Scotland’s videogames industry has done many fine things. From Lemmings to Grand Theft Auto, we’ve been pioneers in the global games market. But in 2020 there’s far more to gaming than explosions, space marines, vehicle theft and crushing candies. Business models, tools, technologies and techniques from the games world are making their way into the wider tech ecosystem, because in our increasingly interactive world, engagement is everything. Find out how applied gaming and gamification can help your business, your software and your audience love you more. Trust us, it’ll be (fun).
Brian is a designer, consultant, business leader, journalist, serial entrepreneur and university lecturer. He started his career in the games industry at the legendary Scottish studio DMA Design, as a writer and narrative designer for games including Grand Theft Auto, Body Harvest and Tanktics, before discovering a talent for PR, communications and marketing.
Brian joined Rockstar Games in New York as it’s first ever Global PR Manager, before moving into the emerging mobile games industry with the pioneering Scottish publisher Digital Bridges (eight years before the iPhone was launched…) Brian went on to found the communications agency Indoctrimat, which worked with over 150 clients in the video games, mobile, digital technology, creative industries, education and public sectors.
Since 2009 Brian has lectured at Edinburgh Napier University, helping students from the School of Creative Industries understand the impact that the rapid evolution of interactive media and digital technology is having on their practice and opportunities for the future.
Brian is the founder and director the Scottish Games Network in 2004 and has established himself as an expert in the use of applied game technologies and techniques in the wider tech and creative industries. He’s a regular contributor to the Scottish media, tech ecosystem and government, whenever they need to know more about this ‘games thing’.
9.00
9.15
Kate Forbes MSP
10.05
Mark Goodwin
Mike Fergusson
Andrew Harmel Law
Bev Harrow, Lee Hutchinson and Chris Hughes
11.00
Chris Yule
Kief Morris
Janet Onyia
Richard Marshall
11.50
Dr Murray Collins
Dr Poonam Malik, Ben Shorrock, David Dunn, Jane Morrison-Ross
Alyssa Miller
Chris Heilmann
13.20
Session 4
Ten Traits that Differentiate the most Trusted Advisors
Getting value from data – productionising data science
Austen Mulinder
Dr James McMinn
Jamie Kerr
Gavin Littlejohn
Alex Bell and Petur Einarsson
14.10
Session 5
Overcoming and handling bias in data: ethical and practical considerations
Building brand awareness for your tech company
(fun)ctionality
Navigating Venture Capital
Olivia Gambelin, Joseph Crispell
Kathryn Strachan
Peter Proud
Brian Baglow
Paul Neeson and Andrew Noble
15.30
Session 6
A Fyne future for graphical development
Launching terrestrial tech into the space marketplace
Tales from the Crypt(o)
Serverless Architecture
Andrew Williams
Dr David Alexander
Matt Summers
Julian Wood
16.15
Closing Keynote
Steve Guggenheimer, Corporate Vice President – AI & ISV Engagement at Microsoft Corporation
17.15
Young Software Engineer of the Year Awards
The YSE Awards recognise the best undergraduate software projects, drawn from across all students studying computing science and software engineering in Scotland.