MIT Business in Gaming Conference

MIT BiG was featured in a segment on G4 interviewing Irrational Games’ founder Ken Levine and discussing innovation in the video game industry.

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The executive director of the International Game Developer’s Association, Gordon Bellamy, said it on Thursday at the MIT Business in Gaming Conference in advance of PAX East – their Boston chapter is the most active one in the world.

“Who in this room is planning to start a game company, of any kind?” asked longtime Massachusetts gaming magnate Jon Radoff, founder of GamerDNA and the new Facebook game “Disrupter Beam.” His audience, at the MIT Sloan School of Management’s Business in Gaming conference Thursday, shot up about half a dozen hands.

The unofficial starting gun was sounded by the third annual MIT Business in Gaming Conference that had grown so fast it had to be moved for the first time outside of MIT, landing this year at the Seaport Hotel on the South Boston waterfront.

Thursday’s Business in Gaming conference, put on by MIT’s Sloan School of Management, showed me that gamers aren’t afraid to say what they really think. And that Facebook is really stirring debate in the industry, as it is in communication, commerce, advertising, and almost anything else we can think of. I caught a lot of candid comments from panelists, who represented all slices of the gaming industry: small indie startups, console developers, social gaming companies, big MMO players, VCs, and lawyers. Check below for a rundown of some of the points that really struck me.

- MIT Sloan Business in Gaming Conference set for March 10^th, 2011 at the Boston Seaport Hotel -

Leading publishers, developers and start-ups to discuss best business practices in the video game industry

Cambridge, MA. On March 10^th, 2011, The MIT Sloan Business in Gaming Conference (MIT BiG) will host eight panel discussions evaluating the business side of the video game industry. Bookended by two keynote presentations, the panel discussions will feature speakers from leading game companies including Capcom, Irrational Games, Rockstar, Harmonix, and Zynga in addition to some of the fastest growing video game start-ups.  Panelists will discuss a wide range of topics including marketing games, business development, analytics, starting a video game company, and development of emerging technologies.

Registration and breakfast will begin at 8:00 AM, in advance of the kick-off keynote presentation by Dr. Richard Bartle, Professor of Computer Game Design at the University of Essex, UK.  Dr. Bartle’s presentation, titled The Five Mistakes Every Game Designer Makes, will analyze whether there are design mistakes so prevalent that they have become accepted by the gaming world.

Panel discussion will continue throughout the day until a closing keynote speech at 5:00 PM by Nik Davidson, a leading MMO designer and Design Director at The Amazing Society/Gazillion. Mr. Davidson’s presentation, titled The Economy of Play, will analyze the economic incentives that drive us to play, and pay for video games.

A detailed schedule can be found here: http://www.mitbig.com/schedule

“Other than MIT BiG, it’s hard to think of anywhere that such a vibrant, eclectic mix of professionals can come together to discuss, rave and rant about the business side of computer games,” said keynote speaker Dr. Richard Bartle. “Established publishers, developers, lawyers, entrepreneurs and academics all have something to bring – and will all find something to take away.”

This year’s conference is sponsored by Goodwin Proctor, Foley Hoag, LLP, Morse Barnes-Brown Pendleton PC, Wolf Greenfield, Game Revolution, and the Boston Redevelopment Authority.

MIT BiG was started in 2009 by a group of MIT Sloan MBA students.  Last year the conference expanded to include MBA students from Babson College, Suffolk University, and Harvard Business School.  The conference is organized by MBA students who have a passion for video games and are interested in learning about the business side of the industry.

For more information about the 2011 MIT BIG Conference, including speakers, schedule, sponsorship opportunities and venue details, please visit http://www.mitbig.com.

- Speakers & Panels Announced for MIT Sloan Business in Gaming Conference 2011 -

Activision, Blizzard and Capcom Among Companies To Discuss the Business of Video Games.

