IGDC 2024 Speakers
An eclectic mix of industry leaders and experts from around the world.
A diverse range of speakers will cover solo talks, panel discussions, workshops, and master classes, providing value for everyone to learn from and engage with.
University of Northern Colorado
Matthew Farber, Ed.D. is an associate professor of educational technology at the University of Northern Colorado and the co-director of the Gaming SEL Lab. He studies how playing and making games can foster empathy, compassion, perspective-taking, and ethical decision-making. He developed game-based lessons with Tracy Fullerton for her award-winning Walden, a game EDU and has also worked with UNESCO Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development (MGIEP), iThrive Games, and Games for Change. He was a contributing writer for Origin101, the official learning companion for Ava DuVernay’s critically acclaimed film Origin. Author of several books, including Gaming SEL: Games as Transformational to Social and Emotional Learning, and articles, Dr. Farber has been invited to the White House and has been interviewed by NPR, The Washington Post, Fast Company, USA Today, and The Wall Street Journal. Upcoming in March 2025 is a new book published by MIT Press and co-authored with Tracy Fullerton: The Well-Read Game: On Playing Thoughtfully.
Microsoft
Bryce is an inclusive designer for Microsoft Windows + Devices where he is devoted to ensuring Microsoft products are accessible. Bryce initiated and designed the Inclusive Tech Lab at Microsoft, which has now hosted over sixteen thousand visitors; it is a facility where people can explore how people with disabilities interact with Microsoft products and services. He strives to design systems of accessibility enhancement, like the Surface Adaptive Kit, across our devices. Bryce is one of the inventors of the Xbox Adaptive Controller and a proud member of the Microsoft Adaptive Accessories team.
Endless Adventures Incorporated
Jordan Weisman has been a game designer and entrepreneur for over 40 years, creating iconic franchises like BattleTech, MechWarrior, and Shadowrun. A pioneer in merging storytelling, socialization, and technology, he has developed over 30 video games and was an early innovator in VR with his global LBE centers in the 1990s. He founded FASA Interactive, later acquired by Microsoft, where he served as Creative Director for Xbox's launch. Weisman also led transmedia projects like I Love Bees and Why So Serious through 42 Entertainment. After co-founding Harebrained Schemes to develop CRPGs and tactical games, he worked with Disney Imagineering and Walmart on AR projects. He is currently the CEO of Endless Adventures Incorporated, focusing on no-code game development.
MINTROCKET
Jaeho Hwang is the Game Director of Dave the Diver at MINTROCKET. He has left his mark on games of unique and fulfilling quality, from his first-pixel art mobile action game, , in 2017 to one of the biggest hits of 2023, . His profound passion for subculture also led him to create in 2019.
Fatus Games & Independent Multiplayer Consultant
Paolo is an 11-year experienced game developer in the multiplayer field. Former CEO of StarworkGC S.R.L, the 50-people gaming studio that developed Hunt For Gods, he's now the Lead Engineer of Ariokan, the Technical lead of Unity's official Small Scale Competitive Multiplayer Template and a consultant for Indie and AA studios that work on multiplayer games.
GFR Fund
Yasushi is a General Partner at GFR Fund, based in the United States, where he leads investment initiatives across North America, Europe, and India. His primary focus is on Seed and Series A companies in sectors such as gaming, social media, the creator economy, consumer brands, fintech, and generative AI. With a solid background in product management, data analytics, and software development, Yasushi plays a crucial role in identifying emerging trends, technologies, and founders for potential investments. He began his career at GREE in 2010, where he enhanced his skills in data analytics and product management, leading several game titles as the head of game development in both the Japanese and U.S. markets. One of these titles achieved $50M in annual revenue. Before GREE, he worked at C.A. Mobile taking a pivotal role as a server-side engineer in the ground-up development of e-commerce sites. Yasushi earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Waseda University in Tokyo.
Remedy Entertainment Plc.
Marco Pisanu is the Lead Game-Tech Programmer at Remedy Entertainment Plc., with over 15 years of experience in game development. His career includes roles at Ubisoft, Guerrilla Games, and Cloud Imperium Games, contributing to notable titles such as "Horizon: Zero Dawn," "Star Citizen," "Control," and "Alan Wake 2." Marco specializes in programming AI engine technologies, focusing on AI decision-making algorithms, pathfinding, awareness frameworks, and other AI features. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering from the Breda University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands.
