News sponsored by Drive Control Corporation with Dell Client Peripherals: 

From 10-12 November 2021, Comic Con Africa is returning with its annual Business of Gaming Forum, a gaming industry conference that informs and showcases a wide range of opportunities and business pillars within the gaming industry, including esports, game development and everywhere that brands intersect.

Comic Con Africa notes the conference, which will take place online, will see industry leaders and innovators from Google, Microsoft, XBOX, EA – DICE, Activision/Blizzard, Branded Entertainment Network, Global Esports Federation, Outpost Capital and more, discussing opportunities, key insights and learnings around the Business of Gaming.

Now in its fourth year, Carla Massmann, Show Director at Comic Con Africa, is confident that this year’s event will provide valuable insight to those within the gaming industry, and anyone who is interested to get involved with the gaming industry. “Each year the Business of Gaming Forum grows from strength to strength, and our goal is to always ensure we bring value to attendees. Some of the companies we've had as guests in the past include: PlayStation, Kickstarter, Twitch, International Game Developers Association Foundation, Long Haul Management, ESL, and Amazon Web Services. This year’s forum we have yet again assembled a true powerhouse of speakers from across the world. By doing this, we are bringing the world to Africa, which helps us open more opportunities and doors within the sector,” Massmann adds.

This year the forum offers highly informative and engaging tracks, all running on separate days and times so that there are no competing tracks, and everyone can receive the full experience or select their specific focus.

There will also be various themes and discussions that will provide immense value for everyone from game developers and esports teams, to marketers and promotion agencies, business developers, Venture Capitalists, and more.

More information about the Business of Gaming 2021 Forum including full schedules and ticket details can be found here  https://comicconafrica.co.za/business-of-gaming/

What can attendees look forward to?

BOG.ECOSYSTEM

Theme: Future of Gaming – Where does Africa fit into the gaming ecosystem

Bringing together keynote speakers to talk about the future of gaming and where Africa fits into the global gaming ecosystem.

Speakers:

• Rene Schulte, Valorem Research Director | Microsoft RD & MVP | Keynote Speaker | Developer | Thought Leader | Digital Content Creator | Spatial Computing |Quantum Computing⟩ AI
• Chester King, Board VP/CEO, Global Esports Federation/British Esports Association)
• Ebrahim Patel, Head of Future Markets, RMB

Who should attend this track: Game designers, programmers, artists, modelers, game animators, sound artists, level designers, publishers, distributers, promoters, banks, investors, Venture Capitalists, business developers, esports entrepreneurs, game developers, government officials, trade associations, media, large corporates, marketers, investors, media, esports professionals, branded game developers, sponsors.

GAME.MAKERS

For anyone who makes games. Covering topics such as metaverses, time management, market data, motion capture, game design and utilising game engines for more than just games.

Hosted and moderated by: Nick Hall, CEO/Business Development Manager, Interactive Entertainment South Africa/RenderHeads Limited

Speakers: 

1. Adrien Cho, Outsource & Vendor Manager, 343 Industries
2. Chris Naves, Lead Art Outsource Manager, Obsidian Entertainment
3. Sam Carlisle, Senior Program Manager, Xbox Game Studios
4. Esteban Lora, Senior Executive Partners and Alliances, Microsoft (Xbox Game Studios)
5. Mark Mandel, Developer Advocate, Google Cloud for Games
6. Paul Dobson, COO, Game Tester PTY Ltd
7. Kate Edwards, CEO, Geogrify
8. Mik Adler, Chief Marketing Officer, FuseBox
9. Jo Eyre, Global Marketing & Communications Lead, Epic Games |  PhD candidate: workplace collaboration in the metaverse
10. Brent Alexander, Chief Creative Officer, CraftVR
11. Ebrahim Patel, Head of Future Markets, RMB
12. Rene Schulte, Valorem Research Director | Microsoft RD & MVP | Keynote Speaker | Developer | Thought Leader | Digital Content Creator | Spatial Computing |Quantum Computing⟩ AI
13. Tian Ding, Lead Data Scientist, Activision/Blizzard
14. Celia Hodent, Cognitive Scientist and UX Expert [Fortnite]
15. Fawzi Mesmar, Head of Design, DICE (EA Digital Illusions CE AB) [Battlefield 2042]
16. Abigail Rindo, Associate Director- Narrative Design, King
17. Guy Richards, Senior Strategic Partner Manager, Microsoft Gaming Partnerships & Development (Business Development Org)

*see programme for full list of speakers confirmed to date

Who should attend this track: Game designers, programmers, artists, modelers, game animators, sound artists, level designers, publishers, distributers, promoters.

