MAY 10, 2023 | Skybound Entertainment Headquarters

Thank you for attending the first ever LA Games Conference VIP Edition. We would like to thank each speaker, attendee, and sponsor for making this event possible.

Please join us on September 12th for our next event, AI in Games & Entertainment! Check out Dewexpo.com for more info and announcements!

WHAT IS LA GAMES CONFERENCE?

LA Games Conference is a high-end favorite among game, media, and investment leaders for the high energy, focused environment for networking, meetings, and deal-making.

LA GAMES CONFERENCE DATES

LA Games Conference 2023 VIP Edition will be presented in-person on May 10, 2023 at Skybound Entertainment Headquarters.

CONFERENCE FORMAT

LA Games Conference will be hosted in-person for one day filled with fireside chats, roundtables, panels, and presentations on digital game investment, creation, distribution, marketing, and monetization. Stay tuned for speaker announcements!

2023 Speakers Include:

Aaron Davies

Head of Content Strategy,
Oculus Publishing

Alyssa Mendoza

Head of DE&I Business Integration,
Activision Blizzard

Andrew Stalbow

Founder,
Destination Football

Andy Kleinman

Entrepreneur & Investor,
Formerly Scopely

Brandon Reilly

Partner,
Manatt, Phelps, & Phillips, LLP

Clarence Maximillian

Founder,
Maximillian Studios

Clinton Foy

General Partner & Managing Director, Venture Capital,
UTA.VC

Cristina Amaya

President,
Latinx in Gaming

Damon Lau

Head of Gaming & Esports,
United Talent Agency

Dan Murray

Managing Partner,
Skybound

David Alpert

CEO,
Skybound

David Stelzer

Director, UE Business, Games,
Unreal Engine | Epic Games

Francisca Phillips

Head of Global Employee Experience & DEIB,
Jam City

Holly Liu

Co-Founder & Managing Partner,
PKO Investments

Jenna Seiden

VP, Business Development,
Niantic Labs

Julie Shumaker

SVP, Revenue, Create,
Unity

Kaare Eriksen

Media Analyst,
Variety Intelligence Platform

Kara Bilkiss

VP, Business Development,
Skydance Interactive

Marge Dean

Head of Animation Studio,
Skybound

Maureen Fan

CEO & Co-Founder,
Baobab Studios

Mohit Pareek, CFA

Principal,
Drake Star

Nanea Reeves

CEO & Co-Founder,
TRIPP, Inc.

Ned Sherman

Chief Business Affairs & Legal Officer,
Skybound

Nic Hill

Co-Founder, Head of Interactive,
Sawhorse

Peer Schneider

Chief Content Officer,
IGN Entertainment

Richard McDerby

Partner,
Manatt, Phelps, & Phillips, LLP

Sam Lam

Sr. Legal Counsel, Games,
Skybound

Scott Humphries

Chief Product Officer,
Amber

Scott Rupp

Founding General Partner,
BITKRAFT Ventures

Shawne Benson

Global Head of Third Party Portfolio & Acquisitions,
Sony Interactive Entertainment

Sophia Yen

Partner,
Manatt, Phelps, & Phillips, LLP

Stephan Bugaj

Chief Creative Officer,
Genvid

Todd Lichten

Head of Entertainment Partnerships,
ROBLOX

Vivienne Zhao

Director, Interactive Media & Technologies,
Lazard Frères & Co. LLC

Yung Kim

VP, Partnerships,
Aldora.io

2023 AGENDA

Speakers and details subject to change.


