfully directed product development, sales, marketing and technology operations across Europe, and expanded Glu’s reach by opening regional offices in France, Germany, Spain and Italy. Kristian also forged key licensor relationship across Europe with leading companies such as Konami, Celador and Codemasters among others.
Kristian holds a master’s of science degree in Economics from London School of Economics and an undergraduate degree in Economics from Cambridge University.
Grow Up and Stop Playing with Yourself
Mike Bennett, CEO / Creative Director, Oil
Mike has 15 years experience in the digital market, pioneering digital agencies and content businesses (Sunbather, Emptyspace / HaHaBonk, Oil) and providing creative leadership (BAFTA, D&AD;, MILIA Palm D'or).
Mike has run and owned various businesses including Sunbather Ltd, a multidiscipline creative agency that was later acquired by Razorfish, as part of its global expansion. He also founded and raised significant funding in Emptyspace, a digital content business, that then developed into HaHaBonk, a pioneer in online comedy and content.
Mike's role in Oil is to understand the complexity of the medium, bringing talent and resources together to deliver successful and compelling stories.
Edinburgh Interactive Festival 2009
Discounted delegate passes available till May 29th.
Monday 20th April/... The Edinburgh Interactive Festival has today announced that early-bird rates are now available for delegate passes for this years Festival. Rates will be available for anyone wishing to book tickets between now and Friday 29th May. The early bird discount will offer delegates 20 per cent off the cost of a standard delegate pass for this years conference. The Edinburgh Interactive Festival will take place in Edinburgh City centre in the week of 10th August with industry conference and public showcase running on Thursday 13th and Friday 14th August.
A special discount will be made available to all students and Scottish companies looking to come along to this years Festival. Details of these discounts are available at www.edinburghinteractivefestival.com
The Games Festival offers delegates, speakers, the public and press a unique opportunity to network and share opinions in a relaxed atmosphere. Passes include full access to the main two-day conference, a speed networking session, a networking drinks reception, the games screening program and the public gaming area.
Dare ProtoPlay, the public showcase event of Dare to be Digital, UKs premier video games design competition, will run alongside the Edinburgh Interactive Festival from 14th August to 16th August.
The conference will bring together leading experts and decision makers from the interactive entertainment industries across video games publishing, hardware manufacturing, mobile content, games development, TV and film, retail, new media advertising agencies, Government, media and students.
Chris Deering, Chairman of Edinburgh Interactive Festival, said: "Every year the interactive world of entertainment evolves in scope and amazing creativity. The Edinburgh Interactive Festival embraces the "new shoots" and helps us enjoy the progress rather than be intimidated by it. Edinburgh is a unique celebration of the creative culture of games.
Wendy Rosenthal, Conference Director of Edinburgh Interactive Festival, said: I am really excited about this years forthcoming Interactive Festival. We have a number of key industry luminaries lined up, from traditional game companies to those at the cutting edge of their field. I am confident that Edinburgh Interactive 09 will be the best Edinburgh Interactive Festival to date.
Now in its seventh year, the Edinburgh Interactive Festival is set to bring the latest developments that the interactive and video games industry has to offer. Year on year, the Edinburgh Interactive Festive Festival is becoming more and more synchronised with the world famous Edinburgh Festival. With such rapidly growing popularity, Edinburgh Interactive Festivals appeal has broadened considerably; it is now a massive draw for press and professionals from film, TV and interactive media backgrounds.
To purchase a delegate pass, download the booking form www.edinburghinteractivefestival.com.
If you would like receive more details about partnership opportunities available for this years festival contact jodie.holdway@edinburghinteractivefestival.com
Press enquiries should be directed to sarah.hartland@bhpr.co.uk or tom.sargent@bhpr.co.uk
Ends.
About Edinburgh Interactive Festival 2009
Now celebrating its seventh year, the Edinburgh Interactive Festival is powered up to showcase the continued popularity, growth and influence of video games. And this year, the Interactive Festival is more synchronised with the world famous Edinburgh Festival than ever, appealing to the press, public and professionals from film, television and interactive media backgrounds alike, offering a bigger event for delegates, more consumer focusing an overall spectacle for all.
EIF 2009 will again host a Free Game Play and Recruitment areas specifically tailored to cater for the public - allowing them access to the latest games and job opportunities in games.
As ever, the Interactive Festival wouldnt be complete without the cornerstones of conferences, keynotes, panel sessions, debates, games screenings and even more people than ever jostling to get through the doors.
