Themes
Every year we pick a few themes for the conference that sum up where the game development industry is that year, according to the console cycle, prevailing business conditions and, of course, the latest creative and technical breakthroughs. The themes for 2008 are:
Capitalise
Xbox 360, PS3 and Wii will reach the mass-market in 2008. How should studios prepare for this generations' cyclical peak? And what does the proliferation of distribution options - retail, full downloadable, casual, subscription-based, mobile, episodic - entail?
Specialise
Whatever your particular profession, game development demands specialists as never before. We explore the latest techiques to keep you and your studio on the cutting edge.
Inspire
How can studios recruit, motivate, retain and reward staff as development turns from its entrepreneurial roots to embrace corporate culture? And where now for innovation?
Enjoy
Game developers work in one of the most creative industries going - the business of play - and Develop in Brighton reflects that. Being in Brighton should give you a new perspective on your industry as well as fattening your contacts book.
Tracks
Attendees of the Develop Conference will leave Brighton better able to do their jobs, whatever corner of a games studio you inhabit. Our tracks reflect the different disciplines of the development community, plus the World Vision track which allows a glimpse into how things are done differently around the world.
 Design
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How do you design a game for an ever broadening demographic, with publishers wary of gameplay that rocks the boat, yet consumers hungry for something new? And how do you do it on schedule? We'll offer some clues, with topics covered in our design sessions including using physics as gameplay, the gameplay mechanics of tomorrow, ‘traditional' models of play, and a closer look at next gen games that got it right.
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 Production
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Everyone from the marketing and financial departments to license holders and hardcore fan sites are waiting to see if your game is released on time. But the next gen producer has more than just the production schedule to contend with: more unwieldy teams, more complicated pipelines, and a growing reliance on off-site resources for starters. Topics will include outsourcing, previsualisation, managing bigger teams, and keeping to budget.
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 Coding
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Still the lynchpins of a project, the role of the programmer is evolving fast. Specialists in AI and physics have emerged to sit alongside the long-established engine programmers, while others are focusing on bridging the gap between code and art and audio, or concentrating on tools. And of course, robust systems and solid technologies remain of prime importance for next generation titles. We'll take a look at lighting techniques, facial and emotional animation, physics, and several next gen case studies.
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 Business
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Making games is a tricky business, where the financial targets are not so much moving as threatening to spiral out of control. Whether you're studio head at a start-up or an MD at a super-developer, our business track will pay dividends, with sessions on building and retaining your IP, securing government funding, creating the perfect pitch, and making games with a global appeal.
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 Art & Animation
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Game artists have come along way in realising lush worlds, life-like human faces, and smoother animation. But graphics is a bar that keeps on rising. The Develop Conference's sessions will help artists sharpen their everyday skills, and inspire their artistic vision. We will also ask artists to put down their tablet pens to collaborate with the coders, the designers, and even the audio department.
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 Audio
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With a sensible budget and deadline in place, music and sound effects in games can now match the standards of movie making, technically and creatively. To ensure you deliver a high score, attend our sessions on cross platform audio challenges, creating interactive music and sound, and collaborating with artists and programmers to deliver audio that counts.
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 World Vision
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What can European developers learn from their peers around the world? What are the cultural differences in the world of games development? This brand new track will offer insight from an international perspective.
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