Experimental Gameplay Sessions

Speakers: Alex Butterfield, Chris Hecker, Damien Di Fede, Darius Kazemi, Eric Zimmerman, Frank Lantz, Heather Kelley, Jonathan Blow, Kim Swift, Nick Fortugno, Petri Purho, Phil Fish, Rod Humble, Tommi Hartikainen

Track: Game Design

Format: Panel

Experience Level: All

Description: A series of short presentations, where game developers demonstrate and talk about their new and experimental games. Independent games, academic projects, and AAA mainstream games are all represented. Presenters include: Kim Swift, Valve Software, discussing level design for Portal; Chris Hecker, presenting the results of the most recent Indie Game Jam, which focused on sound-based games; Phil Fish, Heather Kelley, and Damien DiFede discussing the GAMMA experimental games event held recently in Montreal; and several others.

Idea Takeaway: Attendees get to see new ideas in game design, and attitudes toward experimentation employed by particular designers.

Intended Audience: Game designers and others interested in new kinds of games. There are no knowledge prerequisites, but a familiarity with the risk-averseness (and general dreariness) of the current game industry may increase your enjoyment of the sessions.