Monday-September 15
11:00-12:00 PM
Austin GDC Keynote
WIMS Pass Holders Invited!
At Their Service: Making a Difference by Putting Players First
Speaker: Lane Merrifield (Walt Disney Internet Group, Club Penguin)
Service with a smile. Service above self. At your service. Have phrases like these lost all meaning in this age of making a quick return and rising to the top as quickly as possible? Lane Merrifield, co-founder of Club Penguin (www.clubpenguin.com), one of the largest and fastest-growing virtual worlds for children, and newly named head of development for all the Walt Disney Company’s kids and family-targeted virtual worlds, thinks they have. Lane says it’s time our industry shifted its focus back to what matters most: serving customers. In this keynote address, Lane will explore the idea that success is derived from a mindset of focusing on the creation of a culture of excellent customer service. He argues that if you do that correctly, monetization will take care of itself.
Tuesday-September 16
9:30-10:30 AM
WORLDS IN MOTION KEYNOTE
Google's first Real Talk on Lively Since its debut
Speaker: Kevin Hanna (Google), Interviewer: Leigh Alexander (Gamasutra.com)
In his keynote, Hanna will provide a full overview of Lively, including the team’s vision for this product as a tool to enrich social interaction on the web. He will also offer a historical perspective on how Lively evolved from inception to launch. His talk will be immediately followed by a Q&A open to all WIMS attendees.
11:00-12:00 PM
In-world Advertising Case Study
Speakers: Joe Hyrkin (Gaia Online), Christian Lassonde (Millions of Us)
Advertising in online worlds is an increasingly important part of monetizing games – with possibilities including in-game billboards, contests, and more. In this case study, we’ll hear from the creators of Gaia Online and their advertising partners Millions of Us, uncovering how in-game advertising works for them, how to reach your audience without turning them off, and all the advantages and pitfalls of advertising in this new medium.
1:30-2:30 PM
The State of Facebook/Social Network Gaming
Panelists: Frank Lantz (Area/Code), Shervin Pishevar (Social Gaming Network), Andrew "A.T" Trader (Zynga) Moderator: Leigh Alexander (Gamasutra.com)
Facebook and social network-based gaming are a rapidly burgeoning market segment. But what’s the reality of making games that fit into the infrastructure of existing social websites? What are the benefits and difficulties with creating social games on Facebook and other sites? Creators of Facebook's popular Parking Wars and other authorities on successfull social network gaming weigh in.
3:00-4:00 PM
Microtransactions in North America—Early Lessons Learned from the Pioneers
Speaker: Jamie Cheng (Klei Entertainment Inc.)
We all know that microtransactions have arrived in North America, and everyone is watching closely. Klei Entertainment is in the unique position of developing an original North American game in conjunction with the pioneer of this industry – Nexon Corp. How did this relationship come about, and how do we apply what we've learned from Korea to North America?
4:30-5:30 PM
Case Studies: User-generated Content in Online Worlds
Speaker: Daniel James (Three Rings, Whirled), Nabeel Hyatt (Conduit Labs, Loudcrowd)
This set of two mini-sessions will reveal how a new breed of online worlds allow user-created content – whether from businesses or individuals, moving the power of the online platform from the developer to the end user in a drastic new way. Therefore, senior representatives of the online spaces Whirled and Loudcrowd will be joined with a user of their own platform to discuss what has been successful and the challenges they’ve faced together in these unique partnerships.
9:30-10:30 AM
WORLDS IN MOTION KEYNOTE
Dunder Mifflin Infinity:
A Case Study in Using Game Mechanics to Drive Community Behavior
Speakers: Stephen Andrade (NBC.com), Rajat Paharia (Bunchball)
Status, competition, reward and achievement are concepts that the game industry has used for years to increase engagement and drive behavior in games. Now these same concepts are making the leap to the web. Join Rajat Paharia, CEO of Bunchball, and Stephen Andrade, SVP of Digital Development and General Manager of NBC.com, as they discuss how Bunchball’s Nitro meta-gaming platform is being used to drive user behavior and increase engagement on Dunder Mifflin Infinity, a social networking and user-generated content site for fans of NBC’s hit TV show The Office.
11:00-12:00 PM
Business Use of Virtual Worlds:
Case Studies for Conducting Business from Major Technology Companies
Speakers: Michael Rowe (3D Internet & v-Business & Business Management, IBM), Victoria Coleman (Samsung Electronics)
Online experiences are becoming increasingly important from an entertainment point of view. But how will enterprise companies utilize this new medium to reach their objectives? In a case study, IBM’s Michael Rowe and Samsung's Victoria Coleman will discuss the pluses and minuses companies currently face in collaborating, training, and evolving business practices via the virtual world space – delving into the business and productivity opportunities for all firms considering using virtual worlds to work smarter and faster.
I:30-2:30 PM
The State of Kids Virtual Worlds
Panelists: James Bower (Numedeon, Whyville), Chris Waldron (Cartoon Network, Fusion Fall) Jeremy Monroe (Sulake Inc, Habbo) Moderator: Leigh Alexander (Gamasutra.com)
One of the biggest success stories in the online world space are the ones created for kids and tweens, in terms of both funding and user numbers. But what issues are unique with this special audience? What makes them successful? How do you go about designing the virtual space with the young in mind? What is the extent of parental involvement and how are educational elements successfully integrated? Expert panelists will unlock their successful strategies and answers to these unique questions.
3:00-4:00 PM
If You Build It, Will They Come?
Speaker: Margaret Wallace (Rebel Monkey)
Virtual Worlds are an ever-growing presence in our lives. At best, they hold great promise for discovering new audiences, new genres and new ways to monetize a community around content. At worst, they are dull, lonely spaces lacking any signs of life. Building a successful virtual world is challenging in this competitive landscape, but only half the challenge creators face. Once you've built it, how can you ensure people will come? What considerations do you need to make to elevate your virtual world business on a world-class scale? What's your game plan for world domination?
4:30-5:30 PM
The Future of the Metaverse
Panelists: Sibley Verbeck (Electric Sheep), Victoria Coleman (Samsung Electronics), Jeffrey Pope (NGI), Mic Bowman (Intel Corporation) Moderator: Leigh Alexander (Gamasutra.com)
Where do we go from here? What online/virtual world applications will be built and highly successful in the next few years? This standout final session will include visionaries from the online world space presenting a roadmap timeline on efforts with virtual worlds. Each panelist will provide their ideas for lowering barriers to innovation, and a base analysis for their predictions on the uncertain but enticing future of the metaverse.