The Edinburgh Interactive Festival is managed by a committee drawn from all areas of the games industry, including publishers, developers and the two industry trade bodies: The Independent Game Developers Association (TIGA) www.tiga.org and the Entertainment & Leisure Software Publishers Association (ELSPA) www.elspa.com
Nintendo Backs Edinburgh Interactive Festival
2009 event shaping up to be one of the highlights of the year
By Damien McFerran Wed 8th Apr 2009 | http://www.nintendolife.com/
Nintendo has confirmed that it will be the supporting this year’s Edinburgh Interactive Festival, which takes place in the UK (Scotland, to be exact) in August.
The event is part of the Edinburgh Festival, which is the biggest gathering of its kind in the world.
Here’s the press release for you to digest with your hungry, hungry eyes:
The Edinburgh Interactive Festival today confirmed that Nintendo has become a partner of this year’s event. Taking place in the heart of Edinburgh between 10th and 16th August 2009, with the Conference running on 13th and 14th, Edinburgh Interactive combines industry and public facing events, including conference, screenings, free game play and Protoplay, the University of Abertay’s showcase of new games design talent.
Edinburgh Interactive Festival, which is a part of The Edinburgh Festival – the biggest cultural festival in the world, offers delegates, speakers and press a unique opportunity to network and share opinions in relaxed and atmospheric surroundings. Members of the public looking to check out the latest innovations and ideas in gaming can enjoy the free play area and grab a look inside the games industry and at some of the hottest new titles around at Edinburgh’s screenings programme, which runs during the festival.
Nintendo wowed the crowds last year with its hugely popular, family-friendly Nintendo’s Cooking Guide™: Can’t decide what to eat?
David Yarnton, General Manager Nintendo UK, said: “We are very pleased to be a part of the Edinburgh Interactive Festival once again this year. The festival is unique in that it brings together all the different aspects and facets of our business under one roof and provides the perfect opportunity for us all to celebrate our industry's rich creative diversity. Edinburgh is an important platform for interactive entertainment and showcasing software to the public alongside TV, film, literature and comedy highlights the cultural worth and credibility of our industry to the UK and the world."
With publishers and developers competing with each other for most of the year, Edinburgh Interactive Festival offers a chance to relax and share their views for the interactive and entertainment industry.
Edinburgh Interactive Festival Chairman Chris Deering added: “We are delighted to be partnering with Nintendo again. It’s a free festival for the public and a great chance for everyone to come and take a look at some genuinely exciting developments within the industry. Nintendo’s involvement as a partner will certainly add another dimension to the experience for anyone attending.”
Now in its seventh year, the Edinburgh Interactive Festival is set to bring the latest developments that the video games industry has to offer. Year on year, the Edinburgh Interactive Festive Festival is becoming more and more synchronised with the world famous Edinburgh Festival. With such rapidly growing popularity, EIF‘s appeal has broadened considerably; it is now a massive draw for press and professionals from film, TV and interactive media backgrounds.
PETER MOORE, EA SPORTS, CONFIRMED AS KEYNOTE SPEAKER
May 19th 2009
Monday 18th May, 2009/… Edinburgh Interactive Festival today announced that Peter Moore, President of EA SPORTS, will deliver the keynote address for this year’s Conference. The Edinburgh Interactive Festival Conference delivers a lively schedule from a wide range of industry sectors including games, social networking, mobile entertainment, education, music, film and television. It also plays host to a range of free events including a games showcase, Dare to be Digital’s Dare ProtoPlay and the Games Screening programme.
Moore, who is lined up to be this year’s leading keynote speaker, will focus his session on the challenge of reinventing the iconic sports game brand.
Peter Moore, President, EA SPORTS, said: “I am honoured to be invited to deliver the opening keynote at the Edinburgh Games Festival. This event is a milestone on the interactive entertainment industry’s calendar, and I look forward to contributing to this year’s discussions.”
Edinburgh Interactive Festival Chairman, Chris Deering, said: “We are delighted Peter has agreed to give this year’s Keynote. He is one of the industry’s global leaders and his presence at Edinburgh is an indicator of the importance and influence of the Festival.”
Electronic Arts is the world’s leading independent developer of interactive entertainment with titles such as Madden NFL, NBA Live, Tiger Woods PGA Tour and the FIFA football franchise.
