SIGGRAPH Asia returns to the vibrant city of Hong Kong for 2025
SIGGRAPH Asia is excited to announce that Hong Kong will be the host city for its 2025 conference and exhibition. This prestigious event will bring together the world’s most respected technical and creative minds, showcasing Hong Kong’s vibrant technology industry and enhancing its status as a global business hub.
Taku Komura, SIGGRAPH Asia 2025 Conference Chair and Professor at The University of Hong Kong, stated, “We are thrilled to bring SIGGRAPH Asia back to Hong Kong. The city’s dynamic and innovative environment, combined with its strategic location and strong support from both the government and industry, makes it the perfect venue for our 2025 conference. We look forward to building on the success of our previous events here and showcasing the latest advancements in computer graphics and interactive techniques.”
Tomasz Bednarz, SIGGRAPH Asia Conference Advisory Group (SACAG) Chair, added, “The SACAG is thrilled that SIGGRAPH Asia 2025 will be hosted in Hong Kong. We believe that our conference will allow connecting and enabling more researchers, artists, designers, and practitioners from the region to join our international SIGGRAPH community. This year’s SIGGRAPH Asia conference in Tokyo is set to be a remarkable success, and we are greatly looking forward to the dynamic exchange of ideas and innovations it will bring. Mark your calendars already and see you at SIGGRAPH Asia 2024 and 2025!”
Hong Kong previously hosted SIGGRAPH Asia in 2011 and 2013, both of which were successful, attracting top talents worldwide and providing a platform for researchers and practitioners to share their latest findings and innovations.
The support for SIGGRAPH Asia 2025 from the Hong Kong Tourism Board, alongside local industry and institutions, underscores the city’s commitment to fostering excellence in the field of computer graphics and interactive techniques. Additionally, Hong Kong’s vibrant ecosystem is home to numerous start-ups and established companies specializing in various aspects of these technologies, which will contribute to the event’s dynamic presence and foster opportunities for collaboration and growth.
“Winning SIGGRAPH for Hong Kong is a rewarding result of HKTB’s effort in rallying the academia and is a strong testament to the city’s professional standing. The return of this global flagship event on computer graphics and interactive techniques will underline Hong Kong’s position as an innovation and technology hub and its vibrant art scene as a cradle for digital art to thrive. With 8,000 delegates, over half of them coming from Mainland and overseas for a five-day programme, the event is yet another testament to Hong Kong’s capacity in hosting mega events and will generate huge economic value.” shared Kenneth Wong, General Manager, MICE and Cruise, Hong Kong Tourism Board.
Stay tuned at asia.siggraph.org/2025 for more updates as we prepare to embark on an exhilarating journey of innovation and creativity in the heart of Hong Kong in 2025.
Synology is a well-known name to gamers, thanks in particular to their gaming network-attached storage (NAS) drives. But that’s only a portion of the offerings from the Taipei, Taiwan-headquartered company, who are also known for a variety of other storage and backup solutions. Among these other storage devices is the Synology BeeDrive, which is essentially a portable SSD paired with Synology’s versatile desktop and mobile apps.
A good portable SSD can be a great asset if you’re a mobile gaming, tech or events business or creative professional, for example. Often, backing up files and keeping them synched between devices can be up there with the “wallet, phone, keys” check.
So, we’ll dig in and find out how well it works, and if the BeeDrive storage device is a reliable, speedy, secure, and convenient choice for on-the-go folks.
The package deal:
The front of the 2TB Synology BeeDrive package… (image: E4G)
…and the back of the BeeDrive box! (image: E4G)
Inside the Synology 2TB BeeDrive’s basic exterior cardboard box, with product information and software QR codes, is a folding black cardboard nested sleeve with the BeeDrive device on top in sealed plastic, a paper quick guide, and a 1 feet (30.5 cms) USB-C to USB-C cable for USB-C Type 2 10 gig-level transfer speed and a USB-A adapter to cover other, older USB connections.
BeeDrive, USB dongle and cable, and quick start guide — everything you need to get started (image: E4G)
The Synology 2TB BeeDrive is a rounded square of matte black plastic and weighs out at a very light 1.52 oz. (43.1g). By no means does it feel rugged, but I didn’t feel I had to handle it with kid gloves either. Dimensions measure a diminutive 2.56 x 0.59 x 2.56 inches (65 x 65 x 15mm), which fits in the palm of my hand.
