3-D, Gaming, Robotics, Virtual Reality, VR Applications
Dr Roy Davies
Dr Roy C. Davies has been in the VR industry since the early days when the computers used were at least as big as large refrigerators and made by SGI, or if your budget didn't stretch that far, running VR applications on a PC meant a 200 Mhz Pentium running MSDOS. Starting as a Computer Scientist in Rehabilitation Robotics at Auckland University, he then spent 12 years at the University of Lund in Sweden in the department of Ergonomics, first to get a PhD in the Usability of Virtual Reality for Participatory Design and Brain Injury Rehabilitation, and then starting and running the multi-disciplinary VR centre, the Flexible Reality Centre which ties together 25 departments across the campus and has four large VR labs. On return to New Zealand Roy set up Nextspace, a collaboration between the hugely successful NZ- originated company, Right Hemisphere, and the government to build up the 3D-VR industry for New Zealand.
3-D, Gaming, Marketing, Public Relations, Serious Games
Stephen Knightly
Stephen applies gaming principles to businesses, online communities, social change and entertainment projects through InGame, a computer games consultancy. He is also a founder of Playmaker, the Indie Game Developers Association of NZ, runs the monthly Auckland Game Developers Meetup.
As a Director of Pursuit PR he has a track record in using technology for successful marketing and training campaigns. His clients have included XBox, MTV Games, Microsoft, HP, IBM, Fonterra and numerous high-growth New Zealand exporters. Stephen is the former Director of Marketing for the University of Waikato.
Stephen's mix of experience makes him ideally placed to advise on the fast-moving worlds of gaming, virtual worlds, consumer technology, mobility, marketing and business models.
Gaming, New media
Daniel Cermak-Sassenrath
Daniel Cermak-Sassenrath is a Lecturer at the Interdisciplinary Unit at Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand. For several years he has been teaching courses on computer games, tangible interaction, and new media at different Universities. In his dissertation thesis he thought about play as a perspective for the everyday interaction with the computer. The topics of his interest include game theory, art and play, tangible interaction. More info at www.dace.de.
3D entertainment, Advertising, Gaming, Graphic Design
Peter
Freer
Peter
Freer is the art director at Sidhe, New Zealand's largest game
production company. Peter is responsible for setting and overseeing the
artistic direction of the studio and ensuring Sidhe's games
consistently deliver the visual quality and level of immersion for
which the company's games are known. Peter has worked his way up
through the organization since joining in 2005 and has worked on 7
titles in a variety art roles. Prior to Sidhe, Peter worked in graphic
design and advertising, taught drawing and printmaking at Victoria
University, and trained at the Melbourne Academy of Interactive
Entertainment.
Computer Science, Gaming
Mario Wynands
Mario Wynands is the Managing Director and co-founder of Sidhe, New
Zealand's largest game development studio. In his 13 years at the
company, he has negotiated and managed numerous game titles and content
production deals, and overseen the creation of critically acclaimed
titles including Shatter for PlayStation 3 and PC, as well as highly
successful licensed titles including Speed Racer the game, Jackass the
game and the Rugby League series. Mario is also the president of the New
Zealand Game Developers Association, acting as an industry advocate as
well as assisting and mentoring other game developers. He is a graduate
of Victoria University with degrees in business management and computer
science and has studied at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
3D, 3D entertainment, Gaming, iPhone, programming, Real-time 3D, Visualisation
Richard Elliott
Richard Elliott is a motivated and experienced entrepreneur that utilises' the latest technology to develop ideas into profitable businesses. He specialises in the creation and development of innovative technology solutions for the build and management of Superyachts, real-time 3D games and simulation, iPhone/iPad programming and 3D visualisation.
