In early April, my logistical stars aligned and I was able to participate in three back-to-back events in Europe. Specifically, the ImMediaTe Cross Media Summit in Rome, Digital Game Production Malta’s Gamezing competition award ceremony and the Heidelberg Innovation Forum in Germany.
In Rome, I served on a panel discussing funding of various media projects. Of course, I handled the game perspective. Also, I hosted a batch of pitch-style presentations geared around the gamification theme. In Heidelberg, I did a similar pitch session, but also gave the opening keynote, discussing innovation and the need to embrace failure on the path to success.
The trip to Malta was the most eye opening, as it was my first time visiting the small country. I gave a keynote on trends in the game industry and how to grow a game development community. The speech was part of the ceremony to announce the winners of their student game dev competition, Gamezing. The industry is quite embryonic, but a dedicated group is working to propel things forward. And wow, Malta is a pretty fascinating and beautiful place. I wish I had been able to stay longer than just two days!
Here are some of the photos I took along the way…
Rome
Blossoming view outside my hotel in Rome, near Piazza del Popolo.
Riccardo Panunzio (FILAS) discusses the “futouring“trend in Italy.
The gate of the Canadian Embassy in Rome.
Casa del Cinema in the Borghese Villa gardens, where the conference was held.
Mega fountain photo action in Piazza Navona: Jaspar Roos (ABN Ambro), Jeroen Meijer (Muzar), Dino Patti (Playdead), Kamarul Ariff (MDeC) and Gohar Sargsyan (Logica).
The crossmedia creativity panel.
Malta
The view outside my hotel room in Malta.
Something about the tight winding roads mesmerizes me…
Beachfront in Sliema.
One of the many bays/coves.
Many of the buildings had beautifully contrasting colors with the typical sandstone bricks.
Saviour Chircop (University of Malta) welcomes everyone to the Gamezing award ceremony.
Outside Saint John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta…
…and inside.
One of the “Three Cities” across the bay from Valletta, I think this one is Cospicua.
View of Valletta’s bay from the upper Barrakka gardens.
Just so happened there was a national Scouts parade in town.
The “Blue Grotto” along the southern coast.
Grounds of the ancient stone temple Hagar Qim, the oldest free-standing man-made structure (predating Stone Henge and the Pyramids!)
Some of the stones weigh up to 20 tons!
Cathedral inside the walled city of Mdina.
The mayor of Valletta, Alexiei Dingli and his family showed me around.
The ancient walled city of Mdina, founded in 700BC and continuously fortified over the years…
Heidelberg
View from my hotel window in Heidelberg.
Part of the Villa Bosch complex, where the conference was held.
Entrance to the more modern portion of the conference center.
Heather Ritchie (Lymbix) presents some cool text nuance/emotion parsing technology.
Andoni Gonzalo (Agla4d) discusses the use of advanced technology and 3D systems for construction optimization.
Idyllic river side views.
View of the Heidelberg Castle ruins from below in the city center.
The closing dinner was at the rather lavish Palais Prinz Carl.