Visai Games
Abhi (He/Him) is a game designer from Toronto who released his first game, Venba in 2023 and now runs a small studio called Visai games. He wants to tell intimate stories with interesting mechanics and hopes to see more games made from around the world with their own unique perspectives.
Frost Giant Studios
Tim Morten is the CEO and co-founder of Frost Giant Studios. He was previously the Production Director of StarCraft II, and he's excited to now be working on a new real-time strategy game called Stormgate. Tim got his start in the game industry in 1994 at Activision, and subsequently helped lead development teams at Electronic Arts and Blizzard.
Moonactive
I’m a Brazilian artist with over 13 years of experience working as a Visual Development Artist, Art Lead and Art Director for Animation and Mobile Games Industry.
Valarin, Inc. & Building Better Games
Benjamin Carcich started his career as a military officer before shifting into game dev at Riot Games working on League of Legends. He spent over 8 years there, starting in associate production roles and eventually advancing to director roles He left Riot to start a consultancy in 2020, realizing that his ability to change the industry through better leadership would be best realized independently. He’s been supporting individual producers, game studios, and publishers ever since. Ben spent time on League post-launch (2011-2017) and was on Valorant while it was in R&D. Ben is a certified co-active coach and official ICAgile trainer. He’s been teaching concepts around Agility, Production, and Game Development Leadership since 2015. He hosts the Building Better Games podcast and newsletter and has spoken at multiple events including GDC 2024.
Scopely
Hello! My name is Álvaro Fernández García, I’m passionate about graphic design and art, and I’m lucky to work in the world of video games. I’ve been designing and creating for more than twenty years, and have been fortunate enough to make great friends and work with inspiring teams on world-famous IPs like Star Wars and Frozen. Currently, I'm working as a UI Lead in Monopoly Go! where I'm enjoying the best team that I've ever worked with. I love graphic design, I love UI design, and I love finding the best solution for users.
Scopely
Wilhelm Taht is a seasoned executive with a wealth of experience in online, mobile, and social media industries. He currently serves as Scopely’s SVP and General Manager for its social casino studios and Bangalore operations. Since 2004, Wilhelm has held various roles in the mobile games sector, including sales, marketing, product, and general management. From 2016 to 2018, he successfully revitalized Rovio Entertainment's games division (the creators of Angry Birds) and played a key role in taking the company public as EVP of Games. Wilhelm also lends his expertise as an advisor and non-executive board member to several games and technology companies. He holds an M.Sc. in Economics from Hanken School of Economics in Helsinki.
Nexus Venture Partners
JetSynthesys Pvt. Ltd.
Gameberry Labs
Eximius Ventures
KGen
Manish Agarwal is an IIM-A & NIT-W alum and joined India's nascent gaming ecosystem 15 years ago. As the CEO of Nazara, he was the driving force in making it India's first & only publicly listed gaming company. Manish is currently building the world's largest Web3 gaming community with Kratos Gaming Network, with the goal of onboarding the country's 1B+ gamers.
Xbox
KRAFTON, Inc. India
WinZO
Paavan Nanda is the CEO and Co-founder of WinZO, India’s largest social gaming platform with over 200 million registered users. Paavan is continuously looking for creative ideas to grow the interactive gaming ecosystem and create memorable gaming experiences for its users. He has established a $50 million developer fund at WinZO to fund and promote gaming, game technology and web3 projects around the world.
Moonfrog Labs
Inderpal has over 12+ years experience in the gaming industry and leads Moonfrog in its vision to build superior gaming experiences. With a passion for product, engineering and being an avid gamer himself, he has been instrumental in Moonfrog's success in becoming a market leader for games like Ludo & Teenpatti, which are India's leading games in the board & card game genre. Other than playing games, he is a sports enthusiast, loves watching Cricket & enjoys cycling in his free time.