Cambridge, MA. The MIT Sloan Business in Gaming Conference (MIT BiG) taking place on Thursday, March 10th, 2011 will feature two keynotes and eight panels. Speakers from Activision, Blizzard, Capcom, Scvngr, Harmonix, and other leading game companies will mix with business professionals, academics and entrepreneurs for a full day of discussion on the opportunities & challenges facing the business of the video game industry. Ken Levine of Irrational Games, creator of the 2008 Game of the Year, BioShock and the highly anticipated BioShock Infinite, will be a panelist on “Mass Effect 2: The New State of Gaming in MA”.

Early Bird discounted tickets are available through the end of February. Register today at www.mitbig.com.

This year’s MIT BiG conference will include the following panel topics:

• Re-boot, Re-brand, Reach-Out: Marketing AAA Video Games
• The Bleeding Edge of Analytics in the Gaming Industry
• Level Up. Have Social Games Overtaken Hardcore Games?
• Mass Effect 2: The New State of Gaming in MA
• Rhythm, Motion & Immersion: How Technology is Changing Gaming
• The Games Entrepreneurs Play
• Gaming On-the-go
• Why So Serious, Games?

“The MIT Sloan Business in Gaming Conference is an opportunity to discuss the video game business openly, with representatives from all sides of the industry,” said Co-President David Bueno. “with so many creative minds gathered to discuss the business of gaming, this conference provides an opportunity for candid discussion not offered anywhere else.”

Submissions for a business plan competition geared towards start-up companies in the video game, interactive media and related industries are currently being accepted, through March 7^th. A single winning entry will be eligible to receive up to $10,000 in free legal services from Foley Hoag LLP relating to their new venture.

MIT BiG was started in 2009 by a group of MIT Sloan MBA students.  Last year the conference expanded to include MBA students from Babson, Suffolk University, and Harvard Business School.  The conference is organized by MBA students who have a passion for video games and are interested in learning about the business side of the industry.

For more information about the 2011 MIT BIG Conference, including speakers, sponsorship opportunities, venue details, and the business plan competition being hosted by Foley Hoag LLP, please visit http://www.mitbig.com.

Press Release:

- Announcing the 3rd Annual MIT Sloan Business in Gaming Conference -

Registration is now open!

Cambridge, MA. On Thursday, March 10th, 2011 the 3rd annual MIT Sloan Business in Gaming Conference (MIT BiG) will take place at The Seaport Hotel in Boston. This year’s conference will feature a full day of panel discussions and keynotes with speakers from Blizzard, Capcom, Turbine, Harmonix, Rockstar Games and other leading game companies. MIT BiG brings together video game industry professionals, local entrepreneurs and leading Boston area students and MBA candidates to address the challenges and opportunities facing the industry now and into the future. Insightful talks and presentations from panelists and keynote speakers will be featured throughout the day. Opportunities to associate with various industry stakeholders will be ample for all attendees.

Richard Bartle, famous for co-writing the original Multi-User-Dungeon (MUD) and recent recipient of the prestigious Game Developers Choice award for Online Gaming Legend will be delivering the first keynote address of the conference.  A second keynote will be delivered by Nikolaus Davidson, Design Director at Gazillion.  Nikolaus has over eight years experience in online game development, having launched and nurtured multiple successful massively multiplayer online (MMO) games.

Tickets for the event are on sale beginning February 3, 2011. Early Bird Discount registration for MIT BiG ends February 28, 2011. Register today at Eventbrite! This event is expected to sell out!

“Now in its third year, The MIT Business in Gaming Conference is quickly becoming the premier conference to discuss the business side of the video game industry.” Said Co-President Joy Koh. “We are proud of our talented line-up of speakers from AAA game studios, indie studios, and publishers and look forward to bringing all this incredible talent to Massachusetts for the conference.”

MIT BiG was started in 2009 by a group of MIT Sloan MBA students.  Last year the conference expanded to include MBA students from Babson, Suffolk University, and Harvard Business School.  The conference is organized by MBA students who have a passion for video games and are interested in learning about the business side of the industry.

For more information about the 2011 MIT BIG Conference, including speakers, sponsorship opportunities, venue details, and a business plan competition being hosted by Foley Hoag LLP, please visit our website.

Check back for exciting updates, coming in the next couple weeks!