TRANSMEDIA TRACK

Nordic Game is repeating the success of 2011, inviting producers/developers from film, tv and games to attend Nordic Game and a pre-conference event on financing on May 23rd. The event is made possible by our partners: Nordic Film&TV Fund, The Norwegian Film Institute, The Danish Film Institute, The Swedish Film Institute, Kulturkraft Syd, The Canadian Embassy to Sweden and The Nordic MEDIA desks. 

Program 24 May

Blackberry Theater, 24 May, 10:00-11:00
SECRET IDENTITY: HOW GEARBOX SOFTWARE MANAGES ITS IMAGE
With Randy Pitchford, President, Gearbox Software
As developers of original IP (such as Borderlands and Brothers in Arms) as well as licensed IP (such as Half-Life, Halo, and Aliens), this talk focuses on how Gearbox Software defines and maintains its own identity and culture both publicly and internally.

Room Oslo, 24 May, 11:15-12:00
GENERATION C - THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT
With Christian Fonnesbech, Director, Windelov/Lassen Interactive, Brenda Bailey Gershkovitch, Silicon Sisters, and Sara Bergmark Elfgren, writer, freelance
Moderated by Alison Norrington, CEO & Founder, storycentral
Rather than a new niche generation of young people, Gen C are digital natives, creative, digitally agile and plugged in to a host of social media. This session focuses on fresh approaches to Young Adult entertainment that is story-focussed, interactive, immersive, and social-media heavy. The domain of ‘gaming’ no longer simply sits with the boys and with story-rich experiences on and offline, options for drawing YA audiences are bigger than ever. This session will look at how to reach out to YA where they’re already hanging out; the importance of ‘story’ and how this impacts on followers/likes/shares, the notion of game-play vs story and creating the right balance of experience.

12:00 LUNCH

Blackberry Theater, 24 May, 13:00-13:45
THE SLOW DEATH OF PUNK ROCK
With Ste Curran, Director, Secret Crush
An atmospheric monologue about identifying and building for a new demographic in videogames: the Post-Hardcore. Ste Curran looks at historical parallels with the music industry, the things videogames have to do to grow, creatively and emotionally, and how we can recapture the people who think they've seen it all before.

Room Oslo, 24 May, 14:00-14:45
CHARACTERS AND THE WORLDS THEY INHABIT
With Nathan Jurevicius, Scarygirl/Peleda
Nathan Jurevicius will focus on two of his brands, Scarygirl and Peleda. The presentation will focus on how they were first established, nurtured over a 10 year lifespan and expanded into multiple platforms.

Blackberry Theater, 24 May, 15:00-16:00
Keynote:
WHY GAMES NEED TRANSMEDIA
With Andrea Phillips, Deus Ex Machinatio
Games already feature many of the elements that make transmedia so compelling -- but branching into transmedia storytelling can lead to richer games and more vibrant fandoms. Learn why and how game designers should extend their IP across multiple media.

Blackberry Theater, 24 May, 16:15-17:30
LIVE PITCH SESSION
The finalists in the 2012 Nordic Pitching competition display their business skills and acumen in front of in front of a group of investors and business development experts, who will name one the winner of a 10k€ investment by Nordic Game Fund.
Judges and Panelists: Paul Heydon, Managing Director, Avista Partners, Ian Baverstock, Tenshi Consulting, Thomas Bidaux, ICO Partners, Mary Carty, CEO, Spoiltchild, Kwasi Asare, Fighter, Marko Tulonen, Vision+ Fund, and Doug Richard
Presented by Richard Phillips and Fred Hasson, Games Capital

Registration Area, 24 May, 17:30-18:00
INDUSTRY SPEED DATING
Industry speed dating is the perfect cure for making contacts without the anxiety of making the first move. It's a quick and easy, totally analog way of meeting new and interesting people. Annika guarantees laughter and bright new connections!!
Headmaster, Annika Gustafson, Transmedia Commissio, BoostHbg

 Program 25 May

Blackberry Theater, 25 May, 10:00-11:00
Keynote:
DON'T EXPECT ANYTHING ORIGINAL FROM ECHO
With Jonathan Jacques-Belletête, Art Director, Square Enix/Eidos Montréal
Methods to create new visions by juxtaposing eclectic variables together in order to generate unique flavors and directions in a game; as well as insights in my global process and approach to art direction.

Room Helsinki, 25 May, 11:15-12:00
NORDIC CHILDREN'S TRANSMEDIA - CASE STUDIES
With Frank Mosvold, Producer, Kool Produktion, and Ida Brinck Lund, CEO, Artofcrime
Moderated by Josephine Rydberg Lidén, teacher, SADA (StDH)
In this session we will get to know two of our nordic production companies who take children very seriously in order to create the best kind of fun for them, mixing new media experiences with old media tradition. The optimistic Elleville Elfrid (eng: Sunshine Kathy, by Kool) is an animated character for the 3-6year olds and Crimeville (by Art of Crime) is the place to be for sleuths between 6-12 year olds.

 12:00 LUNCH

Blackberry Theater, 25 May, 13:00-13:45
EXPANDING GAME OF THRONES INTO GAMES AND TRANSMEDIA
With Yves Bordeleau, Studio Director, Cyanide Studio, Montreal, in conversation with Asta Wellejus, Interactive pioneer, Die Asta Experience
How do you bring the storyworld from George Martin’s books to life in a console game - and what do you do when HBO beats you to define the look of the world? And what would a transmedia expert do with the world of Game of Thrones if she got the chance? Story Architect Asta Wellejus (Die Asta Experience) meets Yves Bordeleau (Cyanide Studio, Montreal) for an exploration on Game of Thrones from both a games and transmedia perspective.

Room Oslo, 25 May, 14:00-14:45
THE SPIRAL DANCE
- Game and participation design meets European broadcasting
With Martin Ericsson, Gamemaster, Bardo AB
Three years, seven broadcasters, countless hours of design and production are about to manifest as The Spiral. On 2 September this major mainstream transmedia game hits flatscreens all over northern Europe. Game and community designer Martin Ericsson speaks on the challenges and pleasures of designing games integrated with a high-end TV drama.

Room Oslo, 25 May, 15:00-15:45
CROSSING THE THRESHOLD
With Joel Bylos, Funcom
A look at the power of virtual storytelling and bringing those stories beyond virtual worlds.

Blackberry Theater, 25 May, 16:15-17:00
GRAND FINALE DEBATE
Led by Jason Della Rocca, Founder, Perimeter Partners

Inspired by last year's raucous meta game debate, this year's grand finale will once again challenge participants, and embarrass the meek.

SPEAKERS

Seminar

Randy Pitchford
companyy
Bio:

Randy Pitchford, as President of Gearbox Software, has been an Executive Producer Director, Producer, Designer, Writer, Programmer and Artist on the studio's games.

Seminar

Christian Fonnesbech, Director
Windelov/Lassen Interactive
Bio:

After 35+ online projects, Christian Fonnesbech is currently directing Cloud Chamber, a persistent online mystery starring Jesper Christensen and Gethin Anthony – Cloud Chamber is produced by Stinna Lassen and Vibeke Windeløv.

Seminar

Brenda Bailey Gershkovitch
Silicon Sisters
Bio:

Brenda is the CEO of Silicon Sisters Interactive Inc. since 2010 and was previously the C.O.O. of Deep Fried Entertainment, since 2004, a PSP, DS and Wii 3rd party Development studio working for Sega and Take Two Sports. Brenda’s newest endeavor is Silicon Sisters Interactive, a female focused studio building games for Women and Girls, based on research into the female pysche. Launched in May 2010, the studio has successfully introduced a tween series called School26 to iO/S and Android Markets, and is currently working on a romance title. Bailey Gershkovitch frequently speaks at Conferences on a wide range of issues including: Women in Games, Change Management, and Emerging Video Games Markets. She is a Founder of Women in Games Vancouver, a board member of the Canadian Video Game Awards (2009 to 2011) and an Advisory Board member of GDC Canada (2010).

Seminar

Sara Bergmark Elfgren, Writer

Bio:

Sara Bergmark Elfgren is part of the writing duo behind the successful Engelsfors trilogy. She is also a screenwriter. http://www.grandagency.se/authors/b_elfgren_strandberg/index.htm

Seminar

Alison Norrington, CEO & Founder
Storycentral
Bio:

StoryWorld Conference Chairperson, writer, novelist & playwrite who consults to entertainment industry on transmedia strategies, participative experiences, production, architecture and planning, whilst utilizing social media.

Seminar

Ste Curran, Director
Secret Crush
Bio:

Creative Director, writer, radio show host and start-up founder, Ste Curran likes videogames, music, showing off and secrets.

Seminar

Nathan Jurevicius
Scarygirl/Peleda
Bio:

Australian/Canadian Illustrator best known for his Scarygirl and Peleda brand of toys, games, graphic novel and art shows.

Seminar

Andrea Phillips
Deus Ex Machinatio
Bio:

Transmedia writer and game designer (Perplex City, Routes, America 2049, The Maester's Path) and author (A Creator's Guide to Transmedia Storytelling.)

Seminar

Paul Heydon, Managing Director
Avista Partners
Bio:

Paul covers the digital media sector at Avista Partners where he has advised companies like PlayJam and Unity Technologies. Paul is also a Partner at London Venture Partners which invests in the game sector.

Seminar

Ian Baverstock
Tenshi Consulting
Bio:

Consultant and investor in the games industry. Formerly CEO at Kuju Entertainment and Chairman of Tiga.

Seminar

Thomas Bidaux

ICO Partners
Bio:

Thomas has been in the online game business since 1999. Since 2008 he has his own consulting firm helping firms such as Riot Games, Wargaming.net and NHN on the European market.

Seminar

Mary Carty, CEO
Spoiltchild
Bio:

Mary is an entrepreneur. Her passion is bringing entrepreneurial thinking to the creative sector, to deliver future sustainability or organisations, creatives and artists.

