WIGIJ Conference Keynote Speakers

First Keynote Speaker at WIGIJ London;

"HTML5 Fad or Future"

Remode Studios - Ella Romanos - CEO

Remode work on all platforms and use unity/action script. They have a workforce of 18 employees. They broke into the industry as a company by creating and publishing their own game on steam in 2008 titled 'Mole Control'. By releasing their own game, they were able to showcase the skillet their company could offer potential clients, and build that all important trust within the industry.
To put it bluntly; they had evidence of their skills. This meant that clients could trust that the end product they were paying for would be one of a high standard.
Remode also work a lot with trans-media development. Often making games which further evolve a brand from TV for example. They have worked on Research and Educational projects alongside others.

Spoke about how Html5 if backed properly by companies could revolutionise the next generation of creative interactive content on the web. Now honestly a lot of her talk went over my head, and that is not meant by way of criticism- as a self-confessed artist I knew a lot of it would. Below are some summary notes taken which I hope make sense.

- 'Local Storage' is to replace cookies

- 'Web Workers' allows multi-threading in Java.
~I am no programmer but luckily it was put into layman's terms for me; content can be active and interacted with whilst data/content is still loading in the background. To me this immediately makes me think about how this could eliminate loading screens in online games, or further improve gameplay on such large games as WoW or Runescape.~

- it is supported on iOS meaning that it could cut into the industry where Flash falls.

- Two reasons why there is a delay in pickup of html5 is due to the need to retrain staff and a current lack of flexibility.

- Another element to it is how Adobe Edge Tools have dropped support to Flash in Browsers

- 'Turbulenz' Game Network uses high graphics in a browser due to use of html5

- A big perk for developers is that hmtl5 is free to use, unlike its competitors currently in the industry.

- Remode believe that hmtl5 is one step further to 'reducing the friction between player and game'  ie no more tutorials, loading screens...  This will in turn lead to a more varied demographic of consumers playing games.

- I will finish with an apt question posed by Romanos; "Do people still have time for playing console games?"

Second Keynote Speaker at WIGIJ London;

"Drugs, bugs and neuroscience: a formula for successful learning games?"

The Wellcome Trust - Martha Henson - Multimedia Producer

- Henson opened her talk by explaining a little of the history of the Wellcome Trust and its work. Henry Wellcome was the man who patented the method of creating pressed-powder tablets as a medicinal practice. So as you can imagine he amassed quite the fortune. Lucky for us he set up a trust which was to further the relationship between science and culture. One of the most notably funded projects was the Human Genome Project!(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_Genome_Project)

- The Wellcome trust worked with a development company called Preloaded on some of its games (hosted on their website primarily, but made the game openly available by allowing users to 'post' the game on their website) The two games mentioned in her talk are linked below;
'High Tea' : http://www.wellcomecollection.org/whats-on/exhibitions/high-society/high-tea.aspx
'Axon' : http://www.wellcomecollection.org/whats-on/exhibitions/brains/axon.aspx

- Using this open method of distribution online, it allowed the trust to reach a far greater audience than if it was merely on their own site alone. The trust collected data from each game played and invited players to complete a quick survey on how playing the games affected their attitude towards the content featured. In several of their findings they saw that people were actively and independently seeking out more information on the subject after initially playing the game.

- They found that with 'High Tea' players were debating and discussing the ethical implications of the actions taken by the British in the 'Opium Wars'. Whereas with 'Axon' players were clicking the link provided to learn more about their neuron level (as a way of score ranking - I loved this idea). Below is a screenshot of my first attempt at the game, and my Wikipedia link;

- In both cases it was found that players really engaged with the factual basis and grounding to the games and that it was a 'turn-on not a turn-off'! However the games do have to be really fun in order for them to compete with non-educational games. It is always important to follow up on the creation of your game to get constructive feedback / research statistics.

- Henson summarised the flow of ideas in the following list;

And Finally I will complete this post with some wisdom from the women themselves (and also from Gina Jackson the organiser)

- Remember that you are making a business, not a game. Be prepared to let go of your hands-on approach for a more effective managerial role within the company.

- Do not underestimate the power and need for a strong sales/marketing element within your company.

- Good leadership (and indeed design) is through listening, not talking.

- People do business with people they like, get along with, respect, trust. Ask yourself "Why would they trust me to make their game?" If you cant provide evidence enough to convince, you aren't doing things right. 

- No-one will give you a chance in the industry until you prove yourself whether that be through your portfolio, work experience, or indeed making your own game as proof.

- Seek guidance from anyone and everyone you can to try and gain some hind-sight / wisdom.