May 10, 2023

Welcome and Introductory Remarks

Please join us for our opening session as David Alpert, CEO of Skybound Entertainment ushers in the first ever 2023 LA Games Conference VIP Edition.
David Alpert

Research Presentations

Investment & M&A Activity in the Interactive Media and Technologies Market Presenters: Vivienne Zhao, Director, Interactive Media & Technologies, Lazard Frères & Co. LLC Key Takeaways From the Latest Industry Wide Transition and How It Will Alter Business Models Across Multiple Industries In 2019 (pre-covid), theatrical and home entertainment revenue surpassed $100 billion for the first time. Worldwide box office receipts accounted for $42.5 billion, a new industry high, while digital home and mobile entertainment brought in $58.8 billion globally, up 14% y/y. By comparison, the games industry generated about $150 billion in 2019. But after a surge amid Covid, the industry has hit an air pocket of uncertainty. Yung will discuss the entry of non-endemic firms cross pollinating with video game IP, the significance of user generated content, the impact of consolidation and other trends that are forcing decision makers in interactive entertainment as well as music, film, television and other industries to rethink strategies for the next phase of growth. Presenters: Yung Kim, VP, Partnerships, Aldora.io
Vivienne Zhao
Yung Kim

The State of the Game Industry

The global games market was projected to generate $184 billion in 2022, representing a 4% decrease from the previous year representing the first decline in 15 years, with game revenue coming from a mix of subscription services, downloadable content (DLC) and add-ons, as well as in-app or in-game purchase options for virtual items or game-enhancing experiences. This panel of industry leaders will discuss expectations for the industry in 2023 and the trends that are most likely to drive future growth. What does it take to make a successful game for console, mobile, tablets and PC in today’s environment? What genres – adventure/role playing games, puzzles, social games, strategy, simulation and others – are driving growth? How are consumer habits shaping the opportunities for market incumbents and new entrants alike? Panelists: Dan Murray, Managing Partner, Skybound Peer Schneider, Chief Content Officer, IGN Entertainment Jules Shumaker, SVP of Revenue, Create, Unity David Stelzer, Director, UE Business, Games, Unreal Engine, Epic Games Moderator: Kaare Eriksen, Media Analyst, Variety Intelligence Platform
Kaare Eriksen
Peer Schneider
Dan Murray
Julie Shumaker
David Stelzer

Dealmaking and M&A in the Games Market

As market volatility and the cost of capital have increased, there has been a decline in deal activity and public and private market valuations, but there are also interesting new opportunities arising. This panel of investors and dealmakers will discuss the current environment for dealmaking in the games market and consider the opportunities presented. What are the new opportunities for the long-term oriented strategies focused on innovation in the sector?  What types of deals are being done? Panelists: Clinton Foy, General Partner & Managing Director, Venture Capital, UTA.VC Holly Liu, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, PKO Investments Mohit Pareek, CFA, Principal, Drake Star Scott Rupp, Founding General Partner, BITKRAFT Ventures Moderator: Rich McDerby, Partner, Manatt, Phelps, Phillips, LLP
Mohit Pareek, CFA
Clinton Foy
Richard McDerby
Holly Liu
Scott Rupp

IP and Roblox: How Developers and Brands Can Bring and Build Unforgettable IP in Immersive Worlds

As Gen Z and Alpha continue to move away from traditional media in favor of interactive experiences, the path to launching the next blockbuster franchise no longer runs solely through Hollywood. On Roblox, an immersive platform for communication and connection, next-gen studios and developers are redefining go-to-market strategies and leveraging the platform’s 66M+ daily active users to bring their IP to the masses. In pursuit of expanding revenue streams, engaging with new audiences, and maintaining the look and feel of beloved IP, there are a number of creators at the cutting edge. In this panel, you’ll hear from top studios and developers who are using Roblox to reach new audiences, build additional revenue streams, and expand the reach of beloved IP, brought together for the first time for this insightful conversation by Roblox’s Head of Entertainment Partnerships Todd Lichten. Panelists: Maureen Fan, CEO & Co-Founder, Baobab Studios Nic Hill, Co-Founder, Head of Interactive, Sawhorse Scott Humphries, Chief Product Officer, Amber Clarence Maximillian, Founder, Maximillian Studios Moderator: Todd Lichten, Head of Entertainment Partnerships, ROBLOX
Maureen Fan
Nic Hill
Scott Humphries
Clarence Maximillian
Todd Lichten

