While we are talking conferences, is only a few weeks to the Edinburgh Games fest, which has been re-branded (don’t you just hate that phrase) and is now called the Edinburgh Interactive Entertainment Festival – what games not good enough for you, eh, eh!!!
Anyway forget the pretentious ‘inclusive’ title. Don’t worry it’s all about the game. This year’s format seems pretty much the same as last year. There is a short industry conference, a bunch of ‘screenings’ and a chance to get you hands on fun – and bestest of all it’s all set within the Edinburgh Fringe festival so, if nothing else, it’s a great excuse to immerse you self in one of the best arts festivals in, well, Edinburgh, OK if not this part of the western spiral arm of the galaxy.
For me the screenings are the most rewarding part of the event. Last year I got to see the truly awesome Lego Star Wars presented by the highly enthusiastic creators and managed to have a public row with developers of the depressingly crass Incredibles game – the screenings are open to the public so you can join in too.
Unfortunately the event seems pretty MMO lite – so no reprise of last year’s dust up with EAs Jeff Brown (see EAs Eyes wide shut). Though, Clive Roberts from developer Deep Red will be talking about “Actual Virtual Reality” which I believe is sim focused but may touch on our slice of virtual multiverse.
R> Unfortunately the event seems pretty MMO lite
Unless they changed the schedule, I think Raph is going to be doing a thing with a panel of currently unknown industry experts, right?
Posted by: greglas | Jul 24, 2005 at 10:59
Alas, the schedule has indeed changed and I won't be there. I was supposed to be (and Alice went to Herculean efforts to make it happen) but then my bosses here scheduled the once-a-year-unmissable-executive-offsite right on top of it. :(
Posted by: Raph | Jul 24, 2005 at 15:53
That's a bummer. Don't know where your SOE picnic is, but Edinburgh is a fabulous place to hang out...
Posted by: greglas | Jul 24, 2005 at 16:09
Linden's Philip Rosedale is on a panel with NCSoft's Jeff Gaffney hosted by Seamus Blackley. AFAIK, he's planning to attend.
Posted by: Cory Ondrejka | Jul 24, 2005 at 22:59
The problem with holding the event in tandem with the Edinburgh Fringe is that all the hotels are booked solid. If you didn't book months in advance, don't live locally or don't mind flying in and out in one day, it's going to be tricky attending...
Richard
Posted by: Richard Bartle | Jul 25, 2005 at 03:32
And it’s very expensive to stay. Actually it’s probably cheaper for me to fly in and fly home each day, though not exactly practical.
Posted by: ren | Jul 25, 2005 at 08:19