Category: Serious Games
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Live Blog: The Montreal International Game Summit
I’m live blogging today from The Montreal International Game Summit. Wake County Economic Development is here to learn more about the current state of affairs and future outlook of Quebec's impressive game development industry.
They have a very robust cluster of companies up here – it’s very diverse and contains several world-class brands; Quebec Province is also very aggressive in it's efforts to grow this cluster. I sat in on a roundtable discussion this morning which focused on doing business in Montreal. I was able to chat with Mr. Robert Pare' and a colleague from Ville de Montreal about their recruitment and retention efforts and shared some of my new material highlighting the Triangle's game development cluster. They were impressed and happy to know that I wasn't there to entice any companies to leave Quebec for NC! I assured them that Austin, TX was my primary target, not Montreal!
With so much volatility in the marketplace it is valuable to visit and make some connections with other regions that share a similar focus on growing this dynamic industry. I believe there are avenues worth exploring that could hopefully connect some of our companies in the Triangle with some of the game-dev companies here in Montreal.
Heading back into the conference for a few more sessions this afternoon. I’ll be here tomorrow and then will fly back to RDU on Thursday. -
Live Blog: Game Developers Conference, Austin
I am live-blogging today from the Game Developers Conference in Austin, Texas. Wake County Economic Development is here to keep Raleigh and Wake County plugged into a dynamic gaming industry.
Despite the show being smaller than last year, the traffic flow at the event has been pretty good and I have been busy connecting with some folks who are bright stars in gaming. The Motus Digital team out of Dallas is pretty excited about the upcoming Triangle Game Conference. And Paladin Consulting is keen on serious games groups in the Triangle. They are looking to cultivate a cognitive or exercise game for seniors to exercise their brains in order to stave off dementia. What a great cause. There are a lot of educational institutes and programs with good niches within the interactive software field present, as well.
Game Developer Magazine spoke with me earlier today. There is a buzz building about gaming in the Triangle, especially the Triangle Game Conference!
The show runs until 3 p.m. tomorrow, then I fly back to RDU.
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Wake County a Leader in Business Recycling
If you lead or work for an environmentally conscious company and wonder how your recycling practices will be impacted by a move to Wake County, relax. Wake is one of the state’s leaders in proactive business recycling programs.
The main decision you must make is whether you will hire a private hauler to collect materials or haul them yourself to a recycling drop-off that accepts materials from businesses. For the former, there is a list of firms that hold a required Solid Waste Hauler’s Privilege License to handle recyclables in Wake. Collection costs vary, so check to see which of them offers your business the best deal for your needs in picking up recycling.
If you choose the other option, there are two recycling facilities, one in Raleigh for northern Wake and the other in Apex for southern Wake, which accept everything from telephone books to large appliances. You may not need this process or a private hauler, however, if you are in a multi-tenant office building or complex that already has a recycling program in place.
Also, if your company is involved in construction and demolition (C&D) debris, including lumber, drywall, metals, masonry (brick, concrete, etc.), carpet, plastic, pipe, rocks, dirt, paper or cardboard - you must recycle it, as any waste load with more than 10 percent C&D debris is subject to Wake County’s Construction & Demolition Surcharge Ordinance.
Whatever the situation, do not hesitate to examine what is in place and consider improvements. Every year Wake County Solid Waste Management accepts Commercial Waste Reduction Grant applications of up to $100,000 for businesses that start, expand or improve their waste reduction and/or recycling programs. That can be a real money saver.
Recycling is good for the local economy and the environment. It is another reason why Wake is one of the fastest-growing counties for business in the nation.
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Triangle Game Conference
To help attract, cultivate and retain serious games and advanced learning technologies firms in Wake County, the Raleigh Convention Center and Marriott City Center will host the Triangle Game Conference Wednesday, April 29 and Thursday, April 30 from 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. This gathering of leading industry experts plans to be the premier forum on the East Coast for networking, career building and sharing computer and video gaming expertise.
Wake County is the east coast hub for the development of advanced learning technologies, with more than 30 companies employing more than 1,000 people in the industry. This event will showcase how serious we are about games by featuring panels, lectures and discussions on market innovations, trends and the future of the industry.
There are five tracks that attendees can choose from among four sessions every day, divided by breaks and lunch: Game Technology, Game Design & Production, Serious Games & Advanced Learning Technology, Games & Media, and The Business of Games. Keynote speaker will be Dr. Michael Capps, president of Epic Games, Inc. of Cary, N.C., which has created multiple million-selling, award-winning titles in its “Unreal” series, most recently shipping “Unreal Tournament 3.” Epic’s breakthrough game, “Gears of War,” sold 5 million copies and won over 30 Game of the Year awards.
The conference also will feature an expo, a career lounge and Game Development University, a student-oriented exhibition to help aspiring game developers tap into educational resources and make connections with industry leaders.
We are hoping this conference will become an annual event as a confirmation of Wake County’s status as a hotbed for this industry. Early registration prices are available through March 31, and several attendance passes are available, including ones for students. For a full listing of confirmed speakers and more details on how to attend, visit http://www.trianglegameconference.com.