This week, the digerati from around the world descend on Austin, TX, the coolest place in the Lone Star State, for the annual South by Southwest Interactive conference. There will be a strong contingent of games folks there, using this as a platform to mingle with cool people outside their comfort zones and to practice their pitches before they hit the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco the following week. I'll be reporting back from SxSWi with the latest news from the Screenburn games track, plus any other game-y things that are happening (in addition, of course to the Screenburn Arcade).
In the meantime, here are the gamesblog's games-related panel picks for the SxSWi-bound.
Friday 13 March
Funologists Live & In Person: Guerilla Game Research
If you work at a game company, research means understanding play, not analyzing boring spreadsheets. Meet Big Fish Games and Pogo funologists and learn how listening and watching gamers transforms product and web design. We share different innovative guerilla (discount) and traditional research methods to inspire user-centered design.
Games By the People, For the People
We are on the precipice of a new age in independent gaming, with more options than ever before for developers at every level to bring their dreams to life and share them with a public that is ravenous for new and innovative ideas. Stop focusing on all of the challenges that exist for indie developers in the world of big budget sequels, and explore the enormous user-generated content opportunities available to anyone interested in game design. Whether your goal is to make millions, or just get your ideas out into the world, this panel has something for you.
Saturday 14th March
Being Indie and Successful in the Video Game Industry
Join several successful indie game developers as they discuss the state of the indie video game scene, talk about the challenges facing independent developers and publishers, and speculate on what the future holds for indie players in the video game industry.
iPhone: The New Gaming Platform
With the launch of iPhone 3G and the App Store, Apple has created a marketplace for developers to innovate with native applications. One of the greatest successes has been with gaming and entertainment titles, and even Apple has been marketing iPhone as a portable gaming device. Will iPhone and iPod touch rival the dominance of Nintendo DS and Sony PSP? Hear from gaming experts who have embraced iPhone as the new gaming platform.
Sunday 15th March
Game Design Competition / Casual Games
The Casual game design category from the 2009 ScreenBurn at SXSW Game Design Competition will have an hour-long panel, composed of four professional and modern game industry experts, to judge and provide meaningful game design feedback. Each of the four finalists will present a 5 minute PowerPoint or Keynote presentation followed by 5 minute Q&A by the panelists. This is intended to be an accelerated simulation of what companies endure when pitching game concepts to publishers. Finally, a grand prize winner in each category will be determined by jury vote and audience reaction.
Monday 16th March
The BBC, Six to Start and ARGs - Bringing TV to the Web
This is an advanced session from Six to Start and Roo Reynolds and Jo Twist from the BBC - learn how broadcasters and new media companies work in bringing about the intersection of broadcast television and online both now and in the future.
Tuesday 17th March
Social Gamers: Away From the Keyboard
Online social networking sites are filled with data, content that can be used to feed rich and entertaining games. What can happen when we leave the computer behind and move gameplay into the real world? Our panel will explore technologies and methods that allow us to step away from the keyboard and create social games that work within the physical world.
Britbash British Music Embassy (Latitude 30)
Hey, the Proclaimers are playing!
Events
Dorkbot
Saturday 14 March
Brush Square Park East Tent (across from the Austin Convention CentThink of it as a science fair with free beer. Ample doses of electricity, tomfoolery, mayhem, makers and music combine to form one exquisite geek talent show. Sponsored by SXSW Interactive, the International Game Developer's Association of Austin and the Digital Media Council.
Monday, March 16
The Go Game
The Go Game's extravaganza at Six will crown a champion of the three day, 24/7 Running With SXSWissors mobile game. Watch teams battle and be the first to experience the highly anticipated "Hijack the Band" game - where the audience controls the show!
If you see anything on the schedule that you'd like me to report back on, please do let me know below, or on Twitter.
