UK's Evolve Conference Announced, Segerstrale To Keynote

Organizers of the UK's Develop in Brighton conference have revealed that the event's 'Evolve' track will now become its own stand-alone event in London for the first time. Playfish co-founder and general manager Kristian Segerstrale (FIFA Superstars, Pet Society) will keynote the event, which focuses on the social and casual games business. In a presentation called "Social Gaming: After the Revolution," Segerstrale is set to discuss a "crossroads" for the segment, how the space is evolving and how new companies and products still have an opportunity to make an entrance. "Social gaming took the conventional video games industry by surprise," says Segerstrale. "There was a real gap in the market for 'connectedness,' and a few companies, like Playfish, managed to reach a whole new audience and create a new type of gamer." "But those ‘new’ gamers are now pretty much mainstream," he continues. "Now, the interesting question is what happens next for social gaming." Evolve will take place December 8, 2010, and organizers say a second keynote for later in the day, plus nine more sessions, will soon be announced. Interested parties can find further info at the event's official website.