Industry News
Digital Extremes COO, World of Warcraft Design Manager Headline PAX Dev 2019
PAX Dev 2019 will kick off with an opening keynote from Sheldon Carter, Chief Operating Officer at Warframe studio Digital Extremes. The developer-only event returns to Seattle Aug. 27 – Aug. 28, giving creators valuable time to learn and interact with their peers before the gaming community descends upon the city for PAX West. The conference will also feature Blizzard Entertainment’s Craig Morrison to close the show by sharing his experience and insights as Design Manager of World of Warcraft.
Prior to leading Digital Extremes and setting the world ablaze with the studio’s hit multiplayer shooter Warframe, Sheldon Carter got his start in the industry as an Associate Producer on BioWare’s beloved action RPG Jade Empire. He then went on to produce Dark Sector and serve as Creative Director on The Darkness 2 before guiding Digital Extremes as Studio GM. In addition to continuing to oversee development on a title enjoyed by more than 50 million players and various other projects, Carter co-hosts a weekly podcast, War with Art, where he chats about creative challenges and shares advice for fellow writers, game designers, and artists.
Craig Morrison produced and directed MMORPGs, including Funcom’s The Secret World and Age of Conan, before leaving the Norwegian studio in 2013 to serve as Blizzard Entertainment’s Design Department Manager on World of Warcraft. Since then Morrison has taught game design as a lecturer at the nearby University of California Irvine and founded educational site StartMakingGames.com, a resource for aspiring game designers.
Sheldon Carter and Craig Morrison are the tip of the spear for PAX Dev’s 2019 invigorated focus on mentorship and education. The event will include an expanded Mentor Lounge for students and professionals to meet one-on-one with veteran advisors along with a bevy of panels to educate, inspire, broaden understanding, and introduce new concepts and solutions.
“PAX Dev is a great way for creators to concentrate on craft prior to the kickoff of PAX West,” said Jerry Holkins, co-founder, Penny Arcade and PAX. “Sheldon and Craig will be a significant part of that, passing down wisdom and lessons from their careers to catalyze a great professional conference.”
PAX Dev takes place Aug. 27 – Aug. 28 at the Seattle Westin Hotel in Seattle. Registration for game makers and students is now open. Those interested in speaking at PAX Dev can submit panels here. Speakers receive a complimentary badge and PAX West 2019 attendee badge.
The event will co-locate with the GamesIndustry.biz Investment Summit, where developers can connect with investors, take advantage of networking opportunities, and participate in talks designed around funding and publishing games.
About PAX :
PAX,or Penny Arcade Expo, is a festival for gamers to celebrate gaming culture. First held in Seattle in 2004, PAX has nearly doubled in size each successive year, with PAX Prime 2014 selling out of tickets in a matter of minutes. Connecting the world’s leading game publishers with their most avid and influential fans, PAX expanded with a second show in Boston in 2010, and a third in San Antonio in 2015, making it the three largest gaming shows in North America. The first international PAX was held in Melbourne, Australia in 2013. In 2017, Penny Arcade established PAX Unplugged, its first tabletop focused show, held in Philadelphia.
Industry News
Industry Investments in Responsible Gaming Reach New High of $472 Million Annually, AGA Study Shows
Research Reflects Heightened Responsibility Commitments as Industry Grow.
New research from the American Gaming Association (AGA), reveals a significant increase in responsible gaming (RG) investments from gaming industry companies, with total spending reaching $471.8 million annually—up from approximately $275 million (+72%) in 2017.
Conducted by a major international accounting firm, the research demonstrates a surge in industry-wide RG spending that has grown at a faster rate than gaming revenue over the past seven years. Several key program areas are seeing significant spending commitments as the industry expands, including:
- Customer Service Interactions: $135.4 million.
- Developing and Maintaining Responsible Gaming Programs: $122.4 million.
- Consumer-Facing Responsible Gaming Education: $107.7 million.
- Responsible Gaming Research and Other Non-Profit RG Organizations: $31.8 million.
- Problem Gambling Supportive Services: $26.1 million.