EA Sports is one of the most recognizable gaming brands. In his session, Moore will examine how the brand has been reinvigorated through consumer insight, technology innovations, global partnerships and the launch of new product categories. The presentation will also feature strategies and tactics that game developers can apply to their brands.
Also confirmed to speak this year are Jim Crowley of Turbine Inc., Sean Dromgoole of Some Research and Martin Owen from Smalti Technology.
Jim Crowley, President and CEO of Turbine Inc., creators of the world’s most popular and award-winning online games; The Lord of the Rings Online™, Dungeons & Dragons Online™ and Asheron’s Call® is also confirmed for this year’s conference.
“Across the globe, social media and the participatory habits of consumers are changing the way companies develop entertainment experiences,” said Jim Crowley, President and CEO of Turbine, Inc. “I am honoured to participate in the Edinburgh Interactive Festival this year and am looking forward to discussing this topic with fellow executives and sharing some of the developments Turbine has made in its award-winning massively multiplayer online games.”
Crowley will look at the multiple types of virtual environments that exist today, and how among each of these environments, community is key. He will also explain how Turbine is addressing this with their own MMOs and reaching out to a broader audience, including licensing Google Earth’s API to offer players maps of quest locations and providing an in-game encyclopaedia to connect users via a player-powered wiki.
The Festival welcomes back Sean Dromgoole, CEO of Some Research and GameVision. This year’s session will highlight current gaming trends and the changing demographics of the marketplace. GameVision has been tracking the games industry across Europe for the last six years and talks to over 30,000 gamers a year. In order to provide an exclusive and special presentation for the Edinburgh Interactive Festival, Dromgoole and his team have compared current with historical data sets to show the changes in gaming by value through time.
Dromgoole will highlight how, during the last few years, games have broadened their appeal to embrace more casual gamers, and how the market has had to adapt quickly to cater to their needs. Dromgoole will focus on where the market has grown in terms of population and value, which types of games have prospered and which types of gamer will drive the market in the future.
Says Dromgoole “It’s not just about how many new gamers there are, but which ones are spending and on what...”
Martin Owen, an independent consultant, developer and researcher in music technology enhanced learning and founder of Smalti Technology is also confirmed. Owen will talk about “Sound only games” and his work in learning in augmented reality from his development of game-like learning activities in real-life locations. As the session title suggests Martin will focus on the power sound and music has on stimulating the imagination.
Owen, said, “Edinburgh Interactive provides an interesting forum to push forward frontiers of gaming - it is not just about more pixels and quicker rendering. We need to think of new genre.”
Chris Deering, Edinburgh Interactive Festival Chairman, added: “I am very enthusiastic about the breadth and quality of the speaker line-up and the conference sessions for 2009. Looks like our best ever. Topics covered will be of interest to all who enjoy the diverse challenges and new opportunities that characterize our rapidly developing industry.”
Secure an early bird discount on delegate passes until Friday 29th May 2009.
The Edinburgh Interactive Festival 2009 will open its doors to the most creative industry in the world during the week of 10th August, with the industry conference running on Thursday 13th and Friday 14th August and the public showcase running over Friday 14th and Saturday 15th August.
Edinburgh Interactive Festival 2009
Playfish boss Kristian Segerstrale plus Margaret Robertson join speakers list.
GamesIndustry International
Monday 22nd June 2009
Monday 22nd June/... The Edinburgh Interactive Festival today announced that Kristian Segerstrale, CEO and Co-founder of Playfish, and respected industry consultant, Margaret Robertson, are both confirmed to speak at this years event. Segerstrale and Robertson join an impressive list of guest speakers: including, among others, Peter Moore, President of EA Sports and Peter Cowley, Managing Director of Digital Media for Endemol UK.
Segerstrale will be addressing the audience with a session titled Lessons from Social Games - or How Today's Social Networks Will Change the Way You Make, Play and Sell Games Tomorrow. He leads Playfish, one of the largest and fastest growing social games companies in the world, which creates titles for friends to play together over social and mobile platforms such as Facebook, MySpace, iPhone and Android. Each of the companys seven games has been a top 10 hit on Facebook, including Pet Society, the platforms most popular game enjoyed by more than 11 million people every month.
Segerstale will discuss how social games or games designed for play with friends on social networks such as Facebook and MySpace have experienced explosive growth and are right at the centre of broader industry trends such as free-to-play, games-as-a-service, social game design, user-generated content, and digital distribution. Hell also offer some predictions of how the game industry might change as a result.
