Gen Con Seminars

The Future of Media

Gaming Media — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Join us for a discussion on what is to come for both the new and the traditional media. Is print something of the past? Explore how media is changing and how it will continue to evolve.

The discussion is led by Dan Repperger and joined by Chad, Seth, and Don Dehm.

Promoting Your Podcast

Gaming Media — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 15:16:50 -0500

It is time to start telling people about your podcast. Learn how to get your message out and how to grow your audience. We will discuss your audio promotion, networking, your web site, and the internet as a promotional tool.

This panel is led by Curt Arndt and joined by Chris Perrin, Jeff Lower, and JJ Lanza.

Virtual Worlds: Making Imagination Come Alive

Gaming Media — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 18:56:21 -0500

Our panel discusses virtual worlds, from Second Life to Eve Online. Explore how these platforms can build community, provide unique services, and facilitate commerce.

Panelists include Ed Healy and Ryan Dancey.

RPG Bloggers Unite!

Gaming Media — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0500

The past year has seen an explosion in the number of people blogging about RPGs. Come meet some of them, and find out why they do it, what they write about, and tips for any aspiring bloggers out there.

The panel is lead by Dave Chalker. He is joined by Phil, Tahsa, Yax, Bob, and Danny.

We also want to welcome RPGBloggers.com to the internet.

Content is King

Gaming Media — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400

To create an exceptional podcast, you will need to prepare before your lips come anywhere near the microphone. We will discuss format, scripting, round-table discussions, pacing, news coverage, and how your favorite podcasters prepare for their shows.

This panel is led by Ryan Macklin and also includes Clyde, Josh, and Brian.

Working in Print

Gaming Media — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Wolfgang Baur shares the Kobold Quarterly story and talks about the challenges of print. Learn about what it took to get the magazine off the ground and the challenges of running a magazine. Find out what works and what doesn't.

Advertising: Effective Brand Communication

Gaming Media — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 12:55:02 -0400

During this hour we will explore how advertising campaigns are an integral part of a brand communications program. The emphasis will be on exploring "why and when" advertising works, and how to create a campaign that people will engage with, instead of feeling interrupted by.

Branding: What sets your company apart from your competition? What is your promise to your customer? Things to remember when you consider your brand.

Communication: What is the difference between marketing and sales, and where does advertising fit into your communication plan? Things to think about when designing your marketing plan.

Advertising: What is the purpose of advertising? What are some of the things to consider when building your advertisement?

Effective: It's important to test the effectiveness of your advertisements. Google Analytics, special store codes... always be testing. Also, a short intro to Facebook Ads.

Looking for advertising opportunities for your games? Consider these resources:

Magazines: Dragon Roots (dragonroots.net), Game Buyer(impressionsadv.net/gamebuyer.html), Kobold Quarterly (koboldquarterly.com), WIRED (blog.wired.com/geekdad/)
Podcasts: Board Game Podcasts (boardgamepodcasts.com), RPG Podcasts (rpgpodcasts.com)
Websites: EN World (enworld.org), Kobold Quarterly (koboldquarterly.com), RPGnet (rpg.net), and many more

Further Reading:
(1) Ogilvy on Advertising, by David Ogilvy
(2) Tested Advertising Methods, by John Caple

Setting Up the Studio

Gaming Media — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 18:23:14 -0400

Part of making a quality podcast is the hardware. We will discuss microphones, sound boards, and acoustic treatment of your recording room. We will also discuss some software packages that you will need to produce and polish your show.

This panel is led by Ryan Macklin and also includes Chris Perrin, Ross Payton, and Josh.

Introduction to Podcasting

Gaming Media — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 15:28:58 -0400

No longer are we tied to the channels of content on the television. Advances in technology and the evolution of consumer habits have brought on a new era of media. Radio and television programing is available on demand over the web with concepts as specific as worm farming. Learn more about it from both ends of the microphone.

This panel is led by Ethan Parker and also includes Chris Perrin, Zeke Russell, and Fraser Ronald.

The Future of Podcasting

Gaming Media — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 10:24:09 -0500

Podcasting is evolving fast as thousands of individuals and companies explore its use. We are just starting down this road and can see a lot of opportunity in new media consumption habits. Today, we explore the changes and trends of today, and the possibilities and uncertainties of tomorrow.