Inclusive Design for Games & Animation: Embedding Inclusive Storytelling and Playing Experience in Content and Development

“Games are a rich, expansive medium that allow players to explore the possibilities of other realms and realities. Diversity in these stories, mechanics, and environments allows games to appeal to a wide set of this potential player-base while allowing players to become enriched, inspired, and empowered by these games and the stories within them.” – IGDA 2022 Report Inclusive design and development for games and other modes of storytelling such as animation “not only empowers players who are often underrepresented, but also creates an impassioned fanbase, distinguishes the game and its design from competitors, and improves both user experience and public perception” (IGDA), offering a huge benefit to companies involved in franchise development to reach fans and audiences. This panel will discuss the importance and tactics on how to best equip game and animation developers with the knowledge and resources to make games and animation that are more accessible to all gamers and audiences, tell more stories through different lenses, and show characters with diverse backgrounds. Panelists: Stephan Bugaj, Chief Creative Officer, Genvid Marge Dean, Head of Animation Studio, Skybound Alyssa Mendoza, Head of DE&I Business Integration, Activision Blizzard Francisca Phillips, Head of Global Employee Experience & DEIB, Jam City Moderator: Cristina...
Read More
Francisca Phillips
Cristina Amaya
Stephan Bugaj
Marge Dean
Alyssa Mendoza

Meetup Discussion Groups

Legal Issues for Games Businesses Presenters: Sam Lam, Senior Counsel, Games, Skybound Brandon Reilly, Partner, Manatt, Phelps, & Phillips, LLP Ned Sherman, Chief Business Affairs & Legal Officer, Skybound Sophia Yen, Partner, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP
Brandon Reilly
Sophia Yen
Sam Lam
Ned Sherman

Founder Stories: Building Brands and Businesses in Interactive Entertainment

This panel of repeat founders with senior executive roles and multiple exits among them will discuss the path to building a successful brand and business in interactive entertainment. What are the common threads in brand-building? What are the success criteria for new brands entering the market? What are the considerations around financing, teambuilding and company culture? Panelists: Andy Kleinman, Entrepreneur & Investor, Formerly Scopely Damon Lau, Head of Gaming & Esports, United Talent Agency Nanea Reeves, Co-Founder & CEO, TRIPP, Inc. Andrew Stalbow, Founder, Destination Football Moderator: Ned Sherman, Chief Business Affairs & Legal Officer, Skybound
Damon Lau
Nanea Reeves
Andy Kleinman
Ned Sherman
Andrew Stalbow

AR and VR Games Excellence

Bringing together the ‘VR & AR Believers’ to make a believer out of YOU! We’ll look at how the real commitment to supporting high quality games in VR and AR leads to wider platform adoption and increased game sales. We’re at an exciting time witnessing the transition of VR & AR to established gaming ecosystems. The desire is to explore how the Believers do it differently, identify how we can all do it better and forecast what’s to come in this dynamic new market. Panelists: Shawne Benson, Head of Third Party Portfolio & Acquisitions, Sony Interactive Entertainment Aaron Davies, Head of Content Strategy, Oculus Publishing Jenna Seiden, VP, Business Development, Niantic Labs Moderator: Kara Bilkiss, VP, Business Development, Skydance Interactive
Jenna Seiden
Aaron Davies
Shawne Benson
Kara Bilkiss

Past Speakers Included:

Andrew Paradise

CEO and Co-Founder,
Skillz

Angela Roseboro

Chief Diversity Officer,
Riot Games

Ann Hand

CEO and Chairman,
Super League Gaming

Ashley Crowder

Co-Founder & CEO,
VNTANA

Barry Cottle

CEO, Scientific Games Interactive
(formerly Chief Revenue Officer, Zynga)

Ben Feder

President, International Partnerships (North America), Tencent Games

Bernard Kim

President of Publishing,
Zynga

Bill Young

Head of Games,
Twitch

Bonnka Lim

VP of Content Marketing & Partnerships,
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment

Brandon Cubillas

Head of Industry for App Gaming,
Google

Chris DeWolfe

CEO and Co-Founder,
Jam City

Chris Hewish

President,
Xsolla

Chris Petrovic

SVP, Head of Corporate Strategy, M&A and Business Development, Zynga Inc.

