THE CONGRESS

| German | Event Overview | Show | Expo | Tickets | Venue | Media | Partners | Contact | 

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2008
ARENA FILMCITY, SIHLCITY ZURICH.
1:30 pm - 6:30 pm.
Tickets (early bird rate before October 22).
Program flyer | pdf |
Program / speakers: see below.
Under the patronage of the City of Zurich.

At the third Zurich GAMEHOTEL CONGRESS, high-profile international specialists spotlight the growing influence of video games in the marketplace, society and culture. This year’s focus is on how game mechanics and so-called funware are successfully used outside the games industry.

Design strategies from digital games play an increasingly important role in today's entertainment, consumer, and communication worlds. They are applied to develop products and services, in the media, and in brand communication. Everything should offer more fun, more interaction and participation – from daily news consumption to shopping to doing tax returns.

The top-notch GAMEHOTEL CONGRESS offers decision makers, opinion leaders, and practitioners in the media, marketing, advertisement, and the creative industries highly inspiring first-hand insights into critical trends and developments, and brings them up to speed on new business opportunities. The trademark lineup of leading speakers provides attendees with premium information through inspiring keynotes, talks, and panel sessions.

Opening Keynote: Everything could (and should) be more fun.
Gabe Zichermann, CEO rmbr (New York)

Visionary Keynote: Player Creativity and the Future of User Generated Content.
Chris Hecker, Game visionary, EA/Maxis (San Francisco)

:: PROGRAM ::

-----------------------------
:: 1:30 pm SESSION ONE ::
-----------------------------

WELCOMING ADDRESS

IMPULSE STATEMENT
CHEFSACHE GAMES
Bruno Beusch - TNC Network (F)
The GAMEHOTEL director, and managing director of TNC Network, kicks off the congress with a rundown on the current trends at the hot spots of interactive entertainment, social media, and marketing, and takes a look at the increasing influence of game mechanics in today’s entertainment, consumer, and communication worlds. (German)

OPENING KEYNOTE
EVERYTHING CAN (AND SHOULD) BE MORE FUN
Gabe Zichermann – RMBR (USA)
The CEO of New York-based startup rmbr.com explores the idea of a future that will need to feel more like a game. From food shopping to volunteerism, and online banking to travel, funware will make its way into our society and profoundly affect the way consumers interact with brands, products and services. The opening keynote will investigate current instances of funware, as well as some emerging examples of the future. (English)

-----------------------------
:: 2:15 pm SESSION TWO ::
-----------------------------

PLAY THE NEWS!
Eric Brown – ImpactGames (USA)
The CEO of ImpactGames presents his company’s innovative PlayTheNews platform set to change news consumption from passive reading to active engagement through the use of game mechanics. He discusses the motivations for creating compelling interactive experiences around current events, and addresses the challenges the shifting news media industry is facing. (English)

FITNESS GAMING
Tom Söderlund – Zyked (SWE)
The CEO of startup company Zyked, and renowned mobile gaming pioneer, shows how he uses the qualities of games, such as the pizazz to draw people in, and the reward systems to keep them hooked, to make exercising more fun. He gives an overview of how different exergaming applications such as Zyked, Wii Fit, or Nike+ incorporate gameplay elements. (English)

DO YOU PLAY YET, OR ARE YOU STILL WORKING?
Conversation with  Steven Poole – Author and columnist (F/UK)
The influential author, and legendary columnist at leading industry publication Edge magazine, talks with GAMEHOTEL director Bruno Beusch about the increasing blurring of boundaries between work and play in our lives. (English)

BREAK & NETWORKING

-------------------------------
:: 4:15 pm SESSION THREE ::
-------------------------------

GAMES MEET TV - DISCOVEREYE
Stephan Würmlin – LiberoVision (CH)
The CEO of innovative startup LiberoVision demos the company’s unique DiscoverEye solution. The revolutionary 3D technology for sports media, used by clients such as US sports channel ESPN, German national TV ZDF, or French Orange TV, allows spectators to visualize live sports events from unlimited perspectives, just like in a videogame. (English) 

MORE THAN GAMES - CRYENGINE2
Bernd Diemer – Crytek (D)
The producer at Germany’s most successful game studio demonstrates how their ground-breaking CryEngine2 software is not only used to produce top-quality games, but is also applied in various non-gaming fields such as architecture, animated movie production, or education. (German)

PANEL: REALITY CHECK – GAMES, FUNWARE, AND BEYOND
How do game mechanics and design elements from digital games inspire product and service design? What are the challenges and opportunities of a game-centric approach in brand communication, in social media, and in the entertainment industries? Where are the biggest near-term chances for success?  (English)
Gabe Zichermann - rmbr
Eric Brown - ImpactGames (USA)
Bernd Diemer - Crytek (D)
Daniel Hess - Microsoft (CH)
Tom Söderlund - Zyked (SWE)
Stephan Würmlin - LiberoVision (CH)

----------------------------------
:: 5:45 pm CLOSING SESSION ::
----------------------------------

VISIONARY KEYNOTE
PLAYER CREATIVITY AND USER GENERATED CONTENT
Chris Hecker - Maxis/EA (USA)
The respected game visionary wraps up the conference in style. Discussing some recent examples from games, he shows the breadth of content users can create in interactive worlds. He illustrates how some of the biggest technology success stories increasingly center around leveraging user generated content, and how this "inverting" of the traditional product creation process will affect user engagement and product longevity. (English)

FINAL DISCUSSION & KEY FINDINGS

The congress is hosted by GAMEHOTEL director Bruno Beusch.
Conference languages: German and English (no translation).
Program subject to change.