The BeeDrive is not quite a handful (image: E4G)
The BeeDrive logo is embossed on the top, with a white status indicator LED in the lower-left corner of the front-facing side of the drive. On the back, you’ll find certifications and other product information. On the front-side of the device is a USB-C port for direct connections up to 10.5GB/s transfer rates when connected to a computer’s USB 3.2 Gen 2 port. Inside the BeeDrive’s plastic shell is a 2TB SSD formatted pre-formatted for exFAT, which is just about universal for reading from and writing to by almost any modern device.
Simple enough with no extraneous packaging — so it’s easy to start from the hardware end of the Synology BeeDrive.
Setup and usability:
Behind the deceptive simplicity of the hardware, the Synology BeeDrive’s software is where the capability truly lies and is a significant value-add to the hardware. And it’s an essential part of setting up when going a step beyond a “dumb” storage device is the main use for the BeeDrive. A connected PC or Mac computer is the hub of the connectivity, from which the backups, synchronization, and even the mobile backup is managed and run.
Oh, also, if you don’t have an account with Synology, it is required as part of the setup for more of the device- and service-level management.
Setting up the desktop BeeDrive app is as simple as clicking the exe. install file to get started. After installation, it’s possible to proceed right away to backing up desktop or mobile data or synchronizing the folders and files you want.
Choose your data adventure from the setup screen on BeeDrive’s desktop app: computer backup, synching, and mobile transfer (image: E4G)Home screen of the BeeDrive desktop app from which each functions, its options, and stats can be accessed (image: E4G)
Whether backing up a desktop or mobile media files, synchronizing files across devices, when first setting up the processes, you can start by quickly backing up the top-level folder, which, on a Windows PC would be C:\Users\YourName, for example, or to explore your drive to select a folder or folders you want included. As an additional insurance policy for data, up to five different file version backups can be selected. There’s also file archival settings, file type and size filters to help refine the files backed-up even more. It’s also easy to review the device and data transfer status, pause or disconnect the current transfer, as well as review the transferred files history and edit settings.
Synchronizing files follows a similar setup as backing up, with the main difference being the two-way synching option (between computer and the BeeDrive) or one-way synching (to or from the BeeDrive) direction and file archival options for backup.
Advanced options for backup synching from the desktop app. Computer backup options are similar, except for archival of deleted files instead of sync direction (image: E4G)
By dropping and dragging files into one of the folders or plugging in the BeeDrive, the folders will automatically synchronize if it’s a two-way synching. It’s possible to juggle synchronization of up to 10 individual folders via the synch function, even synchronizing one folder between multiple devices when shuttling the BeeDrive between them.
Main screen of the BeeDrive mobile app, with BeeDrop and photo backup info and options (image: E4Photo backup and options screen on the mobile BeeDrive app (image: E4G)
On to the mobile app and its features! After downloading the BeeDrive app in the Google Play Store or Apple’s App Store, you pair the device via QR code. Navigating the mobile app is easy to pick up quickly — whether to back up either new or all photos and video media automatically. Also, you can cherry-pick and send individual files, photos, or instant camera shots files using the BeeDrop functionality.
BeeDrop file backup options from the BeeDrive mobile app (image: E4G)
Options and toggles in the app are fairly spare compared to the desktop app, but they can be useful, especially since most of them aren’t available on the desktop. For those with several mobile devices tp manage, the ability to pair with up to 5 is helpful, but being mindful of the available space on the BeeDrive will be more of a critical soft skill.
Performance:
Let’s look at the main three categories that define what the BeeDrive can do: backup, sync, and mobile.
For backing up, using CrystalDiskMark benchmarking, I tested three times at random and achieved an average of about 975MB/s read speed and 700 MB/s write speed on an HP gaming laptop with a USB 3.2 Gen 2 port. The marks were a bit shy of the marks it could theoretically reach, but for me, the speed was more than satisfactory.
As a means of comparison, the laptop’s built-in LiteOn CX2-8B256-Q11 256GB NVMe SSD reached 1830 MB/s read and 588 MB/s write speed. For an external portable SSD drive, that’s pretty darn fast.
For synchronizing files, generally speaking, speeds for syncing are in no small part dependent on the type of synchronization, the USB port used for desktop or Wi-Fi used for mobile. It seemed to me that two-way synchronizations were faster than one-way synchronization but were overall reasonably fast enough for me.
Lastly, using the BeeDrive’s mobile app, I backed up about 1.7 GBs of photos and videos over a Wi-Fi 5 network at about 113 MB/s, about 2 minutes to sync on a two-way backup. On a Wi-Fi 6 network, this speed could easily be several times faster, but real-world conditions can dramatically affect speeds.
