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The premiere games conference returns this May! Immerse yourself in the dynamic world of gaming, media, and investment as the LA Games Conference sets the stage for high-energy interactions, focused networking, impactful meetings, and game-changing deal-making. More information to be announced soon!

REGISTRATION

SUBMIT SPEAKER     SPONSORSHIP INQUIRIES

WHAT IS LA GAMES CONFERENCE?

LA Games Conference is a high-end favorite among game, media, and investment leaders for the high energy, focused environment for networking, meetings, and deal-making.

LA GAMES CONFERENCE DATES

LA Games Conference 2024 will be held in May. More information to be announced soon.

CONFERENCE FORMAT

LA Games Conference will be hosted in-person for one day filled with fireside chats, roundtables, panels, and presentations on digital game investment, creation, distribution, marketing, and monetization. Stay tuned for speaker announcements!

2024 Keynotes Include:

Peter Levin

Managing Director,
Griffin Gaming Partners

David Bloom

Senior Contributor,
Forbes, Next TV

2024 Speakers Include:

Alexandra Takei

Business Director,
Ruckus Games
Host,
Naavik Gaming Podcast

Andrew Sheppard

Managing Director,
Transcend

Cooper Jackson

Sr. Vice President, Business Affairs & Development
Electronic Arts (EA)

Dara Leung

Managing Director,
Raine Group

David Higley

Partner
Perella Weinberg

Derek Douglas

Head, Games Department,
CAA

Elizabeth Cohen

General Counsel,
Crunchyroll

Frances Jensen

Counsel, Interactive Entertainment,
Frankfurt Kurnit

Holly Liu

Co-Founder & Managing Partner,
PKO Investments

Jasper Brand

Partner,
BITKRAFT Ventures

Jeff Chaiken

SVP, Head of Corporate Development & Strategy,
Skybound

Jordan Marks

VP, Business & Legal Affairs,
Annapurna Interactive

Joseph Tou

Managing Director, Sony Ventures,
Sony Innovation Fund

Kaare Eriksen

Media Analyst,
Variety Intelligence Platform

Laura Harrison

Vice President and Investment Banker, Entertainment Industries Group,
J.P. Morgan

Maureen Fan

CEO & Co-Founder,
Baobab Studios

Michael Metzger

Managing Partner,
Drake Star

Mike Vorhaus

CEO,
Vorhaus Advisors

Nathaniel L. Bach

Partner,
Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP

Ned Sherman

Chief Business Affairs & Legal Officer,
Skybound

Richard McDerby

Partner,
Manatt, Phelps, & Phillips, LLP

Rob Ricca

SVP, Corporate Development,
Scopely

Sam Englebardt

Founding General Partner,
Galaxy Interactive

Sam Lam

Sr. Legal Counsel, Games,
Skybound

Stephan Bugaj

Chief Creative Officer,
Genvid

Vivienne Zhao

Director, Technology,
Lazard Frères & Co. LLC

2024 AGENDA

Speakers and details subject to change.


May 2024
8:30 am - 9:30 am

Registration, Coffee & Networking

9:30 am - 9:40 am
Ned Sherman

Co-Chair Welcome & Introductory Remarks

Presenter: Ned Sherman, Chief Business Affairs & Legal Officer, Skybound Entertainment
Ned Sherman
9:40 am - 10:20 am
Vivienne Zhao

Current Trends & Research Presentations

Topics: Investment & M&A Activity in the Games, Interactive Media and Technology Market 2024’s Top Legal Issues in the Games, Interactive Media and Technology Market Presenters: Vivienne Zhao, Director, Technology, Lazard Frères & Co. LLC
Vivienne Zhao
10:20 am - 11:00 am
Rob Ricca
Dara Leung
Jeff Chaiken
Richard McDerby
Michael Metzger

Dealmaking and M&A in the Games Market

In 2023, mergers and acquisitions (M&A) globally fell to its lowest level in ten years, as high interest rates and an economic slowdown weighed on companies’ dealmaking confidence. While the games market fared a bit better, mostly due to a few big-ticket deals, there is still uneasiness in the current environment. This panel of investors and dealmakers will discuss the current environment for dealmaking and M&A in the games, interactive media and technologies market and consider the opportunities and challenges ahead. What are the opportunities for the long-term oriented strategies focused on innovation in the sector? What are interesting themes and attractive targets in gaming? Are acquisitions of game development studios viable, or are acquirers more focused on tools, services or platforms? What about emerging platforms – web3, VR, AR, metaverse – which all seem to have cooled? For games and game development studios, what game genres, devices (mobile vs. PC/console), single-player/multiplayer, and pricing models (F2P vs premium) are seeing the most interest? In terms of valuation, what expectations do investors or acquirers have in terms of returns or exits? Has the exit landscape changed given public game company performance recently and fewer acquirors at scale? This panel of the...
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Rob Ricca
Dara Leung
Jeff Chaiken
Richard McDerby
Michael Metzger
11:00 am - 11:30 am

Networking Break

11:30 am - 12:10 pm
Nathaniel L. Bach
Stephan Bugaj
Sam Lam

The Legal Implications of Generative AI in Gaming

This panel will discuss legal issues that arise from the use of generative AI in gaming, including the following: How does generative AI in games impact intellectual property? What are the key issues when developers are using generative AI tools? What issues need to be considered when generative AI allows for the creation of content in-game in real-time? What role does platform law play in AI-generated content in games? How does contract drafting need to evolve to take into consideration the use of generative AI, including in agreements with developers, AI tool providers, players, and asset providers? What effect will regulation have on generative AI in games? How should investors evaluate generative AI opportunities in light of the uncertainty around legal and regulatory issues?   Panelists: Stephan Bugaj, Chief Creative Officer, Genvid Sam Lam, Senior Legal Counsel, Skybound Moderator: Nathaniel L. Bach, Partner, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP
Nathaniel L. Bach
Stephan Bugaj
Sam Lam
12:10 pm - 1:15 pm

Lunch and Meetings

1:15 pm - 1:45 pm
David Bloom
Peter Levin

Keynote Conversation with Griffin Gaming Partners

Keynote Conversation with Peter Levin, Managing Director of Griffin Gaming Partners.   Keynote Speaker: Peter Levin, Managing Director, Griffin Gaming Partners Interviewer: David Bloom, Senior Contributor, Forbes
David Bloom
Peter Levin
1:55 pm - 2:35 pm
Alexandra Takei
Laura Harrison
David Higley
Derek Douglas

Financing Alternatives in Today’s Games Market

This panel will discuss financing alternatives for games companies, including loans from banks and private lenders, crowdfunding, angel financing and venture capital, and the relative availability and timing for each in today’s market. What are the pros and cons of each? When is a loan a better option than selling company equity and vice versa? What are the relative use cases for the Reg A+ and Reg CF exemptions, which allow issuers to sell shares to the general public? What are the limitations and filing requirements? How can games companies access government grants and subsidies available in certain jurisdictions? What else can developers do in terms of funding projects outside of equity raises? Is publishing a good alternative and when is appropriate or not? What are key considerations when signing up a publisher? When can it work well, and when can problems arise? What companies are offering development funding and at what stages? This panel will break down the alternatives and provide guidance on how to evaluate each. Panelists: Derek Douglas, Head of Video Games Group, CAA Laura Harrison, Vice President and Investment Banker, Entertainment and Industries Group, J.P. Morgan David Higley, Partner, Perella Weinberg Alexandra Takei, Business Director, Ruckus Games Host, Naavik Gaming Podcast
Alexandra Takei
Laura Harrison
David Higley
Derek Douglas
2:35 pm - 3:05 pm

Networking Break

3:05 pm - 3:45 pm
Jordan Marks
Frances Jensen
Elizabeth Cohen
Cooper Jackson
Kaare Eriksen
Ned Sherman

Cross-Media Licensing & Financing: The Future of Entertainment Franchises

The dream of game publishers to create franchises that span games, TV, movies and other media has arrived. With games and entertainment IP at the center, successful franchise development is highly dependent on the rights and financing deals done at every stage of development. This panel will discuss the challenges and opportunities inherent in franchise development, including licensing of entertainment IP across all forms of media, including games, television/streaming, movies, audiobooks, toys and merchandise and the financing methods and models as they relate to production and development of entertainment products for different mediums. Panelists: Elizabeth Cohen, General Counsel, Crunchyroll Cooper Jackson, SVP, Business Development & Affairs, Electronic Arts Frances Jensen, Counsel, Interactive Entertainment, Frankfurt Kurnit Jordan Marks, VP, Business & Legal Affairs, Annapurna Interactive Ned Sherman, Chief Business Affairs & Legal Officer, Skybound Entertainment Moderator: Kaare Eriksen, Media Analyst, Variety Intelligence Platform, Variety Intelligence Platform
Jordan Marks
Frances Jensen
Elizabeth Cohen
Cooper Jackson
Kaare Eriksen
Ned Sherman
3:55 pm - 4:35 pm
Jasper Brand
Andrew Sheppard
Joseph Tou
Holly Liu
Sam Englebardt

