The International Conference on the Future of Game Design and Technology returns.
According to the organiser:

‘If you lead a game development team of any size, you will leave this full three-day course with new tools to help you keep projects on track, motivate team members, and conduct risk analysis.

‘Sessions run concurrent with the Future Play 2008 conference, and during the three-day course you’ll be invited to join Future Play 2008 plenary sessions, meals and breaks, so you can network between learning sessions.

‘At the end you’ll walk away with production techniques and management skills, and your copy of the Game Production Handbook, 2008 Edition.’

The Future Play Conference focuses on three main themes. The first theme, future game development, addresses academic research and emerging industry trends in the area of game technology and game design. The second theme, future game impacts and applications, includes academic research and emerging industry trends focused on designing games for learning, for gender, for serious purposes, and to impact society. Finally, the third theme, future game talent, is designed to provide a number of industry and academic perspectives on the knowledge, skills, and attitude it takes to excel in the games industry.

Future Play addresses these issues through exciting and thought-provoking keynotes from leaders in academia and industry, peer-reviewed paper sessions, panel sessions (including academic and industry discussions), workshops (including design, technology, and career workshops), and exhibitions of posters, games, and the latest game technologies and supports.

Toronto, Canada November 3, 4 & 5 2008

http://www.futureplay.org/index.php