Craig Donato

Chief Business Officer,
Roblox

Dan Murray

Co-CEO,
Skybound Games

David Morin

Industry Manager for Media and Entertainment, Epic Games

David Perry

CEO & Co-Founder, VYRL.co
(formerly CEO, Gaikai, Acquired by Sony)

David Roberts

SVP, GM PopCap, Electronic Arts
(formerly CEO, PopCap Games- Acquired by EA)

Frank Gibeau

CEO, Zynga
(formerly President, EA Labels, Electronic Arts)

Frédéric Chesnais

CEO,
Atari Blockchain

Jaci Hays

Chief Corporate Alliance Officer,
FaZe Clan

Javier Ferreira

Co-CEO,
Scopely

Jesse Janosov

GM Xbox Community,
Microsoft

Joanna Popper

Global Lead, Virtual Reality Location Based Entertainment,
HP

John Pleasants

CEO, Brava Home Inc.
(formerly CEO, Playdom- acquired by Disney)

John Riccitiello

Chief Executive Officer, Unity Technologies

Jon Radoff

CEO & Founder,
Disruptor Beam

Jonathan Anastas

CMO, ONE Championship and ONE Esports

Jonathan Flesher

Head of Business Development,
Discord

Josh Yguado

President and Co-Founder,
Jam City

Julie Shumaker

Senior Vice President of Revenue, Unity Operate Solutions,
Unity Technologies

Kristian Segerstrale

CEO, Super Evil Megacorp
(formerly Supercell Investor/Past Board Member; Playfish (now EA) & Glu Mobile Co-Founder)

Kyu Lee

President,
GAMEVIL COM2US USA

Lars Buttler

Co-Founder & CEO, AI Foundation
(formerly CEO, Trion Worlds)

Laura Naviaux Sturr

Head of Business Operations and Player Experience,
Amazon Games

Leanne Loombe

Head of External Games,
Netflix

Lester Chen

Head of Gaming, Americas,
YouTube

Lydia Bottegoni

Executive Vice President of Story and Franchise Development,
Blizzard Entertainment

Mikko Setala

EVP, Rovio Entertainment Ltd. (formerly President - Rovio Animation Company)

Mitch Lasky

General Partner, Benchmark Capital (and former CEO, JAMDAT, acquired by EA)

Morgan Kruger

COO, MWM Universe

Nonny de la Peña

Founder,
Emblematic Group

Owen Mahoney

CEO,
Nexon

Randy Shaffer

Senior Sales Director U.S.- Xbox, Verizon Media
(formerly West & Central Region Sales Director, Xbox Advertising - Microsoft)

Richard Marks

Research Fellow,
Sony Interactive Entertainment

Rikard Steiber

Former President, Viveport,
HTC Vive

Rob Pardo

Design and Operations, Bonfire Studios
(formerly Game Designer/Former CCO - Blizzard Entertainment)

Samantha Ryan

Senior Vice President, Group GM, BioWare, Full Circle, Maxis, Motive,
Electronic Arts

Saxs Persson

Co-Chief Creative Officer, Mojang Studios,
Minecraft

Shara Senderoff

Founder & Partner,
Raised in Space

Soojeong Song

Gaming Vertical Lead, Google

Taewon Yun

General Manager, Global Publishing,
Super Evil Megacorp

Ted Schilowitz

Futurist,
Paramount Pictures

Tony Bartel

Former COO, Gamestop
(formerly President, Gamestop)

Yat Siu

Co-Founder and Executive Chairman,
Animoca Brands

Yvette Martinez-Rea

Chief Executive Officer,
ESL North America

2023 Sponsors Include:

Past Sponsors and Media Partners Included: