BAFTA-winner to address Interactive Futures 2020
"Interactive Futures provides an excellent opportunity to showcase the world-class talent and businesses we have in the region."
John and Brenda Romero, founders of the BAFTA Award-winning studio Romero Games, will be headline speakers at Interactive Futures 2020, which takes place on January 31 and February 1 at the Royal Spa Centre, Leamington Spa.
The two-day conference and expo (www.interactive-futures.com) will once again showcase to the industry and general public the rich seam of talent and opportunity within the Leamington Games Hub.
The event will highlight the Coventry & Warwickshire region’s heritage within the UK video games industry, its talent and creativity, the unrivalled community of indie and major studios, and career opportunities – both for students and those already working in games and beyond.
On Friday, January 31, the conference programme will highlight key issues relevant to the region and the wider games industry. Topics will include: Ukie’s Regional Economic Impact Report – and why Leamington is punching above its weight; How to finance your game and studio; and How Leamington became one of the biggest games hubs in the UK.
Saturday, February 1 will see Interactive Futures open its doors to consumers and students to inspire the next generation of talent, with career opportunities the key focus for the day, during which John and Brenda will be on hand to help guide attendees on the best way forward for their professional goals.
Conference topics will include: Levelling Up; what skills and qualifications are required for a career in games?; How we made it; young indie developers discuss their careers; and Beyond coding: Why there’s a career in games for everyone.
An EXPO showcasing the best of the Leamington Games Hub will run throughout the two days.
John and Brenda Romero will share their experiences of operating a studio in Ireland’s Galway City games hub and how that can be applied to studios operating in Leamington. They will also offer delegates practical advice and insights into technology, production, finance, talent, local government support and the reasons why tech hubs are vital to the games industry.
John Romero is an award-winning game development icon whose work spans over 130 games, 108 of which have been published commercially. Brenda Romero is a BAFTA award-winning game designer, artist and Fulbright award recipient who has worked on 47 games and contributed to many seminal titles, including the Wizardry and Jagged Alliance series and titles in the Ghost Recon, Dungeons & Dragons and Def Jam franchises.
Interactive Futures 2020 is funded by Warwickshire County Council and the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP) with the support of local industry.
Stacy O'Connor, Warwickshire County Council's Digital Skills Lead, said: "Interactive Futures provides an excellent opportunity to showcase the world-class talent and businesses we have in the region.
"The first Interactive Futures was a major success with over 1,700 games enthusiasts, students and industry professionals attending and Interactive Furtures 2020 promises to once again offer a vast range of content to appeal to a cross-section of the community. We are proud to be the home of Silicon Spa which plays such a key role in our thriving economy.
"Friday will see us discussing important issues and challenges facing the industry over the next 12 months alongside providing important information for business development and investment opportunities. Saturday will once again shine a spotlight on the vast array of career opportunities available within the world of creative content making, encouraging growth in our local talent pipeline and helps to really put Warwickshire on the map as a career destination for the fast-moving games industry."
Sarah Windrum, chair of the CWLEP Digital Creative Business Group and board director at the CWLEP, said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to have John and Brenda Romero as our headline speakers at Interactive Futures 2020. Their knowledge of the business of game development, experience of working in a hub similar to Leamington’s and ability to engage with audiences of all ages will provide delegates with invaluable insight.”
To buy tickets for Interactive Futures 2020, click here: https://interactive-futures.com/tickets-2020/
If you are interested in getting involved with the Interactive Futures conference programme, please contact Lisa Carter on 07970 164201 / lisa.carter@mimrammedia.com.
If you would like to exhibit at Interactive Futures or become a commercial partner, contact Darrell Carter on 07967 947076 / darrell.carter@mimrammedia.com.