How the BeeDrive folders display on a ChromeBook (image: E4G)
Out of curiosity, I also tested the Synology BeeDrive with a Chromebook, which isn’t listed as a supported device. The Android app doesn’t work for it and a Chromebook-native app doesn’t exist for it, but manually moving files to and from the Chromebook is doable.
One feature I found myself missing is AES-256 encryption, which is a common and important feature for securing files in portable SSDs. I hope future iterations of the BeeDrive may incorporate file encryption, whether from the hardware or software side. Using a third-party encryption solution like BitLocker with the BeeDrive is possible, but of course, it’s an extra step to factor in when backing up.
Official Specs:
Size: 2.56 x 0.59 x 2.56 inches (65 x 65 x 15mm)
Weight: 1.52 oz. (43.1g)
Interface: USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps)
Speed: Up to 1050 MB/s (depending on host device, Wi-Fi speeds, usage conditions, and other factors)
System Requirements: Windows 10 64-bit (Version 1809 or above) and Windows 11; macOS 12 or above; iOS 15 or above; Android 10 or above
File System Requirements: exFAT (pre-formatted)
Environment Requirements: • Operating temperature: 32˚F to 113˚F (0˚C to 45˚C) • Storage temperature: -40˚F to 185˚F (-40˚C to 85˚C)
Warranty: 3 years
Value:
According to a current Disk Prices listing of several well-known external SSD storage brands, the $169 MSRP listing places the Synology 2TB BeeDrive in the middle of the pack of this selection of 2TB external SSDs. A sale price would place the BeeDrive above average. Given the extra benefit of the well-designed desktop and mobile app, the value-add above and beyond the hardware makes the BeeDrive a good to very good value.
Also, the Synology BeeDrive comes in three storage sizes, with a 1TB ($99), 2TB ($169), or 4TB ($259) size, so you can select a size that best meets your budget.
Pros:
The desktop app and mobile BeeDrive apps make backing up and synchronizing files relatively automated and very quick and simple.
If the 2TB version isn’t quite enough, the 4TB Synology BeeDrive option is a good fit for power users
Very quick data transfer speed capability
Lightweight, compact, and highly portable
Between the hardware and software, it’s a very solid value (but on sale, it would be even better).
Cons:
No native encryption included
Given the Synology brand, some consumers will expect the BeeDrive to comparable to a NAS, but it’s no replacement for one
Ideal for:
Do you want cross-device storage and backup convenience and functionality that lies somewhere between a NAS drive and a basic external SSD? This device is the solution you’re looking for. At $169 MSRP, the 2TB BeeDrive is priced within reach for most of the mass market and offers plenty of zippy storage for most everyday sorts of uses and a robust software offering to grease the wheels of file synching and backup. A caveat, however: If either security and maximum budget-friendliness are your most important features, you may want to at least browse other options on the market.
Still, we definitely recommended the 2TB BeeDrive, especially for many casual-to-mid-level users (while power users may look at the 4TB drive as an entry point).
KYOTO, JAPAN — July 5th, 2024 — BitSummit, Japan’s longest-running indie games festival, unveils the lineup for this year’s stage events at BitSummit Drift. This year’s event, spanning three days from Friday, July 19 to Sunday, July 21, 2024, will feature music performances, talk panels, and live interviews with renowned industry veterans from Japan and around the world.
This year’s BitSummit stage promises an array of captivating sessions, including a highly anticipated talk panel featuring Ryoya Usuhane, the 2023 Grand Prize winner of the “Kami Game Creator Evolution” contest. He will be joined by industry legends Shuhei Yoshida, head of the Indie Initiative at Sony, and Takashi Tokita, producer at Square Enix and professor at Tokyo University of the Arts, to delve into the appeal of award-winning indie games.
Special musical performances are set to electrify the BitSummit audience on-site and offline, starting with Professor Sakamoto, the pitch-perfect electronic maestro best known for his renditions of classic, retro game music. Sakamoto’s return as the opening act promises to set the tone for the three-day weekend of festivities. Also performing this year are Family Continue, a dynamic duo celebrated for their retro game-themed music and energetic rap. Their unique “Chip-Hop” style, blending 8-bit sounds with Famicom-inspired rap, has garnered a dedicated following and promises an unforgettable experience for fans.