WinZO
Saumya Singh Rathore is the Co-founder of WinZO, India's largest vernacular social gaming platform with over 200 million registered users. Saumya is one of the tech industry’s few female founders. In 2021, she received the ‘Women Entrepreneurship Award’ from BW Disrupt, a Business World platform that promotes young entrepreneurs with disruptive ideas. Keenly interested in generating memorable gaming experiences, Saumya is always on the lookout for novel ideas that can grow the interactive gaming ecosystem. She has established a$50 million Developer Fund at WinZO to fund and promote gaming, game technology and web3 projects around the world.
Super Gaming
Roby is the CEO and CoFounder of SuperGaming, a 180 person games studio based in Pune,India and supported by investors like A16Z, Bandai Namco, 1UpFund and SkyCatcher. SuperGaming is building Indus, a Battle Royale Shooter themed in an Indo-Futuristic setting that folks have called the “Wakanda of India”. Indus has been in development for 3 years and soft launched recently in India.
Aream & Co.
Kartik is the co-founder of Aream & Co., a premier boutique investment bank specializing in gaming and interactive entertainment. Under his leadership, Aream & Co. has successfully executed over 55 transactions, totaling more than $32 billion in deal value within the sector. Prior to founding Aream & Co., Kartik served as a Partner at CODE Advisors and was a Director in the Technology Investment Banking division at UBS. With two decades of experience in mergers & acquisitions and the technology sector, Kartik is a seasoned expert in navigating complex transactions and driving strategic growth.
Nazara Technologies
Sudhir Kamath is the Chief Operating Officer of Nazara Technologies. Nazara is India’s only listed gaming company, with interests in multiple gaming studios, esports, sports content, and adtech. Nazara had a successful IPO in 2021 and has consistently grown revenues while maintaining strong profitability. He is a Computer Science graduate from the Delhi Institute of Technology and a post-graduate from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. He is an established leader who has built high-performing teams across businesses and brings deep operating expertise, an entrepreneurial mindset, and a wide network of relationships in the gaming world.
Nazara Technologies
Nitish Mittersain is the Founder and CEO of Nazara Technologies, a leading gaming and sports media company in India. With a vision to make India a global gaming hub, he founded Nazara in 1999, long before mobile gaming became mainstream. Nitish has played a pivotal role in shaping the Indian gaming ecosystem, expanding Nazara's portfolio to include diverse offerings in e-sports, interactive gaming, and gamified early learning through brands like NODWIN Gaming, Kiddopia, and more. His entrepreneurial journey has earned him recognition as a key figure in the tech and gaming industries. Nitish is also known for his strategic acumen, having successfully taken Nazara Technologies public in 2021, marking it as one of the first gaming companies in India to be listed on the stock exchange. He remains dedicated to growing the gaming industry in India and internationally through innovation, acquisitions, and partnerships.
IGDC 2024 Speakers
An eclectic mix of industry leaders and experts from around the world.
A diverse range of speakers will cover solo talks, panel discussions, workshops, and master classes, providing value for everyone to learn from and engage with.
University of Northern Colorado
Matthew Farber, Ed.D. is an associate professor of educational technology at the University of Northern Colorado and the co-director of the Gaming SEL Lab. He studies how playing and making games can foster empathy, compassion, perspective-taking, and ethical decision-making. He developed game-based lessons with Tracy Fullerton for her award-winning Walden, a game EDU and has also worked with UNESCO Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development (MGIEP), iThrive Games, and Games for Change. He was a contributing writer for Origin101, the official learning companion for Ava DuVernay’s critically acclaimed film Origin. Author of several books, including Gaming SEL: Games as Transformational to Social and Emotional Learning, and articles, Dr. Farber has been invited to the White House and has been interviewed by NPR, The Washington Post, Fast Company, USA Today, and The Wall Street Journal. Upcoming in March 2025 is a new book published by MIT Press and co-authored with Tracy Fullerton: The Well-Read Game: On Playing Thoughtfully.
Microsoft
Bryce is an inclusive designer for Microsoft Windows + Devices where he is devoted to ensuring Microsoft products are accessible. Bryce initiated and designed the Inclusive Tech Lab at Microsoft, which has now hosted over sixteen thousand visitors; it is a facility where people can explore how people with disabilities interact with Microsoft products and services. He strives to design systems of accessibility enhancement, like the Surface Adaptive Kit, across our devices. Bryce is one of the inventors of the Xbox Adaptive Controller and a proud member of the Microsoft Adaptive Accessories team.