Seminar

Kwasi Asare, CEO

Fighter
Bio:

Kwasi Asare Founder/CEO FIGHTER Interactive Kwasi was the mastermind behind Sean "Diddy" Combs' new media empire, simultaneously overseeing the development & marketing for Diddy's brands, including: Ciroc, Sean John Fragrance, Sean John Clothing and Bad Boy Entertainment. While leading Bad Boy's new media initiatives, Kwasi devised the communication and technology driven marketing strategies for a wide range of campaigns including: The Ciroc Vodka Launch,Diddy, Jay-Z & Mary J Blige's Barack Obama Election Campaign (2008), NOTORIOUS BIG "Greatest Hits and NOTORIOUS Soundtrack, Diddy's "Press Play" album, Danity Kane's "Welcome To The Dollhouse" album, Yung Joc's "New Joc City" album,Cassie (Various singles), Janelle Monae's "Metropolis: Suite I (The Chase)", the"Unforgivable" & "I Am King" fragrance launches, the "I Want to Work for Diddy" TV show,"Making The Band", "A Raisin in The Sun",The "Notorious" Movie and the "Bad Boys of Comedy". Throughout his storied career he has executed global marketing campaigns for artists and brands such as: Ice Cube, Prince, Pharrell Williams, Wu Tang Clan, LL Cool J, Outkast, Gnarls Barkley, John Legend, Snoop Dogg, Mary J Blige,The Roots,The Fugees, Ricky Martin,Funkadelic,Cypress Hill, Diageo, Sony Music and Estee Lauder. Kwasi currently is the CEO of FIGHTER Interactive, Inc.FIGHTER Interactive, Inc. builds celebrity and brand driven games and applications for the Facebook, iPhone,Android, and iPad platforms. Kwasi began his career as an Investment Banker at Citigroup's' Salomon Smith Barney after graduating from The University of Pennsylvania with a degree in International Politics.

Seminar

Marko Tulonen
Vision+ Fund
Bio:

Marko has over fourteen years professional background in enterprise development, internationalization, investment management, new business and corporate venturing in the fields of telecommunications, software and digital media, and venture capital industries.

Marko was one of the three founders of Mediatonic Fund, innovative game and media brand Investment Company. Previously, he was Investment Director and Partner at Innofinance and he has also served as a trade-council at Finnish Embassy in Riga and led business development as the head of Finpro Baltic Countries.

Seminar

Doug Richard, CEO/Founder
School For Startups
Bio:

A successful entrepreneur with 20 years’ experience. He featured in the first two TV series of Dragon’s Den and is Founder of School For Startups.

Seminar

Richard Phillips, Dr.
Games Capital
Bio:

Investment readiness mentor. Games Capital Associate.

Seminar

Fred Hasson, CEO
Games Capital
Bio:

Business Development, Funding and Financing, Network of mentors, angels and VCs. Ex founder and CEO Tiga, ex Founder and Chairman EGDF, previously director dotcom Victoria Real, TV and Film sectors

Seminar

Annika Gustafson, Transmedia Commissioner
BoostHbg
Bio:

She's the Nordic countries’ first Transmedia Commissioner, but Annika prefers to call herself a Creative Problem Solver. She's seasoned in the international film business and loves putting people together.

Seminar

Jonathan Jacques-Belletête, Art Director
Square Enix/Eidos Montreal
Bio:

+ Art Director of Deus Ex: Human Revolution

Seminar

Frank Mosvold
companyy
Bio:

Frank Mosvold has a MFA in Film Production from Loyola Marymount University (L.A.). He produced several award winning short films, written books for kids and produced animated tv-series and apps.

Seminar

Ida Brinck Lund, CEO
Artofcrime
Bio:

Ida Brinck-Lund, journalist, CEO, founder of Artofcrime and the kids digital trans media universe "Crimeville". She has previously worked with childrens contents in DRTV, TV2, Chili Media, Disney and more.

Seminar

Josephine Rydberg Lidén
companyy
Bio:

Has worked with development of projects and talent as regional commissioner for short and documentary film. Teaches at SADA; Cross-media, from Storytelling to Distribution.

Seminar

Yves Bordeleau
Cyanide Studio
Bio:

Seasoned entrepreneur and versatile creative producer, Yves is at the helm of Cyanide Studio's Canadian branch in Montreal.

Seminar

Asta Wellejus
Die Asta Experience
Bio:

Transmedia director/producer. Headhunted by Lars von Trier in 1997 to create interactive formats, CEO/co-founder of Zentropa Interaction in 1999. Developed/produced 45+ interactive productions. Works internationally for broadcast/films/museums/cities. Biggest audience succes: The Globe, 7.mill+ users in 10 days, on mobile, web, cityspace installation.

Seminar

Martin Ericsson, Gamemaster
Bardo AB
Bio:

Lifelong participation designer and key figure in the nordic larp scene aiming to bring co-creative drama to the mainstream working with partners like Company P, Tim Kring and Joss Whedon.

Seminar

Joel Bylos
Funcom
Bio:

Lead Content Designer on The Secret World, an upcoming Massively Multiplayer Online Game from Funcom.

Seminar

Jason Della Rocca, Founder
Perimeter Partners
Bio:

Jason is a game business consultant working with game studios, publishers, media companies and governments from around the world. His rolodex is HUGE.