Connecting mind to screen and imagination to reality

France, Nov 20th

The summit, now in its second year (Dec. 4th 2006, Lyon-France-Center of Congress), gives a close-up view of the continued growth and expansion of the Serious Games sector. The programme is now available and reflects the prevailing dynamism that connects mind to screen and imagination to reality.

Attend conferences, learn from case studies and discover demos

Buyers, sellers, sponsors and exhibitors from more than 15 countries will show their products, learn about serious gaming and do business. Attendees can choose from a wide range of applications divided into two themes: (Theme 1) simulation, virtual reality, defense, health, civil security, industry; (Theme2) occupational training, E-learning, business games, corporate training.

A programme that sets the stage for experts

"The Serious Games Summit Europe 2006 is a watershed event that provides a unique opportunity to review the state of the serious games industry" asserts Stéphane de Buttet, SGSE 2006 Content manager.

Game technologies are affecting an increasing number of arenas that already include defense, civil security, research, health, local and national government and public administration. The SGS Europe on Dec. 4th will be the occasion to meet key players in the sector: Ben Sawyer (President of Digitalmill and co-founder of the Serious Games Initiative), Warren Currell (President of Sherpa Games Inc), Bertrand Duplat (from ENSTA-founder of Virtools), Kevin Corti (CEO of PIXELearning), Sébastien Beck (CEO of Daesign) and many other serious games experts.

The E-learning E-xplosion

Experts from firms and institutions such as Dassault Systems (Virtools), the French Infantry School and others from diverse sectors will show how they work with these applications. Also, Kevin Corty CEO of PIXELearning will explain how web based applications, currently frowned on by hardcore game developers, can be cost-effective solutions for learning problems.

"Serious gaming is an extraordinary opportunity to understand how traditional firms work with development studios to produce original bespoke tools. The E-learning market will use simulations by 2008 and be the driving force of a market estimated to be worth $10.8bn (£6bn) (10b) by 2007(1)"concludes Philippe Renaudin, Project manager of the Serious Games Summit Europe, in charge of the Video Game development (Lyon Game).

1 Source Financial Times,2005, September

All about Lyon Game and Lyon Infocité - www.lyongame.com

The leading professional organization in the Digital Leisure sector in France, the role of Lyon Game is to set-up joint actions aimed at assisting video game companies to develop, and to promote them at local, national and international levels. Selected by the government in July 2005 from among 67 French clusters, Lyon Game, is now associated with CITIA and Images Rhône-Alpes (films and audiovisual) in the Cluster, and ensures collaboration between enterprises, research laboratories and training organizations. Lyon Game and Lyon Infocité (its counterpart specialized in ICTs and computer science that federates more than 230 enterprises) are the most representative organizations in the video game, digital leisure and communication and information technology sectors, and are grouped in a dual non-profit association founded in 1996. The association is backed by Greater Lyon, the Rhône- Alpes Region and the Rhône General Council.

Lyon Game inside the Cluster

Train, inform, structure and finance video game companies through its RH GAMAGORA system. Since joining the Cluster, Lyon Game has extended its activity to cover films, audiovisual production and animation (a sector of the Cluster).

Lyon Game and the Cluster are at the forefront of assisting development via IMAGE INNOVE, a competition set-up in 2005 that rewards innovative marketing by the Cluster's enterprises (20,000 and coaching).

Lyon Game brings together companies in the Digital Leisure industry, such as Widescreen Games, Krysalide, Nobilis, Atari, Eden Games, Etranges Libellules, Ubisoft, Eugen Systems, etc.

Lyon Game also assists companies at trade shows dedicated to the sector (such as E3, Tokyo Game Show, Game Developers

Conference).

About Agence Rhône-Alpes Numérique - www.agencenumerique.org

Rhône-Alpes Numérique was set up on March 10, 2000 on the initiative of the Network of Rhône-Alpes Town Councils, the Regional Council, the State Department for Regional Development (the Regional Industry, Research and Environment Commission and the Regional Delegation for Research and Technology), its main financial backers. This non-profit association is presided by a company director, Yves Bourdon, Managing Director of the Erim group and counts among its administrators five representatives of companies and four representatives of state higher education and research establishments. Located in Grenoble, a team of eight people are devoted to promoting this regional action.

The Agency's main assignments are:

support for the development of digital industries,

analysis and prospects,

disseminating ICT (Information and Communication Technologies).

To achieve its objectives, the Agency gives preference to concerted actions, of collective and federative nature, and thus works with qualified

partners - startup funders, incubators, risk capital providers, business angels, the regional network municipalities, the French Agency for

Innovation (ANVAR), other institutional partners, associations, small- and medium-size businesses, research laboratories

The Agency does not finance projects directly, but provides a financial advisory service for joint ventures and technological platforms.

About CMP - www.cmpgame.com

The Serious Games Summit D.C. gives professionals from the public and private sectors, policymakers, contractors, military personnel, government administrators, educators and experts in the game development arena an opportunity to meet and learn from successful serious games applications, as well as forge links between the traditional videogame industry and program managers for homeland security, state and local governments, military agencies, and educational institutions.

The Serious Games Summit D.C. is produced by the CMP Game Group. A core provider of essential information to the professional game industry, the CMP Game Group offers market-defining content, and drives community through the Game Developers Conference, GDC London, the London Games Summit, the Serious Games Summit DC, GDC Mobile, Game Developer magazine, Gamasutra.com, the Independent Games Festival, the Game Developers Choice Awards, and GDCTV. A complete list of CMP Game Group events, including sponsorship opportunities, is available here.