:: SPEAKERS ::

BRUNO BEUSCH (F) is the managing director of TNC Network, specializing in interactive entertainment, new communication technologies, and digital lifestyle. TNC has earned an international reputation for the development of trend-setting events and conferences. The media producer, long-time adviser to prestigious technology conventions and mentor at digital media thinktanks has consulted extensively with clients in media, industry, and interactive entertainment, and speaks at conferences around the world. Together with Tina Cassani, since 2003 Bruno has headed the successful international event series GAMEHOTEL.

ERIC BROWN (USA) is the CEO of ImpactGames, a company he co-founded to create compelling interactive experiences around current events. ImpactGames' newest product Play the News addresses the shifting online news media industry and aims to change news consumption from passive reading to active engagement.  Eric was listed among the "100 Social Entrepreneurs Changing the World" in Newsweek Japan. Previously, ImpactGames developed PeaceMaker, a video game simulation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The game has been sold in over 60 countries, and has won several international awards. 

BERND DIEMER (D) is a producer at leading German game developer Crytek, which has gained international recognition with its next generation titles featuring spectacular graphics and innovative gameplay. Bernd is consulting with institutions and clients who are using the company’s ground-breaking CryEngine2. The 3D game software is used successfully in various non-gaming contexts. Applications range from architecture, pre-vizualization, animated movie production and cinematic content up to projects in education. 

CHRIS HECKER (USA) counts among the game industry’s most respected visionaries. He is an outspoken advocate for pushing the current boundaries of design and interactivity, so that games will achieve their full potential as this century’s premiere art and entertainment form. His recent work on the ambitious title Spore at Maxis/Electronic Arts has centered around player creativity and agency. Chris has received the prestigious Community Contribution Award at the Game Developers Choice Awards, and is a regular speaker at the GDC, Siggraph, and other conferences. 

DANIEL HESS (CH) is the head of Xbox & Games at Microsoft Switzerland. He spearheaded the market introduction of the Xbox console, and was responsible for the establishment of the Interactive Entertainment Business division. Previously, Daniel was in the marketing and communication business. He holds a degree in business administration, and has just completed an MBA course for media management at Berlin School of Management and Innovation.

STEVEN POOLE (F/UK) is the author of the seminal book Trigger Happy – Video Games and the Entertainment Revolution that counts among the most compelling approaches to the phenomenon of interactive entertainment. The brilliant columnist at leading industry publication Edge Magazine, and one of the gaming industry’s most influential independent observers, is also a regular contributor to The Times and The Guardian, and has written the book Unspeak about contemporary political language.

TOM SÖDERLUND (SWE) is the CEO of exercising/gaming startup company Zyked. The entrepreneur made history eight years ago as the creator of the ground-breaking location-based mobile game Botfighters. The serial innovator has turned his focus on emerging game formats, such as pervasive games, alternate reality games, proximity games, and serious games. His latest venture blends gaming, mobile technology, social networking, and exercising into a new kind of experience. 

STEPHAN WÜRMLIN (CH) is the CEO and co-founder of startup LiberoVision. The innovative company develops revolutionary 3D technology for sports media that allows spectators unlimited insights into live events. The technology, a global first, is currently applied to football as well as American Football. Clients include US sports channel ESPN, German national TV ZDF, Orange TV in France, Swiss Teleclub and Russian Channel 1. LiberoVision was recognized by Red Herring among the 100 „Most promising companies driving the future of technology“, and received the prestigious „Swiss Technology Award 2007“.

GABE ZICHERMANN (USA) is the CEO and Co-Founder of rmbr.com, the preeminent Funware developer and creator of SMS-based social network rmbrME and Facebook photo mashup, Prized Collection. Gabe is a ten-year games industry veteran, having previously worked for CMP Media as the Director of marketing for the Game Developers Conference, Gamasutra and Game Developer magazine, as well as helping to launch and guide Trymedia Systems from start to sale as the first successful online game DRM and distribution company.

:: CONTEXT ::

SEASON SIX
"Zwischen Funware und Game Fatigue", article by GAMEHOTEL director Bruno Beusch, and executive producer Tina Cassani; in: GDI Impuls (Fall 2008) | pdf |

"Chefsache Games"
GAMEHOTEL organizers Bruno Beusch and Tina Cassani on funware and game mechanics; in: persönlich - Zeitschrift für Unternehmensführung, Marketing und Kommunikation (September 2008) | pdf |

SEASON FIVE
"Du bist dran!", article on interactive entertainment and marketing by GAMEHOTEL director Bruno Beusch, and executive producer Tina Cassani; in: GDI Impuls (Summer 2007) | pdf |

"Games als Lifestyle-, Marketing- und Werbemedium"
GAMEHOTEL organizers Bruno Beusch and Tina Cassani on games, marketing and advertising; in: persönlich - Zeitschrift für Unternehmensführung, Marketing und Kommunikation (August 2007) | pdf |

SEASON FOUR
"Supermacht Interaktive Unterhaltung", article on the growing influence of video games in the marketplace, society, and the media, by GAMEHOTEL director Bruno Beusch; in: persönlich - Zeitschrift für Unternehmensführung, Marketing und Kommunikation (October 2006) | pdf |