FUNDING.UNLOCKED

Funding.Unlocked is for everyone looking for the HOW behind funding and will unpack where the investment opportunities lie, setting some goals for the African market, talking about the importance of reputation, growing an audience, assessing Africa as a gaming investment opportunity, and discussing the future opportunities with crypto, NFT’s and behavioral banking

Hosted and moderated by: Glenn Kisela, Co-Owner + Creative Director, NIBBLE Esports

Speakers:

1. Ryan Wang, General Partner, Outpost Capital
2. Priven Reddy, Founder, Kagiso Interactive
3. Shanti Bergel, Managing Director, Transcend Fund
4. Glenn Gillis, CEO, SeaMonster Entertainment
5. Bhavanesh Parbhoo, Digital Media Funding Specialist, Industrial Development Corporation
6. Brent Alexander, CEO, Craft VR
7. Matthew Woods, Co-founder and CEO, AFK Creators
8. Justin Warden, Co-founder and COO, Ader | Forbes 30 Under 30 | Disney Accelerator 2016
9. James Gallagher, Senior Social Media Manager, Keywords Studios
10. Florian Pabst, Partnership Manager, Game Influencer
11. Hugo Obi, Founder, Maliyo Games
12. Jean Rossouw, Head: Financial Education, Capitec
13. Ebrahim Patel, Head of Future Markets, RMB

*see programme for full list of speakers confirmed to date

Who should attend this track: Banks, investors, Venture Capitalists, business developers, esports entrepreneurs, game developers, government officials, trade associations, and pretty much the entire gaming ecosystem.

CORPORATES.BRANDS

Corporates.Brands is the session for all brands and large corporations who want to enter the gaming space, but don’t quite know where to start and how to get started.

Hosted and moderated by: Glenn Kisela, Co-Owner + Creative Director, NIBBLE Esports

Speakers:

1. Glenn Gillis, CEO, Sea Monster Entertainment
2. Cari Kirby, Head of Marketing, Peek & Poke
3. Jean Rossouw, Head: Financial Education, Capitec
4. Jay Thomson, Venture Investor
5. Mark Bassett, Senior Director, Strategy & Business Development, Branded Entertainment Network
6. Alex Curry, Influencer Marketing Strategist, Upfluence
7. Jérôme Cossavella, Executive Partner, Upfluence
8. Johana Riquier, Founder, Gamerging
9. Cholwe Shabukali, Managing Director, Team Gematrix
10. Dylan Cock, Business Development, Game Tester PTY Ltd

*see programme for full list of speakers confirmed to date

Who should attend this track: large corporates, marketers, investors, media, esports professionals, branded game developers, sponsors.

ESPORTS.MEDIA

Esports.Media is the track dedicated to esports and will explore Africa’s growth factors, giving brands knowledge on entering the industry authentically, setting industry standards, advice on budgeting, recruitment, coaching and media.

Hosted and moderated by: Barry Louzada, Managing Director and Founder, Mettlestate

Speakers:

1. Andreas Hadjipaschali, Owner, Bravado Esports
2. Chester King, Board VP/CEO, Global Esports Federation/British Esports Association)
3. Yahaya Maikori, Vice Chair, Sport Nigeria
4. Philip Wride, CEO, Cheesecake Digital
5. Ryan Macquet, Founder, African Esports Association
6. Colin Webster, General Secretary, MSSA
7. Tristan Bessousa, CTO & Founder, Seek Team
8. Thulani Sishi, Director and Head Coach, Goliath Gaming
9. Caitlin McGee, Doctor of Physical Therapy - Esports PT, 1HP Gaming
10. Justin Warden, Co-founder and COO,  Ader | Forbes 30 Under 30 | Disney Accelerator 2016
11. Petra Opelova, Co-Founder & Head Of Paid Media, Sticky Click
12. Florian Pabst, Partnership Manager, Game Influencer

*see programme for full list of speakers confirmed to date

Who should attend this track: Tournament organisers, esports players, team managers, team coaches, marketers, sponsors, shout-casters, media crews, promoters, set builders and technicians.