Game Design Expo 2011

The weekend’s opening keynote by Finland-based Angry Birds Senior Game Designer Jaakko Iisalo and Marketing Manager Matthew Wilson primed the audience for a day of thought-provoking talks. The duo spoke of the game’s origins and the keys to its accessible gameplay while sharing insight into the game’s phenomenal commercial success in the competitive – and potentially lucrative – mobile marketplace.

The day’s presentations ran the gamut from the smallest casual game to the biggest blockbuster. Speakers included Anton Mikhailov, who provided a fascinating look into the technology behind the PlayStation Move, TRON: Evolution’s Jonathan Gallina discussing the perils – and stigma – of working with a popular movie license, and Seth Marinello, Level Designer for Dead Space 2 (EA/Visceral Games), who delved into the psychology of fear and how it can be used to create fun game experiences.

The talks culminated in a presentation by Blizzard Entertainment Lead Content Designer Cory Stockton, who explored the importance of keeping the big picture in mind when working on “a gigantic undertaking” like World of Warcraft®.  

On Sunday, over 300 aspiring game designers and curious gamers visited VFS’s Game Design campus to enjoy a day of giveaways, games, and standing-room-only sample classes, while finding out more about the acclaimed one-year program. The Open House also marked the official launch of the third annual Women in Games scholarship as well as $50,000 in scholarships in partnership with a number of Game Design Expo sponsors, including G4TechTV, Annex Pro, and 3vis.

The weekend also provided the opportunity to announce a special ongoing internship initiative by Vancouver game developer Relic Entertainment and VFS in memory of Relic game designer Brian Wood, who passed away tragically last year.

Visit gamedesignexpo.com for a full wrap-up and photo highlights from Game Design Expo 2011.

VFS is proud to partner with the following event sponsors to realize Game Design Expo 2011: G4, 3vis, Annex Pro, Pixologic, Radical Entertainment, Sumo Lounge, Biz Books, Wild Horse Canyon Wines, Stanley Park Brewery, HP, and The Georgia Straight.           

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About Game Design Expo

Game Design Expo is an annual event for game industry professionals and enthusiasts hosted by Vancouver Film School’s Game Design program. Since the inaugural event in 2007 and continuing through the sold-out 2011 weekend, Game Design Expo has played host to such industry luminaries as Ron Gilbert, Clint Hocking, Don Daglow, Ellen Beeman, and Eric Zimmerman, and creative leaders from companies like Bungie, Activision, EA, BioWare, Obsidian Entertainment, and Ubisoft.

About Game Design at Vancouver Film School

Vancouver Film School, founded in 1987, offers a proven education for everything in the entertainment industry. With 13 production-oriented programs and a world-leading one-year education model, VFS prepares students to join the creative economy. S tudents in the Game Design program, named a top 10 school most favoured by video game industry recruiters by the Los Angeles Times, learn to be part of any development team by experiencing all aspects of game design, ultimately creating and presenting high-quality playable games. Graduates have worked on such titles as Mass Effect 2, ModNation Racers, and Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II.

Thuy Khuc, Public Relations Coordinator

Vancouver Film School

604.631.3563 or toll-free in North America 1.800.661.4101

thuy@gamedesignexpo.com