I had the pleasure of participating in the 2009 edition of the Nordic Game Conference. While I didn’t have the unique experience of staying at Sten’s beach house like last time, it was great to return to Sweden and enjoy this regional event (with big world feel).

I wrote up a more formal summary of the event for Gamasutra. So, check there for my thoughts on the sessions, vibe, etc.

What I didn’t mention in the Gama report was that I visited the IT University of Copenhagen on my way through town (ie, easiest way to get to Malmo, Sweden is to fly into Copenhagen, Denmark and take the train across the water). Was great to pop into the ITU and check out their game lab, lecture to the students, etc.

Also, I did have a free afternoon before heading home after the conference. So, since I toured Malmo last time, I went back across to Copenhagen and did some speed-touristing (aka walk as fast as you can and see as much as possible in 2 hours!)…

Here are some random photos of the entire week:


Main entrance to the IT University of Copenhagen.

 


Inside the ITU. Very modern, funky. Also the site for the annual Nordic Game Jam.

 


Cool wall art was all over the ITU game lab.

 


Miguel Sicart and Anders Drachen solving complex problems at the ITU.

 


Hip student dorms across the street from the ITU.

 


Nice Euro-style view outside my hotel window in Malmo.

 


Passed what seemed to be a massive submarine building facility on my way to the convention center. Nice juxtaposition of old industry versus creative economy. [Update: This is actually a wind farm assembly plant.]

 


Ah, OK, now I knew I was heading in the right direction…

 


The Malmo convention center, with the awesome Turning Torso looming in the background.

 


Tom Felices (Nordic Game Program) opens the conference.

 


Malte Berhmann, Fred Hassan (Bedlam Games) and Guillaume de Fondaumiere (Quantic Dream) give an European Game Developers Federation update.

 


Per Juhlen (GRIN) covers the production goals of Bionic Commando: Rearmed.

 


Unity keynote: Nicholas Francis, David Helgason and dude with red shoes.

 


Tom Felices getting in line for food during the awards dinner.

 


Lars Gustavsson (EA DICE) accepts the award for Best Nordic Game for Mirror’s Edge.

 


Johan Kristiansson (Starbreeze) and Emma Mellander (Nordic Game Program) at the big party.

 


Funky lit bridge while walking back from the party…

 


Kyle Gabler (2D Boy) and Petri Purho (Kloonigames) field questions from eager students.

 


Closing panel moderated by Tobias Sjogren (DDM): Per Rosendal (Guppyworks), Jonas Antonsson (Gogogic), David Helgason (Unity), Karin Ryding (Ozma Speldesign), Jonas Eneroth (IO Interactive).

 


Train over to Copenhagen…

 


Large wind-energy farm along the way…

 


One of the new metro stops. I missed it, and had to walk a few kilometers from the (wrong) train stop to here.

 


Theater house.

 


Garden at Kongens Nytorv, and fancy hotel in the background.

 


Picturesque New Haven area.

 


Think it’s the architecture institute… Interesting blue hex structure towards the left…

 


Stock exchange.

 


All the streets had bike lanes in addition to pedestrian sidewalks. And, uh, lanes for cars of course.

 


Really old, textured warehouse style building. Hmm, interesting tower in the distance.

 


Church tower. Only found out later that you can actually climb the spiral stairs to the top!

 


Another old, textured building.

 


Parliament building.

 


Fortress of some kind.

 


Trees were in spring blossom.

 


Entrance to Tivoli Gardens, the second oldest amusement park in the world. Playful statue of the creator was not left alone for a moment, so I just snapped the shot with a random tourist in it ;)

 


I didn’t have a map, so I discovered that hotdog stands had maps on their side. So, I basically had to navigate from stand to stand…

 


City hall and square.

 


A remnant of the old city wall/mote structure.

 


Orstedsparken park tucked away in the middle of the city.

 


More park action.

 


At dinner with IGDA-Denmark leaders Jacob Buck and Gorm Lai.

 


Night shot of the Tivoli entrance.