Game design guru Nick Fortugno to keynote!

We are thrilled to announce that renowned game designer and entrepreneur Nicholas Fortugno will open iKids 2015 with a thought-provoking keynote entitled Leveling Up: Getting maximum brand value out of gamification.

From casual to fully immersive games, brands and developers have been tapping into this type of content to extend properties into the digital landscape for some time—especially in the kids space. But Fortugno contends that games of all shapes and sizes have far more potential as part of a brand's lifecycle than what's currently being exploited. As our iKids keynote speaker, he’ll explore how brands can more fully experiment and innovative with games to drive engagement, and work cost-effectively to get the most out their relationships with developers.

And that's just the first session...

Check out these other program highlights!

The Great Migration to Mobile

With kids all around the world virtually living on their mobile devices now, our seasoned panel of pros will explore how this shift in digital consumption is challenging the way we design entertainment experiences for kids, sharing their lessons learned about going mobile, and also postulating on what’s in store for us next in this critical content stream.

Jon Mason

Managing Director

Jollywise

Darran Garnham

Chief Business Development Officer

Mind Candy

Brainpowered Play

Working with neuroscience lab CorTechs' brainwave-reading software and VBOT’s mobile-centric video platforms, Ireland’s Kavaleer will hit the main stage at iKids to unveil Dougie Noir, a new brain-controlled game that tracks a player’s neural activity in real time with a Bluetooth headset, and then throws tailored content with assistive technology solutions into the game experience. Talk about mind-bending!

Andrew Kavanagh

CEO

Kavaleer

Five Ways VR Will Change Kids Entertainment…Forever

Kids entertainment expert Dubit takes a look at how the new age of virtual reality is poised to change not just games, but all forms of kids media. Dipping into its proprietary research, Dubit will dish on what VR means for animation, gameplay, narrative and live action, and what you can do now to prepare.

Bobby Thandi

VP, Digital Strategy

Dubit

Now accepting entries for the 2015 iKids Awards

Recognizing and celebrating the market's best digital media products and platforms, Kidscreen will announce the winners of the third annual iKids Awards live at an awards ceremony to be held during Kidscreen Summit (February 23 to 26).

We’re accepting entries until Friday, October 17 at 5:00pm EST in the following categories:

For more information about the iKids Awards, visit our website.

NEW LOCATION! iKids moves to Miami

Tagging along with Kidscreen Summit, iKids is moving to Miami in 2015 and will take place on Thursday, February 26. The event’s new venue is the Miami InterContinental, a contemporary luxury hotel located on prime waterfront in downtown Miami, just minutes away from South Beach, the Design District and Coral Gables' many galleries, restaurants and boutique shops.

A companion event to Kidscreen Summit, iKids brings leading kids entertainment owners and digital media operatives of all types together for a full day of focused professional learning and networking. REGISTER NOW, and watch out for many more announcements about the event program in the months ahead.