Mobile Game Conference Adds Hawkins, Ito

Representatives from The Game Initiative have announced Digital Chocolate chairman and CEO Trip Hawkins as a keynote speaker at the fourth annual Mobile Game Conference, alongside Kosei Ito, vice president and producer of mobile products, Square Enix North America. Trip Hawkins, best known as the founder of Electronic Arts and of 3DO, is responsible for the strategic focus, overall direction and performance of mobile publisher and developer Digital Chocolate. Kosei Ito oversees the development and quality assurance of all mobile games under the Square Enix Mobile brand in North America. Hawkins and Ito join previously confirmed keynote speakers Chris Early, studio manager, Microsoft Casual Games Group and Mitch Lasky, senior vice president, EA Mobile (previously chairman and CEO of Jamdat Mobile). Other speakers confirmed for the conference include Andrew Stein, Sr. Product Manager, Cingular; Chris Early, Studio Manager, Microsoft Casual Games Group; Jason A. Ford, Vice President, Strategy & Planning, Namco Networks America Inc.; Jill Braff, GM North America & SVP Worldwide Marketing, Glu Mobile; Julian Corbett, Vice President of Business Development and Brand Partnerships, In-Fusio; Mike Yuen, Senior Director, Gaming Group, QUALCOMM; Steve Hoffman, North American Studio Head, Infospace, Inc.; and John Cahill, General Manager, Mobile Games, Yahoo. The Mobile Game Conference is due to take place on July 13th and 14th in Seattle. It is organized around the three key themes of design, construction and potential. Further information can be found at the conference’s official website.