In addition to these highlights, attendees can look forward to a variety of other exciting stage events throughout BitSummit Drift. Hosting the stage with their signature enthusiasm, returning MCs Aoi Yokomachi and J-mon will ensure an energized and entertaining showcase. For those unable to attend in person, all stage events will be streamed live on YouTube and Twitch, offering global access to the festival’s vibrant energy.
KYOTO, JAPAN — July 2, 2024 — BitSummit, Japan’s oldest indie game festival bringing together the vibrant game creators community, pulls back the curtains on the 100 titles selected to be part of BitSummit Drift Official Selections and showcased in Kyoto from Friday, July 19 to Sunday, July 20th, 2024.
Following the success of last year’s event, “BitSummit Let’s Go!!”, which attracted over 23,000 visitors, BitSummit returns for its twelfth and biggest installment yet. This year, Japan’s most prominent indie game celebration will take over the entire Miyako Messe event space for three days, expanding to both floors for the first time. The first day is dedicated to B2B attendees, including developers, publishers, media, and sponsors, while the second and third days welcome the general public. Attendees can explore 100 unique titles from the Official Festival Selections and many more games from sponsors and partners that push the boundaries of creativity, storytelling, and fun in gaming.
Please visit the link below to see this year’s fantastic roster of indie games:
BitSummit Drift will be held both in-person and virtually, with live broadcasts on YouTube, TikTok, Bahamut, and Twitch, ensuring a global audience can partake in the festivities. The event will feature a diverse array of indie games, from award-winning hits to undiscovered gems, providing something for every gaming enthusiast.
Event Information:
Dates: Friday, July 19th to Sunday, July 21st
Location: Miyako Messe, Kyoto
Streaming Platforms: YouTube, TikTok, Bahamut, and Twitch
Languages: Japanese, English, and Chinese
Ticket Sales: Available on the official BitSummit website
In addition to the game showcases BitSummit Drift will include insightful panels, engaging presentations from industry leaders, and opportunities to interact with developers. Detailed schedules and additional announcements, including details on special guests and streaming booths, will be shared in the upcoming weeks.
Tickets and Access:
BitSummit Drift offers general admission and business tickets, catering to a wide range of attendees, from industry professionals to passionate gamers. Friday is dedicated to industry and media, while the weekend opens the doors to the public. Tickets are now on sale; click here to purchase!
SEATTLE – June 27, 2024 – Show organizers ReedPop and Penny Arcade reveal Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer will participate in the Storytime opening session to kick off the festivities at PAX West 2024. Badges are now on sale for the West Coast’s most-attended gaming event, taking place Friday, Aug. 30, through Monday, Sept. 2, at the Seattle Convention Center.
Spencer will take the Main Stage on Friday, August 30, for an entertaining and informative look behind the scenes of his illustrious career with more than 30 years of experience in gaming, tech and entertainment. In his current role as Chief Executive Officer of Microsoft Gaming, Spencer leads Microsoft’s global interactive entertainment business, spanning a range of legendary brands including Xbox, Activision, Bethesda, Blizzard Entertainment, King, and Xbox Game Studios.
Spencer has overseen console launches like those of Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S. He’s also led initiatives for Xbox Game Pass, ID@Xbox, and recently hosted the Xbox Games Showcase, alongside Xbox President Sarah Bond and Microsoft Gaming Game Content and Studios President Matt Booty, who was previously our PAX West 2022 Storytime keynote speaker.
Spencer’s Storytime opening session will kick off a jam-packed schedule of events, panels, and concerts commemorating the 20th anniversary of PAX in the area where it all started. A full schedule and list of exhibitors will be shared in the coming weeks ahead of the show.
“Phil Spencer is at the center of something unprecedented with Microsoft Gaming,” said Jerry Holkins, co-founder of Penny Arcade and PAX. “It’s a tremendous responsibility. I can’t wait to find out what the industry looks like from where he’s sitting.”
PAX West badges are now on sale for $250 for a 4-day badge, or $66 for single-day badges for Friday, Saturday, Sunday, or Monday.
Media and content creators interested in covering the event can apply for badges here.
The fine folks (Koelnmesse GmbH and game – Association of the German Games Industry) organizing the gamescom congress have sent fresh news and updates about the upcoming 2024 iteration of the German-based conference, now in its 17th year.
