It's going to be a busy week in Cologne, as both Devcom and Gamescom attract gaming professionals from around the world.
The first event kicks off with a two-day conference where over 250 speakers will discuss some of the biggest challenges facing the industry today in over 200 sessions.
There's a lot to cover in the full programme, so the team at GamesIndustry.biz have selected highlights from some of the sessions we think will be the most interesting.
The Devcom Developer Conference 2024 will take place from Monday, August 19 to Tuesday, August 20 at Koelnmesse in Cologne, and more information can be found on the event website.
Monday, August 19
An argument for better story integration (or “Please stop calling it story wrapping”)
10:00 to 11:00 am, main stage, Confex exhibition floor
In Devcom's keynote, Outer Wilds writer and narrative designer Kelsey Beachum explores how every element of a game can help tell the story without limiting it to modal conversations and cutscenes.
The global PC and console gaming market: forecasts and trends to 2024
11.30 am to 12.30 pm — Stage 5 – Xsolla Stage – Confex Floor 2
Newzoo Senior Advisor Devan Brennan analyzes the latest data and insights from the global PC and console gaming market, including revenue and spending, player behavior, and analytics firm forecasts through 2027.
How to Survive an Eighth Year as an Independent Study: Tools Kept and Tactics Discarded
12.30pm-1.30pm — Stage 14 – Confex Floor 3
Philomena Schwab, CEO and game designer at Stray Fawn Studio, developer of The Wandering Village, explores the most important lessons learned since the company first opened its doors and how indies can address the challenges they face.
A look behind the scenes: What content considerations are independent publishers making in 2024?
1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. — Stage 14 – 3rd floor of Confex
Jasper Barnes, Director of Game Exploration at Team17, sheds light on the decision-making processes that indie publishers follow when greenlighting titles they want to release, helping developers better understand the criteria for success.
How to lose a player in 10 days
15:00 to 15:30 h — Stage 5 — Xsolla Stage — Confex Floor 2
Feras Musmar, Product Director at TTK Games, a studio made up of former DICE veterans, explores the problem of player churn in non-live service games and looks at ways developers can encourage players to finish the games they've worked so hard on.
The art of closing
17.30 to 18.30 h — Stage 14 – 3rd floor of Confex
Ubisoft Montreal producer Fleur Marty offers a rare insight into one of the most unglamorous and critical phases of game development: the wrap-up, or the finish line. Marty offers advice on how to wrap up a game in a way that ensures quality and what mistakes to avoid.
Tuesday, August 20
On the road to Valhalla in 'God of War'
11:30 am to 12:30 pm, Stage 1, Confex exhibition floor
Mihir Sheth, co-game director of God of War Ragnarök: Valhalla, discusses how Santa Monica Studio developed its first DLC, the role it played for the franchise, and how it resonated with its fanbase.
Exploring ethical horizons: the challenges of AI-generated art
12:00 pm to 12:30 pm, stage 11, Confex floor 3
Red Meat Games Creative Content Strategist Judy Ehrentraut explores the importance of training AI models to use ethically sourced content, ensuring creators and artists are compensated, and the role of AI in general.
How to address sexism and resistance to diversity in the modern video game industry
1:30 to 2:30 p.m., stage 8, Call for Change track, 3rd floor of Confex
Jamie Christensen and Cecilia Luna of Bytro Labs discuss the issues facing women and members of the LGBTQ+ community working in the games industry, how they have changed over time, and what can be addressed in the short and long term.
Demystifying creativity
3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Stage 1, Confex exhibition floor
Fawzi Mesmar, Global Vice President of Creative at Ubisoft, explores creativity and originality in game development, delving into the core of the creative process by combining insights from psychology, neuroscience and personal experience.
AAA graphics are dead
16:00 to 17:00, stage 1, Confex exhibition floor
Matt Radford, Creative Director and CEO at 5th Corner, discusses what's next for AAA once photorealism is mastered, and mentions his experiences working on games like Uncharted, The Last of Us, and The Matrix Awakens.
Cozy Futures: Challenging Traditional Game Design
4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., stage 17, Confex floor 3
Hosted by Ustwo Games Director Jennifer Estaris, panelists Lea Schönfelder (Co-CEO of Fein Games), Joost Vervoort (Associate Professor at Utrecht University) and Meghna Jayanth (Narrative Designer and Writer) discuss how to challenge traditional game design by branching out and focusing on different aspects of creativity.
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