Venture Capital & Investment in the Games Market

This panel will discuss the current state of venture capital in the games, interactive media and technology market. How are investors evaluating opportunities in the market? With Web3, or ”play to earn” games, out of the limelight in 2023, which sectors are attracting the most interest? What does the future hold for developers? How are investors evaluating opportunities with the rising prominence of AI? Which stages companies – early-stage, seed/pre-seed and late-stage – are receiving the most investment? What are the regulatory and legal issues that investors need to have on their radar? Panelists: Jasper Brand, Partner, BITKRAFT Ventures Sam Englebardt, Founding General Partner, Galaxy Interactive Andrew Sheppard, Managing Director, Transcend Joseph Tou, Managing Director, Sony Innovation Fund Moderator: Holly Liu, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, PKO Investments
Jasper Brand
Andrew Sheppard
Joseph Tou
Holly Liu
Sam Englebardt
4:45 pm - 5:25 pm

Data Privacy & Security for Games Businesses

Data protection and privacy are among the most debated topics in the digital world with new regulations being enacted worldwide that can have dire consequences for companies that do not comply. This panel will discuss the latest laws and regulations in key jurisdictions in the U.S. and overseas and consider the implications for games businesses. The panel will also consider the critical importance of data privacy and security to M&A transactions, not only due to significant exposure to potential legal liability, financial and reputational harm, but also the potential material impact that it can have on companies’ ability to conduct their operations.

2024 Sponsors and Supporters Include:

Platinum Supporter

 

Manatt, Phelps & Phillips | www.manatt.com

Manatt is a leading integrated professional services firm that represents a sophisticated client base of Fortune 500, middle-market and emerging companies across the digital and entertainment landscapes. Not only is Manatt consistently ranked among the top entertainment law practices, but it is also on the cutting edge of cryptocurrency and blockchain technology. Its influential digital asset regulatory and advising capabilities provide clients with strategy to successfully launch trendsetting Metaverse, cryptocurrency, NFT, tokenization, and blockchain ventures, investments and platforms. The firm’s groundbreaking approach—combining legal services, advocacy and business strategy—positions it to provide a compelling value proposition to its clients.
 

Goal Ventures | www.goalventurepartners.com

GOAL Ventures is a venture capital fund that invests in impactful digital and technology ventures that empower games, media and entertainment. We invest in ventures that are innovative, engaging, ahead of the curve and capable of capturing the cultural zeitgeist.

 

Silver Supporter

 

Frankfurt Kurnit | www.fkks.com

Frankfurt Kurnit’s Interactive Entertainment team is recognized as one of the top video game law practices in the US. Led by Sean F. Kane and S. Gregory Boyd, the team represents the most influential companies in the video game industry on some of the most innovative projects – projects that are inventing the future of media and redefining entertainment and culture.

 

Media Partners

 

Infiom| www.infiom.com

Description coming soon.

International Game Developers Association (IGDA)| www.igda.org/la

The International Game Developers Association is an independent, non-profit association established by game developers to foster the creation of a worldwide game development community. Chartered in 2009, IGDA Los Angeles ranks as one of the largest chapters of the International Game Developers Association (IGDA) worldwide, with a reach upwards of 1,500 members. IGDA Los Angeles strives to build a community of game developers which leverages the expertise of its members for the betterment of the games industry throughout Southern California. We welcome and encourage all game industry professionals, hobbyists, and students to attend our events and participate in our growing community.

Fusicology| www.fusicology.com

Fusicology.com is a multifaceted website media entity, promoting progressive music culture through event listings and relevant content. Fusicology as a whole provides a national hub reaching trend setting multicultural urbanites. Our site and newsletter specialize in providing relevant information for early adopters that include the musically forward.

Westside Digital Mix (WDM)

Westside Digital Mix is an informal networking group for digital media & entertainment professionals who live or work on the Westside in Los Angeles — from the South Bay to Malibu, West LA to the Pacific Ocean. These monthly ‘curated’ social/business mixers are a great way to catch up with friends, colleagues, and meet new industry insiders.