Leading off what’s new, one prominent change gamescom congress attendees will discover is that they’re hosted at the Confex, which is the new conference center on the Koelnmesse exhibition grounds. Sccording to the news release, Confex offers technologically advanced facilities that can enable more attendees to participate, since the prior venue, the Koelnmesse’s Congress Centre North, had met its peak number of attendees. The new location on south-west portion of of the exhibition grounds the exhibition grounds will be better located in relation to the gamescom Business Centre and the Cologne Messe/Deutz train station — presumably resulting in better connections to the gamescom expo event itself and to connecting areas in and around the host city of Cologne.
A view of the new Konfex venue that will host the gamescom congress 2024 (image: Koelnmesse Group)
On the topical side, the focuses will expand from the core of games and game development and business to incorporate education, culture, business and science and how games might add value to each other. Along those lines, the timely topics “Games and Artificial Intelligence” and “Games and Democracy” will be featured at the gamescom congress. The new topics will be divided into “Science & Education”, “Economy & Innovation” and “Society & Culture” sections for folks who want a little more granularity when they are on the hunt for a specific topic or talk.
A few of the topics that will be addressed include how games might be able to strengthen democratic coexistence, how games might add (or subtract) from democratic discourse, what possibilities can artificial intelligence unlock for business and society, and so on. It’s safe to assume this expansion of topics represents an outreach to connecting disciplines that may expand the impact of the event.
With the idea of amplifying the value of these new topics and disciplines represented at gamescom congress, new program formats, such as roundtables and speed dating, will be introduced this year to help with networking and help with connecting the dots between these different interest groups.
Whether you’re from the business or development side of games or another industry, if you want to attend gamescom and/or gamescom congress, visit this link to check out your ticket options. Gamescom takes place in Cologne, Germany, which will be be online on August 20, 2024 and in person from August 21-25, 2024. Specifically, Gamescom Congress will be hosted on August 22, 2024. More details about the program and other possibly new and (pardon the turn of phrase) game-changing additions may be coming to this event, which we’ll keep an eye out for!
Happy July Jubilation! We’ve put together yet another great list of events you can attend for the month.
July is a big month for events too, but not nearly as prominent as June was with over twice the events as we’re seeing this month. Not to fear though, we have plenty of conferences and conventions listed with a few new intriguing festivals to mention. As you can see below, no completely Online-only events… it’s summer time and the pandemic is well over, so get out there event attendees!
Many of the listed events are included in the calendar from your contributions in submitting events to the calendar. Thank you for continuing to support us!
Check out this month’s event list below. We’ve made some additions to the overview! You can now see whether an event is B2B (Business-to-Business) or B2C (Business-to-Consumer), as well as the city/country. Click in the event for even more details. You can also click here for the main calendar that includes events throughout the rest of the year and beyond.
June 20th, 2024 – Long Beach, CA. The XR world has a new lineup of champions. Last night following day 2 of the 15th annual Augmented World Expo USA, the world’s most innovative companies were recognized at the thrilling Auggie Awards ceremony.
The Auggie Awards have been the most recognized XR and spatial computing industry awards in the world since 2010. Now in their 15th year, the Auggies continue to showcase the best of the best.
In addition, 101 pioneers of XR were inducted yesterday into the first ever XR Hall of Fame in a special ceremony. The full list can be seen here. AWE also published highlights of news
announcements on the first day of the show – see it here.
“I’m beyond thrilled to have seen the quality of the Auggie Awards winners selected by the
judges,” said Ori Inbar, AWE cofounder. “Each and every one of these winners blew us away
with their innovation, pioneering spirit, and dedication to pushing the boundaries of what is
possible in XR and spatial computing. Congratulations to all!”
Auggie Award winners on stage at AWE 2024 (image: AWE 2024)
The Auggie Award winners are…..
Best Art or Film – JFK Memento by TARGO: An Immersive Chronicle of the Assassination, a historically accurate record of 48 hours that changed the world. Video here.
Best Campaign – New Messi sandwich at Hard Rock Cafe by CamOn XR. CamOn XR, Hard
Rock Café and Yes We’re Open agency created a marketing campaign which includes
Augmented Reality solutions such as Web 360 and Social XR. Video here.
Best Climate Change Solution – SAMARitan by HENSOLDT Sensors, an XR solution for
enhanced situational and environmental awareness. SAMARitan gathers data from sensors to provide an early warning of wildlife kilometers away for proper reaction. Video here.
Best Collaboration Tool – Webex Hologram by Cisco, the first enterprise real time
photorealistic holographic solution which enables a feeling of co-presence. Video here.
Best Consumer App – Pillow XR App, the first XR app designed for lying-down in bed, with 4 innovative relaxing experiences and mind-bending multiplayer. Video here.
