Reinventing the MMO

Lecturer: John Smedley, Sony Online Entertainment

As the keynote speaker of the 2008 ION Conference, John Smedley, President of Sony Online Entertainment, will share his vision of the future of the massively multiplayer online (MMO) gaming business. MMOs have made a tremendous mark on the video game industry, and Mr. Smedley has been at the forefront of this market for nearly a decade. The keynote session will commence with a brief overview of the history of SOE titles including the numerous lessons learned during development of the original blockbuster franchise EverQuest and how it shaped and evolved Sony Online’s future endeavors. Mr. Smedley will unveil SOE’s latest developments into one of the fastest growing segments of the online gaming market with two brand-new IPs, Free Realms and The Agency. The worldwide online gaming market is primed for dramatic growth over the next several years, and Free Realms and The Agency are poised to take advantage of several elements across markets and genres and capitalize on a whole new mainstream audience. Watch as Mr. Smedley compares what the current MMO games use as a successful business model, with what online games of the future will look like.

Intended Audience: Intended Audience: The session will be aimed at online developers that are looking towards the future of the industry and how alternative business models will be a catalyst toward its evolution

Prerequisites: None

Format: Keynote

Track: Design

Date/Time: Wednesday, 12:30 PM

Room: Grand Ballroom