“This impactful rise in RG spending demonstrates the legal industry’s dedication to fostering a safe and informed gaming environment,” said Joe Maloney, AGA Senior Vice President, Strategic Communications. “Beyond the considerable taxes gaming companies contribute to fund responsible gaming and problem gambling resources, the industry also proactively invests hundreds of millions of dollars more to ensure our customers have the tools, knowledge and safeguards to play responsibly.”
The new AGA research comes during Responsible Gaming Education Month (RGEM) 2024, during which industry stakeholders have demonstrated their commitments to responsible gaming through an array of activations and announcements. Earlier this September, the AGA released a first-of-its-kind Responsible Gaming Intervention Effectiveness Scale to provide academics, industry members and more with a research-based tool to evaluate responsible gaming messages.
“Our industry’s commitment to responsibility once again made RGEM a resounding success,” continued Maloney. “We look forward to seeing the work done throughout this past month provide a springboard for continued advancements in responsible gaming in the months and years to come.”
Industry News
Andrew Cardno, Dr. Ralph Thomas and Dr. A.K. Singh Release Their 11th Book: “The Math That Gaming Made, Compendium”
Acclaimed gaming and analytics experts Andrew Cardno and Dr. Ralph Thomas of QCI have proudly released their 11th book, “The Math That Gaming Made, Compendium,” a definitive exploration of the mathematical frameworks and strategies that have shaped the modern gaming industry.
The book, which serves as a comprehensive guide to the intersection of mathematics and gaming, is a deep dive into how advanced analytics, mathematical modeling, and data science have revolutionized the gaming landscape. Covering decades of research and insights, “The Math That Gaming Made, Compendium” provides a wealth of knowledge for industry professionals, data enthusiasts, and anyone passionate about the intricacies of gaming mathematics.
A Legacy of Expertise
Andrew Cardno, a recognized authority in gaming analytics, and Dr. Ralph Thomas, a pioneer in gaming data science, bring together their years of experience and research in this book. Together, they offer readers an unparalleled understanding of how math is used to optimize everything from player experiences to casino operations.
“This book is a culmination of over 20 years of innovation in the gaming industry,” said Andrew Cardno. “It not only highlights how data and analytics have evolved but also provides the tools and knowledge for others to apply these concepts in real-world gaming environments.”
A Must-Read for Industry Professionals
Industry expert Buddy Frank shared his praise for the book: “If there’s one thing the casino gaming industry does not do well, it is sharing. This book breaks that mold as the authors dish some of the best advice on improving your slot mix, gaining market share, understanding databases, and a lot more. They even translate all our obscure acronyms. This new volume is several inches thick, but you’ll find gems on every page. Better yet, follow their advice and your profitability will improve.”
“The Math That Gaming Made, Compendium” is available now through Amazon.
Industry News
EvenBet Gaming to Showcase Pioneering Poker Products at SBC Summit 2024
EvenBet Gaming, a leading developer of online gaming software and solutions, is set to unveil its latest industry-leading poker platform update and exhibit its brand-new In-Store feature at the upcoming SBC Summit in Lisbon.
Launched at the beginning of September, the In-Store platform feature provides players with unprecedented access to perks directly from the lobby or poker table. Available benefits include Time Bank packages, Insurance Buying and Opponent Game Statistics, with each perk designed to enhance the player experience and drive revenue for EvenBet’s partners.
The EvenBet team will be located at Stand B820 and will outline the key aspects of the In-Store feature, as well as demonstrate the advantages of third-party casino game integration, revealing how operators can diversify their revenue streams.
The provider is also set to announce a major update to its Poker Clubs platform in October, which will improve software flexibility and player engagement options.
EvenBet will kick off the summit by hosting an exclusive poker tournament on Tuesday 24 September, an invite-only event featuring C-suite executives from across the industry.
Dmitry Starostenkov, CEO at EvenBet Gaming, said: “The SBC Summit is one of the biggest events on the calendar for us, and this year it will be even better. We are heading to Lisbon with an even better team, and they are ready to explore an even better poker platform with our valued partners and prospective clients.
“We are also hosting a C-level poker tournament on the first day, which should be a lot of fun and give us an indication of who the best players are in our industry.”
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