Casual Connect Seattle 2011 schedule

Tuesday 19th July 2011

• Delivering High-End Games To Mainstream Audiences

  by Torsten Reil

  In 2001, Torsten brought his research in biomechanics and kinetics to the movie industry revolutionizing realistic and immersive character interaction on the big screen. We are certain that you have seen Torsten’s work in movies such as the Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, Troy and Poseidon where computer animation of human and animal avatars gave rise to breathtakingly real sequences in the virtual world.

  Torsten has proven through his success in using neural networks and artificial evolution applied to self-animating characters that using organic models with bones, muscles and a nervous system results in realism not achieved by other methods.

  As increasingly powerful platforms have brought a multitude of gaming experiences to the mainstream entertainment audience, many of these experiences lack a depth and richness factor that truly engage players. Those days are gone as NaturalMotion has brought life to games including Grand Theft Auto IV, Red Dead Redemption and Star Wars: The Force Unleashed.

  • Biomechanics
  • Casual Games

  At 9:00am to 9:30am, Tuesday 19th July

  Coverage video

• 10 Things I Hate About Casual Games

  by David Roberts

  Dave Roberts will highlight the 10 worst things about being a casual game developer and whine about why they won’t get fixed in the next 10 years. He promises to include all forms of casual games in his rant, including social and mobile as well as the traditional download space.

  • Casual Games

  At 10:30am to 11:30am, Tuesday 19th July

  Coverage video

Wednesday 20th July 2011

• A Bird In The Hand: How to Make Your IP Work for You

  by Peter Vesterbacka

  In a hit-driven, mass-market entertainment medium like casual games, creating a brand that can be leveraged and extended in a variety of ways helps insure your brand’s value in the future. Building a hit game is a critical (and really difficult) part of this equation, but it is only the beginning. Long-term brand value is a volatile mix of appeal, recognizability, promotional reach, sharability, and popularity. Of course, if this was easy, then everyone would do it. Come listen to Peter Vesterbacka talk about the "Angry Birds" phenomenon and how Rovio plans to leverage the “Angry Birds” brand in a long-term play.

  • Angry Birds

  At 9:30am to 10:30am, Wednesday 20th July

  Coverage video