Game Design Expo 2011

More than 500 game professionals and aspiring game designers turned out for the fifth annual Game Design Expo, the sold-out weekend hosted by the acclaimed Game Design program at Vancouver Film School (VFS) at the Vancity Theatre and the VFS Game Design campus in Vancouver, Canada. With a packed roster of leading experts from Canada, the US, and Europe – headlined by the leading minds behind the all-time iPhone bestseller, Angry Birds, and Blizzard Entertainment’s World of Warcraft® – the event attracted the biggest crowd in its five-year history.

The weekend’s opening keynote by Finland-based Angry Birds Senior Game Designer Jaakko Iisalo and Marketing Manager Matthew Wilson primed the audience for a day of thought-provoking talks. The duo spoke of the game’s origins and the keys to its accessible gameplay while sharing insight into the game’s phenomenal commercial success in the competitive – and potentially lucrative – mobile marketplace.

The day’s presentations ran the gamut from the smallest casual game to the biggest blockbuster. Speakers included Anton Mikhailov, who provided a fascinating look into the technology behind the PlayStation Move, TRON: Evolution’s Jonathan Gallina discussing the perils – and stigma – of working with a popular movie license, and Seth Marinello, Level Designer for Dead Space 2 (EA/Visceral Games), who delved into the psychology of fear and how it can be used to create fun game experiences.

The talks culminated in a presentation by Blizzard Entertainment Lead Content Designer Cory Stockton, who explored the importance of keeping the big picture in mind when working on “a gigantic undertaking†like World of Warcraft®.

On Sunday, over 300 aspiring game designers and curious gamers visited VFS’s Game Design campus to enjoy a day of giveaways, games, and standing-room-only sample classes, while finding out more about the acclaimed one-year program. The Open House also marked the official launch of the third annual Women in Games scholarship as well as $50,000 in scholarships in partnership with a number of Game Design Expo sponsors, including G4TechTV, Annex Pro, and 3vis.

The weekend also provided the opportunity to announce a special ongoing internship initiative by Vancouver game developer Relic Entertainment and VFS in memory of Relic game designer Brian Wood, who passed away tragically last year.

Visit gamedesignexpo.com for a full wrap-up and photo highlights from Game Design Expo 2011.

VFS is proud to partner with the following event sponsors to realize Game Design Expo 2011: G4, 3vis, Annex Pro, Pixologic, Radical Entertainment, Sumo Lounge, Biz Books, Wild Horse Canyon Wines, Stanley Park Brewery, HP, and The Georgia Straight.