Endless Adventures Incorporated
Jordan Weisman has been a game designer and entrepreneur for over 40 years, creating iconic franchises like BattleTech, MechWarrior, and Shadowrun. A pioneer in merging storytelling, socialization, and technology, he has developed over 30 video games and was an early innovator in VR with his global LBE centers in the 1990s. He founded FASA Interactive, later acquired by Microsoft, where he served as Creative Director for Xbox's launch. Weisman also led transmedia projects like I Love Bees and Why So Serious through 42 Entertainment. After co-founding Harebrained Schemes to develop CRPGs and tactical games, he worked with Disney Imagineering and Walmart on AR projects. He is currently the CEO of Endless Adventures Incorporated, focusing on no-code game development.
MINTROCKET
Jaeho Hwang is the Game Director of Dave the Diver at MINTROCKET. He has left his mark on games of unique and fulfilling quality, from his first-pixel art mobile action game, , in 2017 to one of the biggest hits of 2023, . His profound passion for subculture also led him to create in 2019.
Fatus Games & Independent Multiplayer Consultant
Paolo is an 11-year experienced game developer in the multiplayer field. Former CEO of StarworkGC S.R.L, the 50-people gaming studio that developed Hunt For Gods, he's now the Lead Engineer of Ariokan, the Technical lead of Unity's official Small Scale Competitive Multiplayer Template and a consultant for Indie and AA studios that work on multiplayer games.
GFR Fund
Yasushi is a General Partner at GFR Fund, based in the United States, where he leads investment initiatives across North America, Europe, and India. His primary focus is on Seed and Series A companies in sectors such as gaming, social media, the creator economy, consumer brands, fintech, and generative AI. With a solid background in product management, data analytics, and software development, Yasushi plays a crucial role in identifying emerging trends, technologies, and founders for potential investments. He began his career at GREE in 2010, where he enhanced his skills in data analytics and product management, leading several game titles as the head of game development in both the Japanese and U.S. markets. One of these titles achieved $50M in annual revenue. Before GREE, he worked at C.A. Mobile taking a pivotal role as a server-side engineer in the ground-up development of e-commerce sites. Yasushi earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Waseda University in Tokyo.
Remedy Entertainment Plc.
Marco Pisanu is the Lead Game-Tech Programmer at Remedy Entertainment Plc., with over 15 years of experience in game development. His career includes roles at Ubisoft, Guerrilla Games, and Cloud Imperium Games, contributing to notable titles such as "Horizon: Zero Dawn," "Star Citizen," "Control," and "Alan Wake 2." Marco specializes in programming AI engine technologies, focusing on AI decision-making algorithms, pathfinding, awareness frameworks, and other AI features. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering from the Breda University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands.
Visai Games
Abhi (He/Him) is a game designer from Toronto who released his first game, Venba in 2023 and now runs a small studio called Visai games. He wants to tell intimate stories with interesting mechanics and hopes to see more games made from around the world with their own unique perspectives.
Valarin, Inc. & Building Better Games
Benjamin Carcich started his career as a military officer before shifting into game dev at Riot Games working on League of Legends. He spent over 8 years there, starting in associate production roles and eventually advancing to director roles He left Riot to start a consultancy in 2020, realizing that his ability to change the industry through better leadership would be best realized independently. He’s been supporting individual producers, game studios, and publishers ever since. Ben spent time on League post-launch (2011-2017) and was on Valorant while it was in R&D. Ben is a certified co-active coach and official ICAgile trainer. He’s been teaching concepts around Agility, Production, and Game Development Leadership since 2015. He hosts the Building Better Games podcast and newsletter and has spoken at multiple events including GDC 2024.
Scopely
Hello! My name is Álvaro Fernández García, I’m passionate about graphic design and art, and I’m lucky to work in the world of video games. I’ve been designing and creating for more than twenty years, and have been fortunate enough to make great friends and work with inspiring teams on world-famous IPs like Star Wars and Frozen. Currently, I'm working as a UI Lead in Monopoly Go! where I'm enjoying the best team that I've ever worked with. I love graphic design, I love UI design, and I love finding the best solution for users.
