slides & audio(56 MB)
Because every good session deserves a sequel (or, in the case of the casual games industry, 2 or 3 or 4 good sequels), it’s Hype v The Real Deal, Part 2. Members of our elite panel will be queried on a series of key trends in casual games and have to publicly go on the record to proclaim whether that trend full of hot air or is as huge an opportunity as we think it is. Trends to be discussed will include: Flash Web-based games, Casual MMO’s, the trial-to-purchase Model, Advertising, Web 2.0, Subscription Discount Clubs, Eastern European Developers, WiiWare, Webkinz, Hidden object games, Games about fashion, and much much more!
Delivered at Casual Connect Amsterdam, February 2008
DOWNLOAD
Joel Brodie (email)
Joel is the founder of Gamezebo.com, a leading editorial web site and community devoted entirely to casual games. Previously, Joel was head of business development for Yahoo! Games, where he was responsible building numerous enterprising products, including Yahoo! Games Downloads, Games on Demand, and Video Games. Before that, Joel worked business development at Simutronics, a games company that was doing massively multilayer games before they were cool. Joel graduated from University of Maryland with an undergraduate degree in economics and political science, and dreams one day of going back to school to get his MBA once he has made his first couple million (I mean, billion).
Mat Annal (email)
Mat Annal is the Managing Director and co-founder of Nitrome Ltd, a games development studio based in London, UK. Nitrome build free web games in Flash and have licensed them to a variety of clients including Miniclip, MTV and Wrigleys Candystand. Nitrome prides itself on creating games that are fresh and different and with high production values not usually associated with free web games. Nitrome’s games get millions of plays each week, and they have had many hit titles including: Skywire, Toxic, Headcase and the Hot Air series. They now have a total of 26 games and counting since the release of their first game in late 2005. In addition to building the games, they also maintain their own website Nitrome.com on which all of the games can be found.”
Arthur Humphrey (email)
Arthur is founder and CEO of Last Day of Work, a San Francisco based developer of games for the casual audience. Last Day of Work has created an uninterrupted string of hits, including Fish Tycoon, the popular Virtual Villagers series, and the upcoming Plant Tycoon. Arthur started creating games on his VIC-20, including a lovely Pengo clone for ‘public domain’ release. In his spare time he plays even more games, both casual and core. Arthur holds a Bachelor in Business from UCLA and a Bachelor in Computer Science from Hayward State University, and has a level 70 Druid in World of Warcraft.
Ron Powers (email)
Ron was one of the three principals behind GameHouse and created some of the first key strategic relationships with MSN, AOL, EA, Shockwave, and RealNetworks. Ultimately, these partnerships became the conduit by which all other casual game developers would distribute their titles. In addition to establishing this early distribution network with the industry’s largest portals, Ron was also responsible for creating the publishing business for GameHouse. He created relationships with the leading casual game developers and negotiated agreements that ranged from acquisition of key titles to pure distribution.
Here is what Ron has to say:
As a person who’s been in the Casual games space for almost 7 years, I have seen a lot of changes. The industry has grown up a lot, but I believe it is still in its infancy or at least early adolescent stage. The Casual Games business is far from saturated and there is an incredible need for stronger leadership and more cohesive thinking about “where we go from here”. As the business continues to grow I see more consolidation, the need for differentiation within the distribution channels, consumer’s appetite for greater innovation, and the “deals” are going to get much more complex. I believe Oberon is poised to do great things for its partners in all of these areas. The key to Oberon’s success is to continue diversifying services, creating partnerships that yield innovative and new content/environments, and an unrelenting focus on core competencies. As VP of Business Development for Content at Oberon, I look forward to rising to those challenges and reengaging with the Casual Game Industry.
Matt Spall (email)
Matt Spall is Studio Manager of Eidos’s casual and web game studio Morpheme Game Studios. Matt’s career in games started in the mid 80’s when 8-bit was the height of tech and the mullet hairstyle was almost acceptable (yes, he had one!). Matt has worked on game projects for SCi, Virgin Interactive, Psygnosis, Take 2, Morpheme Wireless and is now back with SCi (the parent of Eidos Interactive). Projects that Matt has been involved in include; Prism: Light the Way, Balloon Headed Boy, The Fast and The Furious (mobile), Command & Conquer, Dune 2, SWIV and Silkworm.
Sean Ryan (email)
Sean is the CEO of Meez, a leading casual media company incorporating avatars, online games and virtual worlds. Sean previously served as vice president of music services at RealNetworks, where he managed the music division after selling Listen.com/Rhapsody, where he was CEO. Prior to joining Listen, Sean ran business development for online game company SegaSoft Networks and for Sega’s Dreamcast online network, spent several years at the GAP helping launch the successful Old Navy clothing line, and worked at Chemical Bank. Sean holds an M.B.A. from UCLA’s Anderson Graduate School of Management and a B.A. from Columbia University. He is a board member of casual MMO company TwoFish, and is a former board member & investor in casual game company 3 Rings and in karaoke provider Singshot.
