Touring pop-culture convention, Wizard World, is headed back to St. Louis, MO from April 7-9, 2017 – and we’re excited to be bringing a taste of PixelPop Festival to the show.
Members of the PixelPop team, in conjunction with Nerd For A Living, will be presenting games-focused panels on all three days of the convention. Each panel includes a group of fantastic guests that represent a wide range of backgrounds and knowledge in the games community. Here’s where you can find us at the show:
HOW GAMES CAN CHANGE THE WORLD
Friday, April 7 | 5:30pm – 6:15pm | Room 144
The cultural impact of games spreads farther and wider as artists and developers stretch the idea of what a game can be. Join this panel of local game industry professionals as they explore the psychology and social impact of games and play on many professional industries – and facets of culture.
Guest speakers: Katherine Brennan, Kayla Finocchiaro (a.k.a. The Silver Foxe), Jen Patton, and Rob Santos.
Moderator: Carol Mertz (Executive Director of PixelPop Festival).
MAKING GAMES IN STL
Saturday, April 8 | 12:30pm – 1:15pm | Room 144
Did you know that St. Louis has a fast-growing and successful game developer community? Our city is home to a variety of gaming studios and makers who are making their mark in the gaming world. STL is also home to events like Pixelpop Festival, specifically tailored for people who want to learn about the art and development of games. Join this panel of local professionals as they discuss educational and professional opportunities in gaming – and the expanding community of St. Louis game enthusiasts becoming game creators!
Guest speakers: Amanda Bott (NVIDIA), Tj Hughes (Terrifying Jellyfish, Happy Badgers), Mary McKenzie (Volcano Bean), and Carol Mertz (Pass the Buck, PixelPop Festival).
Moderator: Wendy Buske (Producer and Co-Founder, Nerd For A Living).
WHAT’S IT LIKE TO “INDIE”: FROM PLAYER TO MAKER TO INDIE GAME STUDIO
Sunday, April 9th | 1:00pm – 1:45pm | Room 161
The popularity of Indie Games is skyrocketing – with more and more studios that make games entering the fold every day. But what does it take to create or be part of an indie games studio? This panel will discuss the steps you can take to create your own studio, the trials and tribulations of making games, and the abundance of tools available online to help you get started. Learn about the career paths of indie developers, and how diverse professional backgrounds have helped them develop the skills they need to make games and put them out into the world.
Guest speakers: Ben Cook (Last Stitch Goodnight), Sam Coster (Butterscotch Shenanigans, Crashlands), Mary McKenzie (Volcano Bean, Battlecakes).
Moderator: Adron Buske (Host and Creative Director, Nerd For A Living).
To learn more about Wizard World St. Louis, and get your tickets, visit WizardWorld.com.