Scopely
Wilhelm Taht is a seasoned executive with a wealth of experience in online, mobile, and social media industries. He currently serves as Scopely’s SVP and General Manager for its social casino studios and Bangalore operations. Since 2004, Wilhelm has held various roles in the mobile games sector, including sales, marketing, product, and general management. From 2016 to 2018, he successfully revitalized Rovio Entertainment's games division (the creators of Angry Birds) and played a key role in taking the company public as EVP of Games. Wilhelm also lends his expertise as an advisor and non-executive board member to several games and technology companies. He holds an M.Sc. in Economics from Hanken School of Economics in Helsinki.
Nexus Venture Partners
JetSynthesys Pvt. Ltd.
Gameberry Labs
Eximius Ventures
KGen
Manish Agarwal is an IIM-A & NIT-W alum and joined India's nascent gaming ecosystem 15 years ago. As the CEO of Nazara, he was the driving force in making it India's first & only publicly listed gaming company. Manish is currently building the world's largest Web3 gaming community with Kratos Gaming Network, with the goal of onboarding the country's 1B+ gamers.
Xbox
KRAFTON, Inc. India
WinZO
Paavan Nanda is the CEO and Co-founder of WinZO, India’s largest social gaming platform with over 200 million registered users. Paavan is continuously looking for creative ideas to grow the interactive gaming ecosystem and create memorable gaming experiences for its users. He has established a $50 million developer fund at WinZO to fund and promote gaming, game technology and web3 projects around the world.
Moonfrog Labs
Inderpal has over 12+ years experience in the gaming industry and leads Moonfrog in its vision to build superior gaming experiences. With a passion for product, engineering and being an avid gamer himself, he has been instrumental in Moonfrog's success in becoming a market leader for games like Ludo & Teenpatti, which are India's leading games in the board & card game genre. Other than playing games, he is a sports enthusiast, loves watching Cricket & enjoys cycling in his free time.
WinZO
Saumya Singh Rathore is the Co-founder of WinZO, India's largest vernacular social gaming platform with over 200 million registered users. Saumya is one of the tech industry’s few female founders. In 2021, she received the ‘Women Entrepreneurship Award’ from BW Disrupt, a Business World platform that promotes young entrepreneurs with disruptive ideas. Keenly interested in generating memorable gaming experiences, Saumya is always on the lookout for novel ideas that can grow the interactive gaming ecosystem. She has established a$50 million Developer Fund at WinZO to fund and promote gaming, game technology and web3 projects around the world.
Super Gaming
Roby is the CEO and CoFounder of SuperGaming, a 180 person games studio based in Pune,India and supported by investors like A16Z, Bandai Namco, 1UpFund and SkyCatcher. SuperGaming is building Indus, a Battle Royale Shooter themed in an Indo-Futuristic setting that folks have called the “Wakanda of India”. Indus has been in development for 3 years and soft launched recently in India.
Aream & Co.
Kartik is the co-founder of Aream & Co., a premier boutique investment bank specializing in gaming and interactive entertainment. Under his leadership, Aream & Co. has successfully executed over 55 transactions, totaling more than $32 billion in deal value within the sector. Prior to founding Aream & Co., Kartik served as a Partner at CODE Advisors and was a Director in the Technology Investment Banking division at UBS. With two decades of experience in mergers & acquisitions and the technology sector, Kartik is a seasoned expert in navigating complex transactions and driving strategic growth.
Nazara Technologies
Sudhir Kamath is the Chief Operating Officer of Nazara Technologies. Nazara is India’s only listed gaming company, with interests in multiple gaming studios, esports, sports content, and adtech. Nazara had a successful IPO in 2021 and has consistently grown revenues while maintaining strong profitability. He is a Computer Science graduate from the Delhi Institute of Technology and a post-graduate from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. He is an established leader who has built high-performing teams across businesses and brings deep operating expertise, an entrepreneurial mindset, and a wide network of relationships in the gaming world.