Best Content Creator(s) – Between Realities for The Between Realities VR Podcast, the
weekly ”virtual reality podcast from the philosophical gamer’s perspective.” Video here.
Best Creator & Authoring Tool – STYLY Studio which creates various types of XR scenes on web browsers. Users can place 3D models and images, or upload content created in Unity. Video here.
Best Developer Tool – 8th Wall’s Metaversal Deployment by Niantic, which enables developers to build a project once and deploy it to all devices: smartphones, tablets, computers and both AR and VR headsets. Video here.
Best Education & Training Solution – Hyper-realistic Safety Training System (immerseLearn) by Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) – a technology that uses IMU sensors and infrared cameras to track a trainee’s behavior and posture in real time to prevent accidents such as electric shock and falls that may occur in the power energy field. Video here.
Best Enterprise Solution – Campfire, the best way to share CAD/3D models throughout the physical product lifecycle, Video here.
Best Game or Toy – Kluest by Sons of a Bit Entertainment, the real-world metaverse platform which combines geolocation, user generated content and augmented reality. Video here.
Best Headworn Device – Meta Quest 3, a mixed reality headset that immerses you in a whole bunch of universes, and blends virtual elements with your physical reality. Video here.
Best Healthcare & Wellness Solution – American Heart Association’s Hands-Only CPR VR, which teaches teenagers and adults the lifesaving skill of Hands-Only CPR and the proper use of Automated External Defibrillators. Video here.
Best Indie Creator(s) – 3lb Games for growing in technical skill while maintaining high
standards for visual appeal, in-game music, and player movement. Video here.
Best Interaction Product – HTC VIVE Ultimate Tracker, HTC VIVE’s most advanced XR
tracking solution yet – it’s highly versatile, taking interactivity, utility, and expressiveness in XR experiences to the next level. Video here.
Best Location-Based Entertainment – Japantown Geospatial for Paper Tree Origami by Rock Paper Reality, which creates and deploys a world-anchored Geospatial experience for Origami store Paper Tree in Japantown, San Francisco, USA. Video here.
Best Societal Impact – TouchKEY+ Multisensory Station by WEART, which provides a unique solution for visually impaired and blind visitors to engage with artworks, through a digital and tactilely augmented experience. Video here.
Best Use of AI – AI and Augmented Reality at Pfizer – ”Manufacturing AR Co-Pilot”, which
predicts potential problems and generates corrective actions that are surfaced to operators in an easy-to-follow guided experience with location-based overlays using augmented reality. Video here.
Best Web3 Implementation – SEPHORA UNIVERSE by SURREAL Events, which redefines
beauty through immersive activations that allow Sephora customers to play games, explore
beauty products from brand partners, redeem rewards, collect NFTs, and create lifelike avatars. Video here.
Best startup –Playbook XR, a collaborative platform for producing 3D content. Playbook makes it easy for anyone, regardless of technical skillset, to produce the games, films, and blended experiences that will inspire and usher in the next wave of creators, by replacing game engines with AI-augmented tools.
The Augmented World Expo USA 2024 (AWE 2024) conference kicks off today to Thursday, June 20, 2024 in Long Beach, California. The world of extended reality (XR) companies, thought leaders, products, and more come together this week to discuss some of the biggest innovations impacting their technology space.
Of course, XR games and interactive experiences will be a huge part of the discussion. And the “Gaming, Entertainment & Media” track is dedicated to the conversation that impacts the development of XR gaming or game-like experiences. Dozens of the 266 exhibitors are focused on XR games.
But, what about XR in events, venues and experiences? If you’re an arcade or esports stadium owner or maybe an event planner, what can you find at AWE 2024 that meets the needs of what you’re looking for? For a site like “Events for Gamers,” we’re naturally curious what’s on tap for this week for attendees in that space (too).
Here’s a short list of relevant points of interest at AWE USA 2024 that may be worth checking out!
This late day one session may be one of the best learning opportunities for folks who are interested in adapting emerging and evolving technologies like AI and the spatial web, into live events or festivals. The session’s speaker, Eric Wagliardo, Founder, &Pull and MXR (“Mixer”), and Coachella’s XR producer should no doubt be loaded with the experience and insight to share on making XR work in event-centered experiences.
A mid-day session, this retail-oriented discussion centers on retail and sports applications of augmented reality (AR) billboard advertising. What are the pain points and other implementation challenges? What are the key metrics to keep an eye on? How scalable are these solutions?
