GDC Next adds Cryptic on avoiding pay-to-win MMOs, Animoca talks

As early-rate pricing ends today, 'future of games' conference GDC Next organizers have added more exciting talks to its lineup, including Animoca's Henry Oh on choosing your next game platform, and D&D: Neverwinter developer Cryptic Studios on avoiding pay-to-win in F2P MMOs. GDC Next is the spiritual successor to GDC Online, and will take place alongside the App Developers Conference on November 5th-7th, 2013 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. This new event aims to highlight the future of video game development, with session tracks organized around 'Next Generation Game Platforms', 'Free To Play & New Business Models', and 'Smartphone & Tablet Games', as well as cloud and indie game tracks. Developers wanting to design an engaging and fair free-to-play MMO experience without offputting monetization traps should check out 'How to Avoid Pay-to-Win with F2P,' from Cryptic Studios CEO Jack Emmert. He will share how Cryptic weighed business needs against game balance while keeping players happy in its current MMOs, including Star Trek Online and Dungeons & Dragons: Neverwinter (pictured). In 'How to Pick Your Next Game Platform,' Pretty Pet series publisher Animoca's director of strategic initiatives Henry Oh will present a framework for evaluating game platforms so devs can better target the right platforms for their games. Animoca has published over 200 apps on iOS, Android, Facebook, and more, which informs how Oh will speak about monetization, distribution potential, contractual issues, and technical requirements on these leading platforms. Be sure to check out the GDC Next Session Scheduler to see these and other announced talks and begin your planning. Previously announced talks include Sega's move to free-to-play with Sonic and veteran Tom Hall (DOOM, Rise Of The Triad) on Diner Dash's mobile efforts. Registration is in full swing for GDC Next and the co-located ADC, and today is the last day you can save over 30% on ADC, GDC Next, or a combined VIP All-Access Pass. For all the latest news on GDC Next, subscribe for updates via Facebook, Twitter, or RSS. Also, check out ADC's recently announced design talks: internet radio service Pandora's transition from web to mobile app, along with Immersion on tactile design for mobile users. Gamasutra and GDC are sibling organizations under parent UBM Tech