Keywords Studios
As the Director of Art Services within Keywords Studios' Create Division, Tara drives strategic growth initiatives to align with global objectives. Embracing innovation in emerging technology and tools, Tara oversee Keywords' Art Studios, fostering creativity and collaboration within these teams. In working closely with development partners, she champions the professional art services and development capabilities of the teams, establishing Keywords Studios as the premier global gaming partner. With a global perspective on the game industry, a storied background in production, and a strategic approach to partnerships, Tara actively listens, learns, and collaborates to bring the right expert voices to the table. Building and managing relationships with game development partners fuels her passion for delivering the best solutions and services possible to an industry she loves.
Microsoft
Bryce is an inclusive designer for Microsoft Windows + Devices where he is devoted to ensuring Microsoft products are accessible. Bryce initiated and designed the Inclusive Tech Lab at Microsoft, which has now hosted over sixteen thousand visitors; it is a facility where people can explore how people with disabilities interact with Microsoft products and services. He strives to design systems of accessibility enhancement, like the Surface Adaptive Kit, across our devices. Bryce is one of the inventors of the Xbox Adaptive Controller and a proud member of the Microsoft Adaptive Accessories team.
Fatus Games & Independent Multiplayer Consultant
Paolo is an 11-year experienced game developer in the multiplayer field. Former CEO of StarworkGC S.R.L, the 50-people gaming studio that developed Hunt For Gods, he's now the Lead Engineer of Ariokan, the Technical lead of Unity's official Small Scale Competitive Multiplayer Template and a consultant for Indie and AA studios that work on multiplayer games.
Endless Adventures Incorporated
Jordan Weisman has been a game designer and entrepreneur for over 40 years, creating iconic franchises like BattleTech, MechWarrior, and Shadowrun. A pioneer in merging storytelling, socialization, and technology, he has developed over 30 video games and was an early innovator in VR with his global LBE centers in the 1990s. He founded FASA Interactive, later acquired by Microsoft, where he served as Creative Director for Xbox's launch. Weisman also led transmedia projects like I Love Bees and Why So Serious through 42 Entertainment. After co-founding Harebrained Schemes to develop CRPGs and tactical games, he worked with Disney Imagineering and Walmart on AR projects. He is currently the CEO of Endless Adventures Incorporated, focusing on no-code game development.
GFR Fund
Yasushi is a General Partner at GFR Fund, based in the United States, where he leads investment initiatives across North America, Europe, and India. His primary focus is on Seed and Series A companies in sectors such as gaming, social media, the creator economy, consumer brands, fintech, and generative AI. With a solid background in product management, data analytics, and software development, Yasushi plays a crucial role in identifying emerging trends, technologies, and founders for potential investments. He began his career at GREE in 2010, where he enhanced his skills in data analytics and product management, leading several game titles as the head of game development in both the Japanese and U.S. markets. One of these titles achieved $50M in annual revenue. Before GREE, he worked at C.A. Mobile taking a pivotal role as a server-side engineer in the ground-up development of e-commerce sites. Yasushi earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Waseda University in Tokyo.
MINTROCKET
Jaeho Hwang is the Game Director of Dave the Diver at MINTROCKET. He has left his mark on games of unique and fulfilling quality, from his first-pixel art mobile action game, , in 2017 to one of the biggest hits of 2023, . His profound passion for subculture also led him to create in 2019.
Scopely
Hello! My name is Álvaro Fernández García, I’m passionate about graphic design and art, and I’m lucky to work in the world of video games. I’ve been designing and creating for more than twenty years, and have been fortunate enough to make great friends and work with inspiring teams on world-famous IPs like Star Wars and Frozen. Currently, I'm working as a UI Lead in Monopoly Go! where I'm enjoying the best team that I've ever worked with. I love graphic design, I love UI design, and I love finding the best solution for users.
Remedy Entertainment Plc.
Marco Pisanu is the Lead Game-Tech Programmer at Remedy Entertainment Plc., with over 15 years of experience in game development. His career includes roles at Ubisoft, Guerrilla Games, and Cloud Imperium Games, contributing to notable titles such as "Horizon: Zero Dawn," "Star Citizen," "Control," and "Alan Wake 2." Marco specializes in programming AI engine technologies, focusing on AI decision-making algorithms, pathfinding, awareness frameworks, and other AI features. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering from the Breda University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands.
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