Kristian Segerstrale, CEO of Playfish, said: I'm delighted Playfish has been invited to deliver a keynote presentation at this year's Edinburgh Interactive Festival, an important showcase event for the gaming industry.
"Social gaming has attracted tens of millions of enthusiastic players and rapidly risen to become a key gaming sector. I'm looking forward to offering insight on how companies such as Playfish and social networks are changing the way games are created, played and sold."
Industry consultant and former EDGE magazine editor, Margaret Robertson, will offer the Edinburgh crowds a rare insight into the videogames industry with a session titled Stop Telling Tales.
What if someone told you that you could make fans just as happy for a fraction of the effort and cost? Typically, fans of triple A game titles expect lavishly told and epic stories. Though anyone who's been on the thinking end of the development process for such titles will tell you that it's a very expensive, cumbersome and inefficient process which can often take its toll on the overall quality, budget and deadline of a game.
As a consultant and advisor to companies such as EA, Sony and Channel 4 on game design and industry trends, Robertson will draw on her consultancy experiences across a wide range of story-based games. While breaking down concepts and highlighting elements to which fans relate and demonstrating how studios might deliver these to consumers in a more timely and cost-effective fashion.
To purchase a delegate pass, download the booking form www.edinburghinteractivefestival.com
If you would like receive more details about partnership opportunities available for this years festival contact jodie.holdway@edinburghinteractivefestival.com
Press enquiries should be directed to sarah.hartland@bhpr.co.uk or tom.sargent@bhpr.co.uk
Ends.
About Edinburgh Interactive Festival 2009
Now celebrating its seventh year, the Edinburgh Interactive Festival is powered up to showcase the continued popularity, growth and influence of video games. And this year, the Interactive Festival is more synchronised with the world famous Edinburgh Festival than ever, appealing to the press, public and professionals from film, television and interactive media backgrounds alike, offering a bigger event for delegates, more consumer focusing an overall spectacle for all.
The Edinburgh Interactive Festival 2009 will again host a Free Game Play and Recruitment areas specifically tailored to cater for the public - allowing them access to the latest games and job opportunities in games.
As ever, the Interactive Festival wouldnt be complete without the cornerstones of conferences, keynotes, panel sessions, debates, games screenings and even more people than ever jostling to get through the doors.
The Edinburgh Interactive Festival is managed by a committee drawn from all areas of the games industry, including publishers, developers and the two industry trade bodies: The Independent Game Developers Association (TIGA) www.tiga.org and the Entertainment & Leisure Software Publishers Association (ELSPA) www.elspa.com.
2008 Edinburgh Interactive Festival
Edinburgh Interactive Festival 2008
Day 1 of the Edinburgh Interactive Festival 2008 at the Games Feature Area
Edinburgh Interactive Festival
7 August 2008 By Henry Northmore | www.list.co.uk
Stadium arcadium
Henry Northmore considers the thrills and spills the Edinburgh Interactive Festival has to offer and ponders the future of arcade games
Now in its sixth year, the Edinburgh Interactive Festival is offering even more for gaming enthusiasts. To complement the usual conference, the games screenings are expanding with sneak previews of videogames. Expect hands-on exhibits, a recruitment area for wannabe game developers and designers (in association with Channel 4’s 4Talent) as well as discount games from Gamestation’s on-site outlet. It’s also free; just head along to your local Gamestation from 29 July to pick up your ticket (or register at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre on the day).
The EIF also offers intelligent debates on issues affecting the industry, from alternative reality gaming to politics in online communities and how game mechanics can be utilised within the education system. Speakers include representatives of Codemasters, GameVision, Perplex City, EVE and 19 Entertainment.
Kevin Williams, founder and director of amusement and attraction company KWP Ltd, will be discussing arcade games, an aspect of gaming that has been neglected in the rush for powerful home consoles. From the halcyon days of Pac-Man and Space Invaders to Double Dragon and Space Harrier, arcade machines helped shape today’s gaming. Nintendo introduced Mario for the first time in Donkey Kong, Sega used the popularity of Altered Beast to help launch its Megadrive system in the UK and Nintendo similarly used the massive success of Street Fighter II to launch the SNES. Some of the world’s most enduring games, from Mortal Kombat to Tekken started life in the arcades.
‘The consumer games industry won’t admit it, but the innovation comes from the amusement sector,’ says Williams. ‘The force feedback gun, the dancing platform, motion capture were “borrowed” by the consumer sector.’
