IMGDC 3.0 Information
About the Conference
The Indie MMO Game Developers Conference (IMGDC) was created to be a venue for independent game developers and studios who are interested in designing and building virtual worlds, online games and massively multiplayer online games. Last Straw Productions is hosting version three of the conference in Las Vegas, NV April 17th - 19th, 2009. IMGDC will give Indie developers the information and contacts needed to build successful games. IMGDC features industry keynotes, informative tracks, demo stations, informal round-tables, and more.
With the new version of IMGDC, we broaden the scope of the event to include all online games which have virtual world/MMOG type features. With social networking, MMORPGs and web 2.0, we're finding that the definitive boundries between each are breaking down and we're seeing a new era of virtual life. Come share in what MMORPG.com and others have called the most passionate game development event in the world.
About the Company
Last Straw Productions, LLC is an independent game development and publishing company based in Minneapolis, MN. Last Straw is dedicated to bringing quality games and game tools to developers all over the world. Last Straw has always focused on breaking boundries of game development and slaughtering sacred cows. With an eye to the future and a love for the industry, Last Straw will help bring in a new age of game development.
Official Conference Advisors
IMGDC relies heavily on the expertise and knowledge of industry professionals to help ensure the highest quality sessions and help with sponsors, speakers, and other conference necessities.
Mathew Anderson
Mathew "Berek" Anderson has been passionate about managing online communities since Meridian 59 was released in 1996. Back from his travels in China where he taught English in a middle school near Hong Kong, Mathew has kept his focus on managing online communities through his work on the IMGDC 3.0 conference and at Allakhazam. He is currently the community manager for the Warhammer Online website at Allakhazam, a leading network of websites dedicated to MMORPGs.
Richard Bartle
Dr Richard Bartle co-wrote the first virtual world, MUD, in 1978; he has thus been at the forefront of the industry from its very inception. He divides his time between being an industry consultant and an academic (he's Professor of Computer Game Design at the University of Essex, UK). His book, Designing Virtual Worlds, is the standard text on the subject, and he is an influential writer on all aspects of virtual world design and development.
Brian Green
Brian 'Psychochild' Green is an experienced online game developer. He worked on Meridian 59 in 1998 at 3DO and later started a company, Near Death Studios, Inc., to purchase and relaunch the game. More recently, he has done consulting and contract work for various projects, and was editor for the book Business & Legal Primer for Game Development.
Ron Meiners
Ron Meiners has worked in a wide range of online community applications, from casual games to virtual worlds, from HearMe.com and Uru Live to a volunteer position as the Online Community Advocate for the Burning Man organization. His work at Multiverse as Developer Relations Manager brought him in contact with the tremendous creative energy in the Indie and Academic communities. He is passionate about the potential for online communities to foster relationships between participants, and is committed to the exploration of new forms of interaction and collaboration online. Currently he's Director of Community at C3L3B digital, a casual MMO startup.
Jay Moore
Jay was previously Dir. of Business Development, Marketing Director & Evangelist for GarageGames, an online tool dev and game publisher. He joined GG in '02 when they were 5 guys crammed into a one-room office. When he left, they were a team of 30+. While at GG, he launched IndieGamesCon, oversaw the online publishing of independent games, and worked to establish Torque as the game engine platform of choice for independent game developers.
Jonathon Stevens
Jonathon Stevens founded independent game development studio Last Straw Productions, LLC in 2005. With a few casual games under his belt, Jonathon decided to create the incresingly popular Indie MMO Game Developers Conference which is entering into its third year. Deemed as one of the most passionate events in the industry, Jonathon continually molds the event into a better, stronger conference while ensuring it's passion and intimate atmosphere stay intact. With a new MMORPG project in the works, Last Straw proves that Indie studios of all sizes can survive in this genre.
Lawrence Walters
Lawrence G. Walters, Esq., focuses on censorship and free speech issues. Mr. Walters has earned a national reputation for representing the interests of new media companies, particularly
those involved with controversial issues such as erotica, violence, drugs, and gambling. Larry has practiced for over 18 years, and regularly appears as a commentator on national television
news networks. He recently launched a site dealing with video game censorship found at www.GameCensorship.com
