A great presentation on the new way to proliferate ideas across social media and not mass marketing:
Category: Cluster
A Short Intro to Video Gaming Clusters
Game Developers Conference – Online
“The Game Developers Conference® Online (GDC Online) is the premier game developer event focusing on online and connected gaming including virtual worlds, social games, casual games, and MMOs.”
“Conference tracks focus on business and marketing, design, social networking and community, services, production, and programming and cover emerging topics including micro-transactions, the casualization of MMOs, and new distribution models.”
This is one of the most important cluster community events in Austin for the gaming industry. One of last year’s keynote speakers was the President, Sony Online Entertainment, John Smedley.
The next conference takes place October 5-8, 2010.
For more information: click here
Game Development Clusters
Bruce Everiss is an expert on technology management and marketing, based out of the UK, has an interesting article about clustering and of-course the developments in Austin Texas.
His perspective on successful locations to build gaming businesses fall directly in-line with Porter’s cluster strategies, its no surprise that businesses who succeed are located inside clusters.
“In America there are lots of clusters, Austin, Texas has very many game companies as do Los Angeles, Seattle and Boston. In Canada Toronto and Montreal have grown quickly as the locations for many companies”
“From the point of view of a developer there are many advantages doing business in a cluster. The human resources and services are all there, geared up just right for running a gaming business. “
“From the point of view of an employee there are many advantages to working in a cluster. Job mobility without moving house and security of employment being significant advantages to anyone.”
“if you want to start a game company then do it in a cluster, if you want to work in the games industry then you are best off in a cluster and, if you are already part of a cluster, ensure that you leverage it for your maximum advantage.”
For the rest of the article – click here
Connecting Game Developers
Think Services Games Group’ (TSGG) has recently completed the famous Game Developers Conference (GDC) in San Fransisco. This is the world’s largest professionals-only game industry event.
The GDC hosts several events all across North America’s leading gaming centers. Notable mentions include the Austin GDC Online (Oct 5-8) and GDC Canada (May 6-7) events.
The goal of the events is to bring industry leaders and creative professionals together to learn, network, share ideas and of course drive business.
To learn more about Think Services: click here
For information on all upcoming and past GDC events: click here
Digital Media Exchange Competition
SkillPoint Alliance, an organization devoted to building partnerships among industry members has announced their 2010 Digital Media Exchange (DMX) competition at the Central Texas High School. The competition hopes to get creative minds in youth to showcase projects in varied digital media formats, including video games.
For more information click the picture bellow:
GameOn!
In order for any cluster to grow it must have some government support, in particular because clusters help foster economic growth.
Texas governor Rick Perry is a strong supporter of this type of economic development and partnered up with Skillpoint Alliance to create the “GameOn!” event, hosted in the city of Austin on Wednesday, April 7, from 9 a.m.
“The video gaming industry portrays a work ethic, business model and openness to new ideas that can help grow and expand the state’s economy, and have a significant impact on how students are taught in Texas classrooms,” Gov. Perry said. “This symposium will help educators and business leaders alike find ways to ensure that young Texans get the resources and training they need to pursue jobs in the exciting digital media and video game development industries.”
Click here for more on SkillPoint Alliance and the GameOn! conference
Mind Gears 