This year’s Italian Videogame Developers Conference (IVDC) was embedded within a longstanding animation festival called Cartoons on the Bay. Hosted in the beautiful city of Rapallo (near Portofino along the Italian Riviera), it served as a fun event to connect with local and international developers.

Admittedly, the emphasis was much more on the networking, as the conference program was relatively light - consisting mainly of interviews of various special award winners. Nice, but not exactly groundbreaking learning. I gave a brief lecture on innovation process stuff. There was also a small showcase of indie games. On the whole enjoyable, but was at times still a somewhat awkward fit to have game stuff invading this longstanding festival focused on traditional animation and cartoons…

Here are some photos from the trip (including a pitstop in Milan before heading to the coast):


Impressive entrance to the Galleria Duomo shopping gallery.


The ornate and super white/clean Cathedral of Milan.


One of many pretty blossom trees around town.


Appropriately enough, a Ferrari parked outside the Ferrari Store.


Even the central train station had style.


View of Castello di Rapallo, right outside my hotel room!


Daytime view of Rapallo bay outside my hotel room.


All the restaurants and shops were geared up for the festival. This restaurant featured Mario heavily (eg, on the table covers).


American McGee (Spicy Horse), Warren Spector (Disney) and Matt Hooper (id Software) along with event co-organizers Roberto Genovesi (Rai) and Marco Accordi Rickards (AIOMI).


Matt Hooper (id Software) playing historical shooter Gioventu Ribelle: XX La Breccia at the indie showcase.


Super old city hall.


Nice fresco style buildings.


Old church.


Castello di Rapallo was used as  venue to host a showcase of art from American McGee’s Alice.


…the art from Alice on display.


White-shirted Dan Marshall (Size Five Games) on the indies panel.


The infinity pool we nearly pushed Ian Livingstone into…


Matt Hooper (id Software) checking out cartoons at the special U Giancu restaurant.


Luca Monticelli (AIOMI), Andreas Lange (Computerspiele Museum), Marco Accordi Rickards (AIOMI) and Philippe Dubois (MO5) present the newly forming European Federation of Game Archives, Museums and Preservation Projects (EFGAMP).


Center, Ian Livingstone (Eidos) accepts a special career award from Marco Accordi Rickards (AIOMI) and Roberto Genovesi (Rai).


Warren Spector (Disney) gets interviewed against a beautiful backdrop.


Cosplay action.


Castello Brown on the hill in Portofino.


Idyllic seaside view of Portofino.


A look into the small square/bay of Portofino.


Up on the hill, winding path to the church.


St-George church.


Winding path to the castle…


…sadly, this was as close as I could get (was closed by the time I climbed all the steps ;)


An example of the multi layers/levels/textures in the small town of Portofino.