GDC In-Game Ad Summit Nears Early Reg Deadline

The organizers of the GDC Focus On: Game Advertising Summit, due to take place on June 9th at the San Francisco Marriott Hotel, and run by the CMP Game Group (as is Gamasutra.com) have sent out a reminder that tomorrow, May 19th, is the last day that prospective attendees can pre-register for the event at 'early rate' pricing. The conference on "video game publishers and developers, corporate marketing executives, and advertising agency professionals" who are driving the in-game ad market, and has announced Kevin Browne, general manager, Xbox New Media and Franchise Development, Microsoft as its keynote. Browne will outline Microsoft's vision of the growing advertising and games market through the viewpoint of the software and gaming platform giant, whose recent purchase of in-game ad network Massive Inc., has significantly changed the in-game advertising climate. The summit also features a panel with representatives from the major in-game advertising agencies, including IGA Worldwide, Adscape Media, Double Fusion, and Massive, and an analyst session with Julie Ask, Research Director, JupiterResearch, and Michael Cai, Director, Broadband & Gaming, Parks Associates, exploring the facts and stats that affect in-game advertising. In addition, other highlights include a high-profile developer briefing on the in-game advertising in Electronic Arts' Fight Night: Round 3 by Kudo Tsunoda, Executive Producer on that title, a presentation on 'Reaching the 18- to 34-year old Demographic' by representatives from Denuo's Play advertising agency division, and a look at publishers and how they see the inherent opportunities of in-game advertising with Dave Anderson, Senior Director, Business Development, Activision; Sarah McIlroy, Director In-Game Ads & Promotions, Midway; and Dave Miller, Director, Global Brand Management, THQ. More information on the Summit, including full registration and speaker details, is available at the official GDC Focus On: Game Advertising Summit webpage.