Monica Hsueh, Global Marketing Manager for metaverse tech company, Speed 3D Inc. leads this foray into the sometimes-tricky world of AR advertising and promotion. Folks in virtual reality arcades, event venues and other spaces that may take a shine to big, bold advertising initiatives using new technology might find this presentation eye opening.
Panel: Immersive Revolution: Transforming Fan Experiences in Next-Gen Sports & Beyond Tuesday, June 18, 2024
2:55 PM – 3:50 PM (PDT)
Continuing with the loaded schedule from June 18 (at least for XR sessions at AWE USA 2024 that might interest professionals in events and venues), this panel addresses the possibilities of using XR tech to help brands, teams, fan communities, venues and more boost their engagement. Could this discussion around traditional sports apply to the esports ecosystem? Absolutely.
Natascha French, CEO and Founder, Scale Strategies; James Giglio,CEO and Founder, MVP Interactive; Chris Sloan, Head of Global Partnerships, SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park; and Troy Jones Jr., CEO and Founder, StatusPro lead this senior-level panel into this potential-loaded topic.
AI is helping us be more accessible with our content – live captioning all 9 stages at #AWE2024 for the first time and in 140+ languages.
While there are many open-ended XR tech platforms, both hardware and software, that can cover the needs for people in and around the vast event-related Venn diagram, like XREAL or Hololight or Campfire, there are a couple vendors who specifically zero in on the needs of meeting, event and venue professionals.
FanPort is launching “a first-of-its-kind social mixed-reality attraction for immersive and interactive fan and brand engagement” for “branded extended reality experiences within sports venues, museums, retail centers, themed attractions, and more” at AWE USA 2024 and offering attendees a chance to explore the experience from the expo floor.
Benvision is a company with a focus on assistive technology companies using a customizable music-based approach. Seems interesting, right? At AWE 2024, the company is launching a pilot program for tourism, hotels, amusement parks, and other venues and other large spaces as well as an iOS app.
While on the topic of accessibility at an event, AWE USA 2024 went all in and partnered with XRAI Glass for making the event more accessible, both the physical space and digital version. Using the app on an Android or iOS smartphone “or using a pair of compatible smart glasses, AWE guests can read an AI-transcribed feed from the stage and translate it into any of 75+ languages, all in real-time. Online viewers of the AWE Main Stage sessions will be able to use these AI transcriptions and translations via the conference’s YouTube channel.” XRAI Glass is also an exhibitor in addition to being a partner at AWE USA 2024.
ATLANTA, GA — June 18, 2024 — MomoCon 2024, the largest celebration of gaming and anime in the Southeast United States, broke its yearly attendance records, attracting a crowd of more than 55,800 pop culture fans at the Georgia World Congress Center from Friday, May 24, to Monday, May 27, 2024.
This year’s keynote speaker was none other than Goichi “Suda51” Suda, renowned director, writer, and game designer of the No More Heroes series, Shadows of the Damned, and killer7, among many other beloved projects. Suda51 cryptically teased an unannounced project and revealed new cosmetic skins for the upcoming Shadows of the Damned: Hella Remastered, delighting attendees.
MomoCon’s extensive, ultra-competitive tournaments returned as an annual highlight. This year, all three major multiplayer Nintendo franchises—Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Splatoon 3, and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate—were represented, alongside popular fighting games such as Tekken 8 and Street Fighter 6. See the full list of winners on the official MomoCon 2024 Start.gg page, with Smash Ultimate VODs available on VGBootCamp.
Nearly every fandom was represented at MomoCon in this year’s guest list. From Disney legends Jodi Benson (The Little Mermaid, Enchanted, Toy Story 3) and Scott Weinger (Aladdin, Hercules, Full House) to Hazbin Hotel creator Vivienne Medrano and gaming and anime voice actor Beau Billingslea (Red Redemption II, Tekken 8, Naruto), guests could connect with the minds and voices behind their favorite media.
“As always, attending MomoCon is like being at an amusement park. There is so much magic happening all around us during the weekend,” said Co-Founder Jess Merriman, “Thank you to every staff member, volunteer, guest, contractor, and attendee. We could not do this without you!”
MomoCon 2025 will return to the Georgia World Congress Center from Thursday, May 22, through Sunday, May 25, 2025. For more information, check out the official MomoCon site and follow MomoCon on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, Discord, and Instagram for event updates.
LONG BEACH, CA. (June 17, 2024) – Emerging technology development studiosDraw & Code and 302 Interactive, collaborate to launch FanPort, a first-of-its-kind social mixed-reality attraction for immersive and interactive fan and brand engagement. Attendees at the2024 Augmented World Expo will have the first opportunity to experience this disruptive attraction.