Many of the Wii’s gameplay dynamics were arcade innovations, which are far more powerful machines with all their processing prowess focused on just one game. Arcades offer intense gaming in a more sociable environment and are continuing to innovate. ‘We’re looking at total immersive display technology that surrounds the player, so you’re sitting in a 360 graphic experience; and physical force feedback beyond just jump-thump arcade driving cabinets,’ says Williams. ‘We’re looking at fully configured motion cabinets.’
Add to that innovations such as the IC card that stores portable games stats, to be updated each time you play. ‘We have technology that puts the player into the game experience. I like to use the phrase “unachievable-at-home technology”, if you can do something similar on a home system it’s not really suitable for our investment.’
KWP Ltd also hopes to bring at least a few of these new-style arcade machines to Edinburgh, although Williams admits, ‘It’s proving to be an interesting challenge.’ It looks like the local arcade will be a hotbed of gaming innovation for many years to come.
The Edinburgh Interactive Festival, EICC, Edinburgh, Sun 10–Tue 12 Aug.
Edinburgh Interactive Festival 2008 is bigger than ever
June 9th 2008 Seth Bland | http://darkzero.co.uk/
The Edinburgh Interactive Festival 2008, the world’s most important festival that seeks to expand the creative culture of games and interactive entertainment, opened its registration today, confirming dates and a number of new initiatives and changes to the event from this year.
EIF 2008 will take place from Sunday 10th to Tuesday 12th August, and will this year move to the Edinburgh International Conference Centre as part of a move to develop the scale and profile of the event.
2008 will feature a major two-day conference programme, an array of networking events, an expansion of the EIF Games Screenings programme covering three cinema rooms, a major public area with gaming features, retail and recruitment sites. Dare ProtoPlay, the public showcase event of Dare to be Digital, UK’s premier video games design competition, will also take place under the same roof as the Edinburgh Interactive Festival and will run from Sunday 10th to Tuesday 12th August alongside the public areas and Games Screenings.
Edinburgh Interactive Festival is the only event that brings together the games industry’s key decision makers from games publishing, hardware and development alongside Government, TV, film, press and other entertainment industries as well as students seeking to work within the creative industries.
In 2007 delegates included professionals from Ubisoft, Nintendo, Sony Computer Entertainment, Microsoft, Codemasters, BBC, Channel 4, 19 Entertainment, Endemol, Rare, Electronic Arts, Gamestation, Ncsoft, Havok, Midway, Eidos, Realtime Worlds, BAFTA, BERR, BSAC and Rising Star Games.
Chris Deering, Chairman of Edinburgh Interactive Festival, said: “Edinburgh holds a unique place in the heart of the games industry. It mixes games into a cultural melting pot that is the Edinburgh Festival and Fringe. Our move to the Edinburgh International Conference Center is designed to make the event more approachable and accessible for the public and other elements of the Festival. It’s free to the public and is a great way for people to spend some time looking at new games from new young development talent, to be inspired by the Games Screenings, to see and experience some hands–on time with new games and perhaps pick up their first games machine at the retail store.
“Of course, we are delighted that we have been able to mix this year’s developments with a partnership with the Dare to be Digital programme, originated by Abertay University. It’s a wonderful project and we are a natural fit for each other under the EIF banner.”
He added: “For those of you that have not attended, I’d urge you to get along. The ethos and personality of EIF is unlike anything in the global games calendar. It’s rich in content and innovation and provides a unique level playing field on which everyone from CEOs to students mix, talk and enjoy.”
“EIF’s focus on the creative culture of games makes it the perfect partner for Dare ProtoPlay and our proximity will create a real win / win for industry delegates and public visitors alike, creating a real festival atmosphere,” said Paul Durrant, Director of Dare to be Digital project.
Now celebrating its sixth year, the Edinburgh Interactive Festival is powered up to showcase the continued popularity, growth and influence of video games. And this year, the Interactive Festival is more synchronised with the world famous Edinburgh Festival than ever, appealing to the press, public and professionals from film, television and interactive media backgrounds alike, offering a bigger event for delegates, more consumer focusing – an overall spectacle for all.
New to Interactive Festival 2008 will be Features, Exhibition and Recruitment areas specifically tailored to cater for the public – allowing them access to the latest games and job opportunities in games.
