Game Gallery Amusements

Contact: Kirsten Khire, Communication Arts and Sciences, (517) 355-3410; or Russ White, University Relations, (517) 432-0923, whiterus@msu.edu
9/15/2005
EAST LANSING, Mich.  The next generation of video games will be explored at an international conference at Michigan State University.
The International Academic Conference on the Future of Game Design and Technology takes place Oct. 13-15 in the MSU Union.
“The goal of Future Play is to bring together academics, industry representatives and students to advance game design and technology through peer-reviewed research, creative and experimental game design and development, and formal and informal discussion on academic and industry-related topics,” said Brian Winn, MSU assistant professor of telecommunication, information studies and media and one of the organizers of the conference.
The conference focuses on three main themes.
Future game development, addressing academic research and emerging industry trends in game technology and game design.
Future game impacts and applications, including academic research and emerging industry trends focused on designing games for learning, for serious purposes and to impact society.
Future game talent, designed to provide a number of industry and academic perspectives on the knowledge, skills and attitude it takes to excel in the games industry.
Future Play will address these issues through keynote addresses from leaders in academia and industry; peer-reviewed paper sessions; panel sessions, including academic and industry discussions; design, technology and career workshops; posters; games; and the latest game technologies and supports from industry-leading vendors.
The highlight of the games exhibition is a peer-reviewed competition of games in three categories: Future (experimental) Games, Serious Games and Student Games.
Participating video games industry icons including Chris Hecker from Maxis in California (creators of the Sims series); Ernest Adams from International Hobo in the UK (audio/video producer of John Madden Football); Brenda Brathwaite from Cyberlore Studios, Massachusetts (designer of the award winning Wizardry and Jagged Alliance games, as well as Playboy: The Mansion); and Greg Costikyan from Nokia Research Center, New York, are either running workshops or lecturing.
The Future Play conference builds on the recent game-related activity at MSU that includes the launch of a Game Design and Development specialization this fall in the Department of Telecommunication, Information Studies, and Media.
Known internationally as a major U.S. public university with global reach, MSU has been advancing knowledge and transforming lives through innovative teaching, research, and outreach for nearly 150 years. The MSU Department of Telecommunication, Information Studies, and Media creates, develops, and applies knowledge of media systems and services for the benefit of students, academy, industry, and society, empowering students to thrive in an information society.
Future Play grew out of the former Computer Game Technology Conference initiated and run by Algoma University College in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada. Algoma is home to more than 1,300 students with more than 25 degree programs.
Full conference details and online registration are available at www.futureplay.org