As part of our main GameX consumer programming, high school and college students are encouraged to attend the GameX Career Forum, an informative one-day conference for young people and industry newcomers to learn the ropes from industry experts and educators.
Representatives from leading game companies, game production schools and education programs will conduct hands-on workshops, lectures and roundtables with GameX attendees interested in learning more about game industry careers. Your one-day or 3-day GameX pass gains you entry to the GameX Career Forum at no additional cost!
Best Foot Forward: Pitch Your Game Idea to Industry Professionals
10 am -11:30 am
We are bringing the industry execs to you! Session participants are invited to present a 10-minute overview of their original game concept and in return receive constructive criticism and feedback from our panel of respected industry experts. Based on their many years of experience taking games from concept to reality, our panelists will provide insightful and supportive advice to assist tomorrow's game developers in understanding the best way to present their vision of what will surely be some of tomorrow's hottest selling and most creative video game titles. Speakers: Matt Shaw, CTO, Mythic Entertainment; Coray Seifert, Game Designer, Kaos Studios, THQ; Steve Reid, Executive Vice-President, Red Storm Entertainment.
Level Up: Starting a Career in the Game Industry
11:30 - 12:30 pm
A panel discussion will help new and current students look at the options available to them in game design & development education. We answer questions like, what do students need to do to succeed and rise above the ranks of every other graduate looking for work? What does game education really entail? What do you need to do if you can't attend a game specific program? Our panel of experienced educators will help weave students through the gamut of options available to them. Speakers: Susan Gold, Course Director, Full Sail University, Founder, Global Game Jam; Jim Rivers, Hiring Manager, Obsidian Entertainment, Jeff Ward, Lead Architect and Co-Founder, Orbus Gameworks; Darius Kazemi, President, Orbus Gameworks
Dungeon Crawl: Careers in Tabletop Game Design
12:35 pm -1:25 pm
Want to work in the deep, dank dungeon of tabletop game design? Want to break into an industry that provides players with the tools to stat up vampires, create adventures around many-headed dragons, and figure out the muzzle velocity of a Proton Shotgun? Come join four of the tabletop game industry's veteran writers and designers, and learn the ancient and untold secrets of the pen-and-paper RPG industry.
Panelists: David Hill, Filomena Young, Chuck Wendig. Moderator: Martin C. Henley
Check out Bios Here
Game Design Workshop 1:30 am -3:00 pm
No code? No problem! Join us for a hands-on workshop on game design, without the need for computers or programming. Using all non-digital methods, participants will experience a variety of different design challenges, and leave with an understanding of how to start designing games and how to take their designs to the next level.
Moderator: Kevin O'Gorman, Co-Founder, Georgia Game Developers Association, Instructor, Art Institute of Atlanta.
Choosing the Right School
3 pm – 4 pm
An objective look at the educational options and opportunities available to individuals considering a career in the video game industry. Our panel of experienced educators will go over the things to look for in an educational program to make sure it fits both the needs of your situation as well as your aspirations. As the video game industry expands, so do the number of game specific programs. Choosing the Right School will give attendees the tools they need to pick a program that works for them and gets them working. Speakers: Dan Carreker, Freelance Game Designer, Narrative Design; Jonathan Agresta, Assistant Professor - College of Engineering and Information Sciences, DeVry University; Kevin O'Gorman, Co-Founder, Georgia Game Developers Association, Zeitgeist Games; René Archambault, Admissions and Alumni Affairs, Southern Methodist University.
Moderator: Dan Carreker , Co-Founder, Georgia Game Developers Association, Instructor, Art Institute of Atlanta.
Portfolio and Resume Review
4 - 5:15 pm
Wondering what Game Industry executives are looking for in a prospective employee? Why not ask them yourself? Join our panel of industry professionals as they review and give feedback on attendee’s resumes and portfolios. Learn how to best showcase your talent to grab that all important first big break. Attendees should bring a copy of their resume and portfolio for review. Speakers: Jim Rivers, Hiring Manager, Obsidian Entertainment; Rebecca Kaufman, Assistant Director of Career Services, Art Institute Philadelphia; Tina Gaddy, Director of Career Services, Devry University; Grant Shonkwiler, Game Designer/Programmer Merit Industries; Chris Oltyan, Director of Product Development, Zeegee Games.
Do You Know Your Neighbor? Networking 101
5:15 pm – 6 pm
Networking is considered one of the most important skills to breaking in and staying in the game industry. How does an industry hopeful or new industry hire go about meeting and developing with relationships with other developers? Our panel of professional guests will offer insight and commentary on the ins and outs of networking in the game industry. For all aspiring and newly established game creators out there who want to learn how to network better, our professional panel will be running a Q&A session. Session led by Grant Shonkwiler, Game Programmer and Designer, Megatouch Games (An AMI Entertainment Networks Company) and Darius Kazemi, President, Orbus Gameworks.