As ever, the three-day Interactive Festival wouldn’t be complete without the cornerstones of conferences, keynotes, panel sessions, debates, games screenings and even more people than ever jostling to get through the doors.
photo: barrington harvey
2008 Edinburgh Interactive Festival Announced
June 9, 2008 | By David Jenkins
Organizers of the Edinburgh Interactive Festival (EIF) have announced the first details of the 2008 event, now confirmed to take place from Sunday August 10th to Tuesday August 12th. The festival will also move to the Edinburgh International Conference Centre as part of plans to increase the scale and profile of the yearly event.
Now in its sixth year, EIF 2008 aims to be more closely synchronized with the wide range of other arts festivals in the Scottish capital during August, usually referred to collectively simply as the Edinburgh Festival. The 2008 event will also attempt to offer more activities for the general public, with chances to play unreleased games and view job opportunities in the industry.
EIF 2008 will feature a two-day conference program and separate networking events. Also present will be Dare ProtoPlay, the public showcase event of video games design competition Dare to be Digital. EIF will also host the Digital Interactive Symposium for academics and games industry professionals on Wednesday August 13th.
EIF chairman Chris Deering commented: "Edinburgh holds a unique place in the heart of the games industry. It mixes games into a cultural melting pot that is the Edinburgh Festival and Fringe. Our move to the Edinburgh International Conference Centre is designed to make the event more approachable and accessible for the public and other elements of the Festival."
photo: barrington harvey
Edinburgh Interactive Festival 2008: Dates; registration open.
Written by Harry Butler June 9, 2008 | www.bit-tech.net/
Monday 9th June/...The Edinburgh Interactive Festival 2008, the world’s most important festival that seeks to expand the creative culture of games and interactive entertainment, opened its registration today, confirming dates and a number of new initiatives and changes to the event from this year.
EIF 2008 will take place from Sunday 10th to Tuesday 12th August, and will this year move to the Edinburgh International Conference Centre as part of a move to develop the scale and profile of the event.
2008 will feature a major two-day conference programme, an array of networking events, an expansion of the EIF Games Screenings programme covering three cinema rooms, a major public area with gaming features, retail and recruitment sites. Dare ProtoPlay, the public showcase event of Dare to be Digital, UK’s premier video games design competition, will also take place under the same roof as the Edinburgh Interactive Festival and will run from Sunday 10th to Tuesday 12th August alongside the public areas and Games Screenings.
Edinburgh Interactive Festival is the only event that brings together the games industry’s key decision makers from games publishing, hardware and development alongside Government, TV, film, press and other entertainment industries as well as students seeking to work within the creative industries.
In 2007 delegates included professionals from Ubisoft, Nintendo, Sony Computer Entertainment, Microsoft, Codemasters, BBC, Channel 4, 19 Entertainment, Endemol, Rare, Electronic Arts, Gamestation, Ncsoft, Havok, Midway, Eidos, Realtime Worlds, BAFTA, BERR, BSAC and Rising Star Games.
Chris Deering, Chairman of Edinburgh Interactive Festival, said: “Edinburgh holds a unique place in the heart of the games industry. It mixes games into a cultural melting pot that is the Edinburgh Festival and Fringe. Our move to the Edinburgh International Conference Center is designed to make the event more approachable and accessible for the public and other elements of the Festival. It’s free to the public and is a great way for people to spend some time looking at new games from new young development talent, to be inspired by the Games Screenings, to see and experience some hands–on time with new games and perhaps pick up their first games machine at the retail store.
photo: barrington harvey
NESTA supports Edinburgh Interactive Festival 2008
By Adam Hartley July 24, 2008 | www.techradar.com/
Leading games festival backed by National Endowment for Science Technology & the Arts
Edinburgh Interactive Festival - the UK's leading games event for consumers and industry alike
The National Endowment for Science Technology & the Arts (NESTA) has launched the £450,000 Raise the Game initiative to drive growth, collaboration and innovation in the UK games industry – and confirmed its support for the three-day Edinburgh Edinburgh Interactive Festival 2008
Raise the Game is a joint initiative set up by games developers body TIGA, The University of Abertay's
NEWS Edinburgh Interactive Festival 2008 - 2009
News
A Happy and Interactive New Year! January 08th 2009
Dear Friend of the Edinburgh Interactive Festival,
The EIF organisers would like to wish all of you a very special New Year.
Edinburgh Interactive is about people who love our industry and its art. We make the time to attend, to present and to help with the organising of the celebration.
The creative culture of games to us is special and energising. In 2009 we will all face very exceptional challenges, but in some ways, the most exciting challenges that we will ever face.
