Programme

The following list the key speaker topics and panel discussion topics for the symposium.

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Machinima. Past. Present. Future

Machinima is the epitome of emergent game-play, created by users manoeuvring characters, environments and capturing the action on video in games and virtual worlds. Started from what is perhaps a residue of the hackers culture in the mid 1990s Machinima has since evolved to become a new art form, gaining traction for its reinvigorating model of media production and consumption. Now with professional production studio, commercial video series, advertising creative and growing fan base world wide, an ecosystem is rapidly developing in place for industrial growth. As Machinima's penetration seeps into the various industries, learn about the different stakeholders in this field and what holds for the Future of Machinima.

Machinima and the Digital Content Industry: An Industry Perspective from the Digital Hollywood University

With the advent of the web 2.0, global entertainment and media powerhouses are being challenged with an entirely new set of technologies with new rules of engagement. The uprise of Machinima in this greater context of movement towards user generated content has far-reaching impact on digital content production, in its conceptualisations, techniques, and demassification. The Digital Hollywood University, at the forefront of Digital Content industry, will present their practitioner perspectives on the potentiality of Machinima in the 2.0 transformation.

The Future of Online Games and its Romance with Machinima

Gaming has not only gone mainstream but now outstrips film and TV in terms of industry size, with games producing the highest grossing media product of all time.; the number of people playing World of Warcraft on any given day is greater than those seeing a new blockbuster film on its first weekend. The increasing demand for greater engagement and expression in gaming entertainment, traits intrinsic to Machinima, has in recent years led to their liaison in producing and fortifying gaming communities. An international industry practitioner will share insights on how the love affair between Machinima and games will progress as they trail into the future together.

Machinima and the Gaming “Play-grimage”

Machinima as emergent game-play has its roots in the twilight worlds of “modding” and tinkering with games engines. At present it has gone beyond stretching the boundaries of games, to have created new gratifications of its own in its distinctive tryst with game-play. A leading Games expert on the scene will be on hand to explain to the uninitiated just how Machinima has evolved with gaming their “play-grimage” and the developments in their core elements of production, promotion and distribution.

Let Everyone Be A Filmmaker -- When Machinima Meets Virtual World

With the advent of Machinima, many can actualise their dreams in film-making, a terrain long privileged to the talented and selected few in the past. The online virtual world platform now affords real-time creation, allowing individuals to put their imagination into practice. Besides the new provision of technical support the platform lowers the cost for creative design and the production. Supported by the openness of the platform , both Machinima and virtual world propel the growth of each other's popularities as mainstream media applications, creating extensive value-addedness to end users and opportunities to businesses. A prominent 3D virtual world operator shares their ideas on possibilities emancipated by the synthesis of Machinima and the virtual world.

Machinima and the “VIRTUA-WOOD”

Virtual words have become full-fledged digital society where friends and distant strangers are enmeshed in the daily interactions and creation of virtual life. Machinima as a form of expression and entertainment art creates a new media consumption culture immersed in an alternate all-digital human or non-human environment. And the virtual is just as, if not more caught up than Hollywood in image consumption, driving Machinima videos' proliferation. On this interest an international virtual world industry player shares their grandeur initiative for a virtual space dedicated to be the Machinima capital.

Building the Blue Mars Internet HD Television Network; The Future of Machinima is the Future of Television (Business Track)

The pervasiveness of Video on Internet has made it more than a viable alternative to traditional media. Machinima as the spirit embodiment has ride on its tide to attract mainstream attention. Recently HBO bought the Northern American broadcasting rights for the first Machinima documentary, a 52 minute film shot entirely in a virtual world. Crossing the critical threshold of acceptance by communities for its meaningful communicative capabilities, Machinima is set to become a major entertainment and communications consumer medium. A stellar pioneer in the field gives his take on Machinima as the future of television.

Would Machinima Evolve To Be The Next Mainstream Television Media?

The world is becoming an ever growing contextual media and information experience. The web as a distiller for users experience and preferences puts in place a game of musical chairs for the media, content and advertising industries. Consumers' deficit attention span to broadcast media and need for self-selected visual gratification has fueled the pervasion of videos on the net and various other media channels. Seen in this light Machinima bustles very interesting evolutionary developments in the new media landscape.

Led by the expert panelists, we open an thought invoking and exciting discussion on Machinima's makings as the next mainstream television media.

Is There a Business Model for Machinima?

Machinima is a multi-faceted phenomenon which has its actualities in the fields of various industries including but not limited to: gaming, virtual worlds, music videos, animations, film productions, advertising etc. The growing consumer or “pro-sumer” communities also bestow new untapped commercial potentialities to be harnessed. Having expounded on the future of Machinima, its making, distribution and consumption, participants would have acquired sophisticated comprehension and intrigues on the new terrains of Machinima and user generated media.
We now engage you to share your acumens with our leading industry practitioners panelists in the deliberation of the much anticipated question: so what is the business model of Machinima?

For further enquiries, please contact us at symposium2008@machinima.org.sg.

*The organiser reserves the right to amend the programme without prior notice.