Panelists include Jim and Mark from Fell Calls, Mark and Dan from Fear the Boot, and Tony Mast from Fanboy Smackdown, SciFi Smackdown, and Tony's Losing It.

Podcasting for your Marketing Program

Gaming Media — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 17:21:27 -0400

What started in hobby hands has grabbed the attention of professionals. Now, businesses are looking for ways to connect to people with this technology. While there may not be a right way to do it, there are certainly some wrong ways. Today, we discus some tricks and pitfalls of companies looking to integrate podcasting into their marketing program.

Panelists include Christopher Perrin from The Cannon Pucture Show, Jay Lynn and Jon Stallard from Geeklabel Radio, and Don Dehm form Pulp Gamer.

Podcasting Your Fiction with Michael A. Stackpole

Gaming Media — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 16:30:53 -0400

Michael Stackpole uses podcasting to entertain, educate, and promote his work. Mike offers tips and advise on how to use the medium and exercise its potential. Fiction reaches a wide audience and if done right, draws a lot of attention to your work. Make sure to listen to his podcasted novel, Fortress Draconis. Its a great listen and a fabulous sample of a quality performance.

Promoting Your Podcast

Gaming Media — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 15:16:49 -0400

Your content isn't going to get anywhere if nobody knows about it. This panel talks about getting the word out and keeping them coming back for more. Most everything we discuss today are things you can do on a shoe-string budget or no budget at all. We start with a directory of directories at Podcast 411.

Panelists include Christopher Perrin from The Cannon Pucture Show, JJ Lanza of Fist Full of Comics & Games, and Dan from Fear the Boot.

The Interview

Gaming Media — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 17:54:34 -0400

A great stream of content for many of us is to go directly to the source. Learning how to conduct an entertaining and informative interview will bring your audience closer to their favorite designers, artists, authors, or publishers. Our group today covers topics that will help you prepare and polish the interview for your audience.

Panelists include Christopher Perrin from The Cannon Pucture Show, JJ Lanza of Fist Full of Comics & Games, Jeremiah Lynch of Pulp Gamer, and Ryan Macklin from The Master Plan.

The Game Review

Gaming Media — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 18:46:07 -0400

A common component across all of the gaming podcasts is the game review. Today we will answer questions about presenting a review your audience can both trust and enjoy. Each of our panelists take a different approach to sharing their enthusiasm with their fans.

Panelists include Carol Hardy of All Games Considered, Stephen Conway and David Coleson of the The Spiel, Derek Rex of Pulp Gamer, and JJ Lanza of Fist Full of Comics & Games.

Before Turning the Microphone On

Gaming Media — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 15:02:55 -0400

There is a lot that goes into a podcast before you start to record. Preparation single most important attribute to a good show. We start at the beginning with naming your podcast and talk through format, hosting vs co-hosting, scripting, and warming up for a good performance.

Panelists include Mark Kinney of All Games Considered, Jeff Lower of Sons of Kryos, Mark Fender of Fell Calls, and Daniel Perez of The Gamer Traveler Podcast.

Podcasting Hardware and Software

Gaming Media — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 13:54:27 -0400

We continue our panels with the hardware and software it takes to get the job done. We emphasize mostly where to begin but touch on what you can look forward to when you are sure this is where you want to spend your money. Some useful resources mentioned in today's show include Audacity, the LAME mp3 encoder, Guitar Center, gbncom.com, and rpgpodcasts.com.

Panelists include Ben Belestra and Mark Kinney from All Games Considered, Zach Ashmore from the Groovecast, and Ryan Macklin from The Master Plan.

Podcasting 101

Gaming Media — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 02:57:52 -0400

We kick of the podcasting track in an obvious place, Podcasting 101. Panelists give a realistic look at the transition from being a fan, to being a fan with a voice. We look at staring software, hardware, preparation, editing, and format. Some useful resources mentioned include libsyn.com, feedburner, gbncom.com, and rpgpodcasts.com.

Panelists include Christopher Perrin from The Cannon Puncture Show, Ryan Macklin from The Master Plan, Ethan Parker from Gamer's Haven Podcast, and Jeff Lower from The Sons of Kryos.