Panel & Speaker Schedule
Below you’ll find a complete and detailed overview of the Conference schedule, taking place on Saturday july 19, from 9:00 to 5:00.
9:00 - 9:10 Introduction and Welcome
Sean C. Stacey and Jonathan Waite
9:15 - 10:00 ARGs and Extended Media Experiences (Panel Discussion)
Evan Jones, Moderator; Yomi Ayeni, Blair Erickson, Elan Lee, Lance Weiler, panelists
Alternate reality gaming and traditional media have always had an interesting relationship, and extended media experiences are an important part of the history of ARGs. This panel features experts in creating extended experiences for all types of media, including television, film, and video games.
10:00 - 10:15 Break
10:15 - 11:00 Serious / Independent Games (Panel Discussion)
Ken Eklund, Moderator; Brian Clark, Alice Leung, Dave Szulborski, panelists
This panel discussion features four individuals who are no strangers to creating chaotic fiction that tackles some of the most important issues of our lives. Whether its global warming, oil consumption or human behaviour, ARGs are helping to shape the future, as these panelists know firsthand.
11:05 - 11:50 ARGs and the Rules of Engagement (Showcase Presentation)
Steve Peters
Your audience can be your biggest ally, your fiercest adversary or your creative partner, depending on the design choices you make. Steve Peters talks about the design philosophy, importance, lessons learned and common pitfalls of engaging an audience. And then comes the fun (hard) part – nurturing that relationship over time.
11:50 - 1:15 Lunch
1:15 - 1:45 The Future of Alternate Reality Gaming (Speech Blitz)
Ten speakers, three minutes for each speech.
Under the stress of a three minute time limit, watch as ten individual speakers express their views and opinions on the future of alternate reality gaming. Eight of the speakers are professionals in the industry, while two are attendees who have earned the chance to speak. It should be an interesting blitz of talking points and discussion items, so hang on to your seat!
1:45 - 2:30 ARG International (Panel Discussion)
Brian Clark, Moderator; Geneviève Cardin, Patrick Moeller, Alexander Serrano, panelists
Sprechen Sie Deutsch? Parlez-vous français? ARGs have indeed gone international, with new games popping up in European, Asian and South American locales in the past few years. This discussion should be highly informative as more and more ARGs transcend the language barrier and move into the mainstream media on a worldwide scale.
2:30 - 2:45 Break
2:45 - 3:30 Long Live Unfiction (Presentation)
Sean C. Stacey
It started in 2002 as a place for founder Sean Stacey to organize resources for alternate reality games, and even as the community at Unfiction has grown, the fundamentals seem to have stayed the same. This session will provide audience members the chance to ask Sean about the inner workings of Unfiction.
3:35 - 4:20 From Player to Puppetmaster (PLAYER REQUESTED Panel Discussion)
Michelle Senderhauf, Moderator; Jan Libby, Lindsay Mills, Andrea Phillips, Jonathan Waite, panelists
While the curtain that separates the audience from the performers is purely symbolic in alternate reality gaming, that doesn’t prevent many on the viewing side to want to cross over to the creation side. The five members of this panel know firsthand what it means to move into professional roles within ARG, and they are more than happy to offer insight through their experiences in this discussion.
4:30 - 5:00 The Story Inside: Making ARGs for Fun and Profit (Keynote Speech)
Dave Szulborski
This talk will explore the importance of storytelling in Alternate Reality Games, the process of turning a story into an interactive real-time ARG experience, and the story of going from player to amateur to professional game developer, illustrated with real world examples from a dozen amateur and commercial ARG campaigns. Or, why good stories persist long after the gameplay has ended.
