IMGDC 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 four of the conference in Las Vegas, NV April 9th - 11th, 2010. 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. Last Straw has recently announced the Looking For Group Expo, an MMOG fan event debuting in June of 2010.

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 Anderson has been passionate about managing online communities for 10+ years. In 2007, he traveled to China where he taught English for a year in an effort to learn more about the cultural differences in playing online games. Mathew has kept his focus on managing online communities through his work on the IMGDC conference. Currently the community manager for Petroglyph studio based in Las Vegas, a leading developer of real-time strategy and other multi-platform games.

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.

S. Gregory Boyd, M.D.

Nick Fortugno

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.

Jessica Mulligan

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.