“Got Game” Author & Researcher John C. Beck to Kick Off G.A.M.E.S. Synergy Summit™ in Orlando: Keynote to address impact of games and gamer generation on the future

G.A.M.E.S. Synergy Summit | For Immediate Release

"Got Game" Author & Researcher John C. Beck to Kick Off G.A.M.E.S. Synergy Summit^TM in Orlando: Keynote to address impact of games and gamer generation on the future

Orlando, FL - January 5, 2005 - John C. Beck, President of North Star Leadership Group, Senior Research Fellow at University of Southern California's Annenberg Center for the Digital Future, and a Senior Advisor at the Monitor Group, will keynote the international G.A.M.E.S. Synergy Summit^TM to be held Wednesday-Friday, January 26th-28th, 2005 in Orlando. (www.synergysummit.com)

An acronym for Government, Academic, Military, Entertainment and Simulation, the G.A.M.E.S. Synergy Summit^TM brings together leaders from each of these convergent sectors to discover new ways that interactive game-based technologies can address a broad range of beneficial, non-entertainment applications.

Dr. Beck, with co-author Mitchell Wade, researched and wrote "Got Game: How the Gamer Generation is Reshaping Business Forever" (Harvard Business School Press, Fall 2004). He will share insights about the strengths, abilities, attitudes and learning styles of the under-34 gamer generation, distinctly different from the baby boomers, and how enterprises across all disciplines can adapt to encourage their best performance.

Dr. Beck, who has published over 100 books, articles and business reports, and whose recent interviews have included CNN, Fox News, the New York Times and Boston Globe, will be available for discussions and interviews after the plenary session concludes. A working group the following afternoon will discuss the issues he raises in greater depth.

"During the opening session of the Synergy Summit, speakers representing each of the G.A.M.E.S. disciplines will describe the impact that game-based technologies and techniques are having in their areas, and talk about the issues that face them when attempting to work cooperatively between disciplines," said Interactive Entertainment Institute CEO Dustin Clingman, who also leads the International Game Developers Association's Orlando chapter.

Senior representatives from related initiatives and previous conferences will provide "executive summaries" of relevant issues, findings and challenges from their efforts, to help create a shared context for the discussions which will take place during subsequent panels, case studies and working groups.

Some of the other speakers during the plenary session on Thursday January 27th include:

About IEI, producer of the G.A.M.E.S. Synergy Summit^TM

The Interactive Entertainment Institute, LLC is founded on the premise that interactive multimedia games, and the manner in which they engage and interact with those who play them, form the most profoundly important new medium since the advent of the written word.

IEI disseminates information and facilitates collaboration between business, government and academic communities using this medium and its technologies in new, beneficial ways, and facilitates the development of new ways to explore their potential to benefit all sectors.

About the G.A.M.E.S. Synergy Summit^TM

The G.A.M.E.S. Synergy Summit^TM brings together forward thinkers and doers from the Government, Academia, Military, Entertainment and Simulation fields to focus on the convergence of interactive games, immersive entertainment and simulation techniques and technologies as applied to beneficial applications.

The Summit provides a nexus where best practices, lessons learned and future needs are shared through expert speakers, panel sessions, technology demonstrations and case studies. IEI strives to help bridge the differences in terminology, culture and processes that often exist between different communities of practice, and to create an atmosphere of collaboration.

In addition to the sharing of useful ideas, techniques and trends, this international summit engages participants through facilitated working sessions. Interdisciplinary working groups are led by experienced professionals with knowledge of the session topics selected. Participants identify and address key issues, commonalities and strategies, and recommend future actions that will help attendees work together long-term to solve each sector's challenges in the coming years.

The G.A.M.E.S. Synergy Summit^TM 2005, being held at the Renaissance Orlando Resort at SeaWorld, Wednesday - Friday, January 26-28, 2005, will also host pre-conference workshops (January 26th), an exposition for game technology suppliers, numerous networking events and an academic and jobs fair. For the latest information, as well as an prior press releases and comments from advisors and sponsors, see www.SynergySummit.com.

Contact:

Cynthia Miller, Miller.Omni.Media, Inc.

Cell (336) 749-3197; Office (336) 768-7770

Email: [email protected]