The link between computer games and dance, following the AGM of the BCS Animation and Games specialist group.
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Synopsis
In this presentation we will look at what the rise of quirky dance animation in games, what is driving their adoption and the impact they appear to be having on players. Also there will be a brief history of quirky content as this is not the first time we have been here.
There is also a serious business model behind this and other skins and perks available in games such as Fortnite, plus a rich second hand market emerging, and who knows it may end up being blockchain powered.
About the speaker
Dr Ian Hughes a.k.a epredator when online is Chair of the BCS Animation and Games Development specialist group.
Ian has been a gamer since 1970’s and this inspired him into a career as a software engineer, there is more on that in the BCS article Memoirs of bedroom coder. During a 20 year career at IBM, he worked on some of the earliest websites and stores in the late 90’s, including the Wimbledon tennis website for a decade.
In 2006 he helped inspire colleagues and many companies into virtual worlds such as Second Life, officially becoming a metaverse evangelist, investigating and experiencing new and interesting ways to communicate online, many of which are having a resurgence now. The use of game technology continued when he set up Feeding Edge Ltd in 2009 building virtual training hospitals for major incidents and other educational applications.
He presented his own slot as resident super geek on ITV’s Saturday morning kids TV show The Cool Stuff Collective which ran for 39 episodes in 3 series 2010/11.
After many other public speaking and writing roles, he wrote and published two sci-fi novels detailing the adventures of a techie gamer, Roisin, who accidentally comes across a way to manipulate the physical world, as we do with the virtual. Reconfigure and the follow up Cont3xt have AR, VR, IoT and Quantum computing as a backdrop for adventure and lots of unusual situations.
He was amazed and delighted to be presented with an Honorary Doctor of Technology award from Southampton Solent University in 2018.
For the past 5 years he has worked as an industry analyst covering industrial IoT, AR, VR, Autonomous Robots and Games technology at 451 Research part of S&P Global Market Intelligence. He remains a keen gamer and observer of trends across all platforms and genres.
Our events are for adults aged 16 years and over.
For overseas delegates who wish to attend the event, please note that BCS does not issue invitation letters.
This event is brought to you by: BCS Animation and Games Development specialist group, BCS Hampshire branch and BCS Dorset branch
