The Ottawa game development community put on their inaugural conference to great effect. The Ottawa Game Conference welcomed over 400 participants and presented a packed day of lectures and activities. In fact, my only “complaint” would be that there was too much content! I had the honor of giving the opening keynote, and focused on placing the burgeoning Ottawa game cluster into the larger Canadian/global context.

Other highlights included Ernest Adams’ story/MMO lecture, Ubi’s Patrick Plourde with future visions, the panel on alternate forms of financing, Gabe Zichmermann’s gamification talk and the “app jam” competition event with highschool students co-located across the hall. Oh, and the conference website and visual design were especially cool/playful! Here are some quick pics from the day:


John Criswick (Magmic) and Scott Simpson (PlayBrains) at the speaker/VIP pre-event reception.


The appropriately polygonal surface of the Ottawa Convention Center.


Ernest Adams talks story+MMOs.


Patrick Plourde (Ubisoft) on new design horizons.


Gabe Zichermann waving his arms!


Careen Yapp (Konami) and Scott Simpson (PlayBrains) enjoying a “Sega Sonic” cocktail at the end of the conference.