| Session Name: | Dominating Europe and North America (The Keys to International Success with Online Games: Culturalization, Targeted Games, and Understanding Local Players) |
| Speaker(s): | Heiko Hubertz |
| Company Name(s): | Bigpoint GmbH |
| Track / Format: | Business & Management |
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| Overview: |
Browser-based online video games, once thought of as limited casual experiences that offer consumers little in terms of gameplay and graphical quality, are pushing the boundaries of what has traditionally been possible within web-browsers. As a result, they are rapidly gaining preference among traditional gamers around the world and are redefining the industry. Driven by the advent of new technologies and more adaptive business models, development studios, publishers, and independent game-makers are all scrambling to compete in this rapidly evolving landscape. Despite growing competition and stratification across the online games industry, European-based companies continue to maintain and increase their leadership position around the world. This leadership stems not only from Europes abundant creativity and innovative-spirit, but also its deep understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities that exist beyond its borders. Europe itself is home to a more diverse population than perhaps any other continent. Coupled with the increasingly complex global challenges presented by the emerging markets of Asia and North America, these European companies are far better equipped to deal with difficulties of penetrating new markets, languages, and cultural barriers than their counterparts housed within less complex regions of the globe. Bigpoint CEO and Founder, Heiko Hubertz, will discuss the latest business and technological trends that are quickly revolutionizing online gaming. A strong emphasis will be placed on emerging opportunities in North America, including a brief look at some of the new technology that will help fuel growth in that key market. Relying on lessons learned during his tenure at Bigpoint as he built it into one of the top companies in this industry, Mr. Hubertz will also provide perspective on the myriad of challenges that European companies can expect to encounter should they attempt to enter, compete and succeed in the North American market. Throughout the keynote address, Mr. Hubertz will enlighten conference attendees with valuable insights into the industry and anecdotes about the online gaming business, including the '10 percent' rule, analysis of typical development costs and ROI, the importance of marketing and maintenance, and how to effectively manage an online offering over an extended lifetime to ensure revenue continues to grow. Finally, Mr. Hubertz will address the future of online gaming, and demonstrate how next-generation browser based games titles that replicate the quality and consumer engagement normally associated with console and PC games are not only coming sooner than expected, but are poised to permanently change the entire face of the video game industry on or off-line. Mr. Hubertz will showcase some of the latest projects under development at Bigpoint, including an updated look into the development of Battlestar Galactica Online, among others. |
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