Fortunately, our involvement with technology and art places us in a unique role. “Yes we can” make a huge difference in leading the world into the next economic generation. There is no reason why interactive entertainment concepts cannot be harnessed to educate or motivate.
For EIF 2009, we have already lined up a potent mix of amazing sessions on the new frontiers of interactivity. Some of them are refreshingly low tech, like RPG adventure games with only sound files.
We will also seriously introduce new skills from the movie creators’ bag of tricks that will make games even more immersive, and discuss how games off- the-shelf can be used in schools to teach traditional core subjects.
The convergence of Wi-Fi and mobile phone technology will also be greeted with a whole new approach.
The EIF dates in 2009 will fall during the week beginning the 10th August, just before GDC and Games Con in Germany, and featuring the most dynamic experience that you have ever had at EIF.
So save that week when planning your 2009 vacation holidays. Or better still, plan to spend the whole week as part of your holidays, enjoying the longest running, most creative festival on the planet.
Involvement with EIF is noticed, and appreciated.
See you at the only event on the games calendar that people attend because they want to!
Sincere good wishes,
Chris Deering
Chairman- EIF
Industry Leaders Declare Edinburgh Interactive Festival 2008 Resounding Success August 28th 2008
As the curtain fell on this year's Edinburgh Interactive Festival, some of the industry’s key decision makers in video and interactive entertainment were quick to praise the festival for continuing to increase focus on the cultural impact and relevance of games.
The festival, which this year celebrated its sixth anniversary, exists to showcase the continued popularity, growth and influence of video games, exploring their cultural impact and look at the future of interactive content.
2008 featured a major two-day conference programme, an array of networking events, an expansion of the festival's Games Screenings programme covering three cinema rooms and a major public area with gaming features, retail and recruitment sites. Dare ProtoPlay, the public showcase event of Dare to be Digital, UK’s premier video games design competition, also took place under the same roof.
Edinburgh Interactive Festival is the only event that brings together the games industry’s key decision makers from games publishing, hardware and development alongside Government, TV, film, press and other entertainment industries as well as students seeking to work within the creative industries.
See what they are saying about Edinburgh Interactive Festival 2008...
News
Industry Leaders Declare Edinburgh Interactive Festival 2008 Resounding Success August 28th 2008
As the curtain fell on this year's Edinburgh Interactive Festival, some of the industry’s key decision makers in video and interactive entertainment were quick to praise the festival for continuing to increase focus on the cultural impact and relevance of games.
The festival, which this year celebrated its sixth anniversary, exists to showcase the continued popularity, growth and influence of video games, exploring their cultural impact and look at the future of interactive content.
2008 featured a major two-day conference programme, an array of networking events, an expansion of the festival's Games Screenings programme covering three cinema rooms and a major public area with gaming features, retail and recruitment sites. Dare ProtoPlay, the public showcase event of Dare to be Digital, UK’s premier video games design competition, also took place under the same roof.
Edinburgh Interactive Festival is the only event that brings together the games industry’s key decision makers from games publishing, hardware and development alongside Government, TV, film, press and other entertainment industries as well as students seeking to work within the creative industries.
What are they saying about Edinburgh Interactive Festival 2008...
I must add that I completely understand now why EIF is said by many to be the industry's best kept secret. I can't remember the last time I saw so much useful, interesting and well-presented information compressed into such a short period of time. I came away with all sorts of useful data - some of which verifies things that we have believed for a while and some of which is challenging the ideas and thoughts that we have on products and markets for the future.
Toby Simpson, CTO of NiCE Tech Ltd
The festival at Edinburgh is to celebrate the creative culture of games and to look beyond where we are right now and try to predict the future and gain some inspiration and analysis. It's to celebrate the actual creative experience of making games. It's to celebrate the role that Scotland has in the UK's pre-eminence in the game area, and to absorb the energy of the festival in general.
It's not a trade show and it's not a business meeting; it's really a collaboration amongst people who really enjoy what they do and although they compete with each other most of the year this is just a little bit of relaxation and a bit of blue sky thinking – a glimpse of what could lie ahead from the creative community.
Chris Deering, Chairman of Edinburgh Interactive Festival
It's a perfect backdrop for games companies to go and express themselves, particularly in terms of demonstrating innovation. Very often when you are wrapped up in a very commercial show around the world you will not take that risk. You know something is building here. It's the impetus that it has. And as games are winning the battle for consumer's minds in terms of entertainment, I can see great things coming out of this.
