COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
I see video games not just as a media form used for entertainment but also as a way to bring people together by allowing them to interact, communicate and share a common objectives. One of the best things I love about engaging with the community at conferences is that many people get to meet their heroes there.
From my experience, these events give people hope and inspiration to become the next generation of game designers, developers, and storytellers. It brings these people together with a shared purpose, interest, and objective that creates the next generation of amazing games.
July, 2023
San Diego Comic-Con
The Smart New Way Entertainment Will be Marketed To You
Getting to interview panelists who worked with Disney, Apple, Pixar, Ubisoft, Netflix, and so many other amazing companies was truly exciting. It gave really powerful insight into where the gaming industry will be in the next 5 years and how games will be even more influential on how we live, work, and learn.
March, 2023
Los Angeles WonderCon
Cheat Code: Press Left, Right, B, A, and Start To Change The Rules of Gaming and Entertainment
This was my second time working with Sega of America legend, Tom Kalinske. I was also joined by Ernestine Fu, an investor in Pokemon Go and Twitch.com. We got to explore how games have evolved and where the future of games is headed with new future technologies.
July, 2022
San Diego Comic-Con
Building a Video Game Company From Scratch
This was such a fun panel. We were able to bring together a storyteller, a musician, a developer, a designer, a marketer, and an investor to the table. These industry veterans shared why each of their roles was important as part of a team to bring a successful, fun, and profitable game to market.
November, 2021
San Diego Comic-Con
Getting Into Character
I had the honor of working with Hollywood director Art Camacho on this panel to share the importance of understanding character development. This skill is important whether you are creating characters for a film or for a video game. It is, at the core, the basis of good storytelling.
August, 2021
San Diego Comic-Con Educational Series
Video Games That Can Grant Real SuperPowers
This online panel gave me the chance to talk with company heads at Haiku and Ubisoft. Both companies have invested time and energy in the creation of games that focus on teaching real-life skills to players as they progress. It is obvious to me that this mode of teaching will become more and more commonplace in the very near future.
April, 2021
San Diego Comic-Con Educational Series
The Superhero League of Learning
I got to talk with the legendary New York Best Selling author, Jim Kwik. Along with the other awesome panelist, we explored the new ways in which people can grow with gamified learning. From the classroom to video games, to best-selling books, gamified learning is a new trend that shows no signs of disappearing.
February, 2021
San Diego Comic-Con Educational Series
The Importance of a Creative Outlet for Mental Health
On this panel, I had a medical doctor, a biochemist, and a mechanical engineer. While their jobs are extremely demanding each day, they still find time to have fun by playing video games and through other creative outlets. The common message was that everyone must find a creative outlet that speaks to them on a personal basis no matter how geeky it may be.
July, 2019
San Diego Comic-Con
The Anatomy of Action
It was such a thrill and privilege to work with the famed Hollywood actor, Mark Dacascos. With the other star-studded members of my panel, James Lew and Cynthia Rothrock, we shared the importance of creating action sequences for both films and video game characters. We got the audience members involved so they could feel like they were part of the show and not just watching it.
October, 2017
Manila, Philippines
Electronic Sports & Gaming Summit
Everwing Press Conference
It was no small feat transporting Blackstorm's Everwing team from Mountain View, California to Manila, Philippines for a press conference and stage presentation. Yet, this help to launch Everwing's popularity in Asia even more as people got to meet their heroes - the creative team behind their favorite mobile game.
May, 2017
Los Angeles WonderCon
Building New Worlds from Scratch
I was so excited to work with one of my heroes, the famous Tom Kalinske, former CEO of Sega of America. He was able to share some of his stories with the audience in the creation of He-Man, reviving the Barbie brand, and of course launching one of the most beloved characters in video game and pop-culture history, Sonic the Hedgehog.
