The 2008 ScreenBurn Festival:
March 7 - 11, 2008 · Austin, Texas

That is right, we have updated the address for ScreenBurn. In other words, if you aren’t there already, here is the new spot for all information related to the 2008 event. See you at the Austin Convention Center March 7-11!

Top moguls of the media are recognizing the value of involvement in the gaming industry, and are actively taking part in shaping the future of games, for better or for worse. “Rupert Murdoch and Fox own IGN/InterActiveCorp, Viacom/MTV is making a big push in gaming, and now media executive Barry Diller is looking to leave his mark on the gaming world by acquiring GarageGames and creating a new gaming website called InstantAction.com,” confirmed a report by biz.gamedaily.com. The Wall Street Journal also attests., “In a further sign of the growing importance of the gaming industry on a global business scale, Diller, who has headed up Fox and Paramount and is now the Chairman of Expedia and the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of IAC (the parent company of businesses such as Home Shopping Network, Ticketmaster, Match.com, LendingTree, among others), is getting involved in InstantAction.com.” How will media moguls affect the way games are developed and delivered?

Photo of Barry Diller.

Have you had a chance to play around with the SXSW Panel Picker yet? This easy-to-use online application allows you (and anyone else on the web) to have a direct say in daytime programming for ScreenBurn 2008 The Panel Picker lists more than 700 proposals, including 30 in the gaming category. Create an account now and tell us which of these ideas you like the most and which ones you are not so crazy about. But you better hurry — Panel Picker voting closes at 11:59 pm Central Standard Time on Friday, September 21. See you at the polls!

Advanced Life Support Group, a Manchester-based charity group, has developed a serious game to help educate medical professionals in the training courses they provide. A report from the Guardian Unlimited describes the training scenario: “In the game a major explosion has left people injured around the imaginary city’s streets. Doctors have to navigate to the bodies and assess patients’ treatment priority based on breathing, circulation and pulse rates.” “It is not a game to be used in isolation but it does offer another way of teaching doctors to deal with major incidents,” said Bryan Tregunna, a consultant instructional designer for the developer, Vega. Steve Jarvis of Vega hopes by using “Games to engage people, we have the potential to create more effective training and learning.” Developers are eager to provide a first-hand method of training, teaching the player real-world skills through a game’s engaging nature.

Photo of the Triage video game courtesy of TruSim.

What happens when you bring together the thrill of video games with the rush of gambling? You have the new online game Kwari, which offers players a potential payout every time they score a successful kill.  As explained in a story in The Age: “Every time you hit another player you make money, and every time you are hit you lose money. Other actions might also have a cost, including breaking crates, using health packs or picking up weapons, with proceeds going into a central pot from which jackpots are withdrawn.The game will be free to play and the UK-based publisher will make money from selling ammunition, but prices have not yet been revealed. All other money is returned to players.” Gambling and video games? Depending on your perspective, this is a match made in heaven — or hell.