Rod Cousens, CEO of Codemasters
Nintendo has been a long time supporter of the Edinburgh Festival and we've been here because we really like the fact that a diverse group of people can enjoy the different games that we have here. There are no egos at Edinburgh Interactive. The various format holders are here to celebrate the industry. There’s something for everyone at Edinburgh Interactive: consumers, trade and people just interested in the cultural aspects of video games.
Edinburgh has stuck true to its roots and it's a fantastic celebration of games and the culture that they bring.
David Yarnton, General Manager of Nintendo UK
It's the sixth year that I've been here, so I've been here right from the start and it's great to see how the show has evolved over all those years.
The thought process was that this was to be about culture and art rather than selling games and I think it's proved to be exactly that. We do talk about cultural issues and as it continues to do Sony will support it. It was great to see people from the industry at Edinburgh. It was great to see students. And it was great to see some people who just want to find out what is happening in the interactive space.
Edinburgh has always been a unique event. It's the only place where there are no politics. It's not competitive. We're just here to talk about art and culture. And when you look at the wide array of subjects being discussed you can understand why Edinburgh is Edinburgh and it couldn't be anywhere. It's about the town, it's about the festival atmosphere and it's about the fact that people have got time discuss some of these issues without the commercial pressures on them.
Ray Maguire, Managing Director of Sony Computer Entertainment UK
This festival brings people from different levels, the up and coming talent, the experts, in one place under one roof. I think it's a really good idea. We can truly discover new things and make new connections. It’s a fun business.
Elaine Russell, Project Manager of Dare to be Digital, University of Abertay
The Edinburgh Interactive Festival gives games a chance to put its place properly amongst other entertainment... TV, comedy, movie, drama, and in that understand some things about where the media is going culturally. Every year it is different and every year you are guaranteed a few surprises.
James Binns, Publishing Director of the Technology Division at Future Publishing
It's very important. The UK has lacked a real consumer focussed show for a long time.
These consumer focussed events are great. Obviously we have the trade event here as well, so we have all the luminaries from the games sector talking about the big challenges and the future, how we continue to grow the sector. And that's all for the benefit of the gamer.
Ed Bartlett, VP Publishing of IGA Worldwide
It's a great place to meet new people. It's surprising how much business gets done. We do go out and have a few drinks but actually that fuels the business at the end of the day.
Rik Alexander, CEO of Monumental Games
I'll learn a few things, teach a few things and be better off for coming.
Scott Foe - Nokia
I think something like this really inspires game developers to figure out what they can do with their games next and what kind of gameplay features they can incorporate in to what they are thinking of. It's really great to see just the variety of things happening here.
Jon Radoff, CEO of Gamer DNA inc.
Events like the Edinburgh Festival are really important for a company like Sony because it allows us to get new games out there in front of people. It's great for us, it gets people excited and it gives us the opportunity to experience that excitement first hand.
Sandy Spangler - Game Designer for Eye Toy of SCEE London Studio
It's a great way to find out what is going on in the industry, what's going on with other game development courses, find out what students are up to, see what the best students are capable of doing.
Jason Coleman, Game Development Lecture of Quantem College, London
I love the Edinburgh Interactive Festival. This year it's massive. This year there are so many things to do, so many games to play, so many different screenings. It's done exactly what I hoped it would do which is grow year on year, so I can't wait to see what happens next year.
Kirsten, Fragdoll
I’m a bit of a veteran when it comes to conventions and conferences, but all have been through a work capacity and have been very formal and heavy going. This was a dream for me, and I was like a big kid in the ultimate toy store. If Carlsberg made conferences, then it would probably be the best… ah you know the rest.
10 Rough Guide to Video Games to be won! August 20th 2008
Rough Guides are offering you the chance to win 1 of 10 copies of the new Rough Guide to Videogames, the ultimate companion to the world's most addictive pastime. To enter simply answer this question:
What is the name of Mario's girlfriend?
a. Maria
b. Pauline
c. Lucia
Download the Official 2008 Guide July 25th 2008
guideWith more content than ever before, and covering more new ground than all previous years put together, the Games screenings promise to cater for all kinds of gamers - download the PDF now to see the full show programme.
New for 2008, the games feature area will showcase new games from some of the industry’s top publishers including Nintendo, Sony, Codemasters and Activision.
Edinburgh’s famous Film House Cinema will be teaming up with the EIF, to show a series of short films which will take a look at the way in which video games and the ongoing evolution of gaming is affecting the world.