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Leading games companies want to recruit and retain the best. The issue is that the talent pipeline is stalled at the university entrance level as students are, in large numbers, failing to choose computer science and other relevant courses. A further issue is an apparent lack of career progression within the industry, coupled with the comparatively fast obsolescence of skills - inevitable in a fast-moving industry.
Exploring solutions based on practical insight, the panelists draw on their own challenges, success stories and every-day experiences to arrive at a solution that will form the basis of a new and fresh debate.
- Matthew Jeffery of EA discusses the future for the industry from his perspective of talent management within EA
- John Nordlinger of Microsoft Research will reveal lessons learned about the success of 'the rise of the talent competition' in connection with the Microsoft sponsored Imagination Cup in Paris (this is the first year with a games track) and the success of the Microsoft Academic Day for Computer Science Education (a 5 day closed conference for games industry professionals and academics on a cruise ship in Florida)
- Paul Durrant of Abertay University and Director of the longest running and successful young games talent competition: Dare to be Digital, will provide a seasoned view on 'talent competitions that work' and new opportunities for academics beyond undergraduate or Masters courses
- Sanjay Mistry of EA University will reveal lessons learned about CPD (continuing professional development), and
- Dominic Davenport of leading training organisation Escape Studios will propose new ideas for the future of training for games professionals.
About Academic Meets Industry Summit
Academic Meets Industry Summit is a focused event within the Visual Web Convention 9-10th July, London.
About Visual Web Convention
With 45+ speakers, the Visual Web Convention 9-10th July in London, is the first event to showcase, debate and identify the opportunities for application and monetization of the Visual Web 2.0 and online communities across games, brands, learning, media & communications with a focus on virtual worlds, MMOs, social networks and serious games.
The sessions provide delegates with a 12 month strategy roadmap based on case studies for monetizing the Visual Web and online communities. They: learn about the impact of open API and widgets - discover the roadmap for mobile social networks and interconnectivity - hear how to exploit the current 500m + community members in existing social networks and how to build the next-gen social network to leapfrog Facebook and Bebo.
The Convention, to be held at RIBA, comprises 4 main events each separately bookable, with a focus on:
- Casual games ...Building sustainable communities, opening up Facebook and reaching 500m+ established social networkers.
- Widgets & Gadgets ...How this-gen Web, with prolific open APIs and widgets, is driving commerce, building communities and brands - including games and media.
- Virtual worlds & MMOs ...New platform for the Web? Life-style games? MMOs? What is the value, opportunity and roadmap? Who are the key players and what are the right platforms for you to develop new games on?
- Serious games & learning ...Appropriate use of Web 2.0, ARGs, virtual worlds and serious games to learning, awareness and policy. In addition, are climate change games a new family-friendly genre for games publishers?
- The Talent Crunch ...How to find and then keep key talent in the creative digital industries. The definitive Academic Meets Industry Consultation!
45 + Speakers include:
- Lord David Puttnam
- Eric Winbolt - Head of Digital at EMI Records
- John Nordlinger - Program Manager, Microsoft Research
- Matt Spall - MD, Morpheme Games Studios (part of Eidos)
- Sebastien de Halleux - COO, Play Fish
- Kevin McNulty - President, Coole Immersive
- Matthew Jeffery - Head of Global Talent Brand, Electronic Arts
- Sanjay Mistry - VP, EA University
- Dan Hon - CEO, Six to Start
- Margaret Robertson - Journalist & Consultant
- Gobion Rowlands - CEO, Red Redemption
- Bruce Joy - CEO, Vastpark
- Jo Roach - Commissioning Editor, Channel 4
- Claus Nehmzow - MD, Method Ltd
- Martin Mackain Bremner - Learning Programme Manager, Defence Academy UK
- Prof Alan Hatcher - CEO, Homeland Security Group
- Jason Ryan - iCrossing
- Tom Nixon - Nixon McInnes
- Paul Durrant - Business Director, Abertay University
- Thomas Bidaux - VP, Avaloop
- David Solari - VP Online, Codemasters
- Thor Gunnarsson - VP, CCP Games (Eve Online)
- Sean Dromgoole - CEO, Some Research
- Frank Jennings - Associate Solicitor, DMH Stallard
- Kevin Corti - CEO, PIXELearning
- Paul Miller - CEO, School of Everything
- David MacQueen - Senior Mobile Analyst, Screen Digest
- Dave Taylor - Senior Virtual Worlds Researcher, Imperial College
- Ivan Pope - CEO, Sniperoo
- Dr Pamela M Kato - University Medical Centre, Netherlands, Former Co-founder and CEO, Hopelab.
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