FanPort is a unique, scalable spatial experience that mixes the deep immersion of VR, with the accessibility and social connection of an open space.Utilizing mixed reality glasses, dynamic lighting, and spatial audio, FanPort propels audiences into the heart of brands’ stories.
FanPort is a customizable system for Location-Based Entertainment (LBE) venues to breathe new life into existing venues by creating experiences for attracting and retaining patrons. The FanPort platform provides the portable and modular infrastructure for branded extended reality experiences within sports venues, museums, retail centers, themed attractions, and more.
FanPort combines a large LED screen or video-mapped display with AR glasses to allow holographic content to travel through portals into a shared physical experience space for four or more people. Similar to the Mario Kart rides at Universal Studios Japan and Hollywood parks, the mixed reality FanPort platform allows audiences to see the real world around them while interacting with incredible 3D scenes.
“By serving as the first development partner for FanPort alongside Draw & Code, we are helping to make high-quality immersive experiences more accessible,” said the CEO of 302 Interactive, Kyle Morrand. “FanPort gives brands and entertainment centers the opportunity to take XR technology, previously only found in the large theme parks, and create immersive experiences that can exist anywhere and everywhere.”
302 Interactive and Draw & Code have spent the last decade building completely custom projects and solutions. Having worked with the likes of Mercedes, Philips, and some of the most visited theme parks on the planet, the result of their years of experience in immersive activations has been the development of FanPort. FanPort as a customizable platform provides a stronger foundation for building interactive entertainment and serves as an enabler of the XR industry through base physical infrastructure and operator-friendly software that offers both flexibility and brand personalization.
“We first conceived the idea of FanPort at AWE 10 years ago, and after a conversation with 302 Interactive three years ago, we began to envision the ways that FanPort could bring immersive technology and modifiable experiences to venues around the globe,” said the CTO and Co-Founder of Draw & Code, John Keefe. “From education to the arts and entertainment, this groundbreaking new platform provides brands with solutions that transport audiences into their world. With the launch of FanPort at this year’s Augmented World Expo, our vision is finally coming full circle.”
With E3 game industry tradeshow gone, the early June stage was all clear for this year’s Summer Game Fest and a constellation of affiliated game showcases to make their mark. And wow, there were some surprises and some great reveals!
Since these events have wrapped up, many content creators have been posting their reactions and dissections to some of the games that emerged. This month, we’re selecting Jake Baldino’s YouTube post-Summer Game Fest video of his personal favorite games that were shown off last week. Jake Baldino is the Lead Video Producer at Gameranx and a podcaster.
In this under-20 minute video, Baldino runs through several games that were revealed at Summer Game Fest, the PC Gaming Show, IGN Live, Xbox’s showcase, among other events. Among some of the games are a few that we are looking forward to, like:
Civilization VII:
Announced at Summer Game Fest, Sid Meier’s Civilization VII, a legendary turn-based 4X (eXplore, eXpand, eXploit, and eXterminate) strategy game leads off Baldino’s video — and was a surprise to him as it was for many. “I didn’t expect that to be announced. I had heard rumblings of a lot of other different 2K-published games being announced, but it ended up being Civ 7, and that was really cool. I’ve only mentioned it a couple of times here, and it’s been a while since a mainline game, but I am a Civ addict. It’s kind of like my weird comfort food game. You wouldn’t normally assume that of me, because it’s kind of more like a smart, scholarly dad style game, but no, I am hooked on these things.”
Even as just an announcement, without gameplay or other game details, the Civilization VII news made a splash in the pool of games announced this year at Summer Game Fest.
Doom: The Dark Ages:
Another icon game for its genre, the Doom first-person shooter franchise by id Software and Bethesda Softworks is returning to the PC and PlayStation 5 and Xbox X/S in 2025 as an origin story of sorts set in a medieval era. Think Doom and Hexen blended together except modernized. On Doom: The Dark Ages, Baldino said: I hope this one is just about being badass and brutality and not ammo and health, like juggling constantly. It looks awesome, the weapons, the style, the fact that you’re like riding a freaking dragon that’s cool. You know, it just works for me.” I’m sure many gamers will agree with that sentiment.
Of course, these games are only a couple among a large number of games that Jake Baldino highlighted. Are these games that he selected among your favorites? Feel free to let us know if you agree or disagree with the games highlighted in the video!
Whether you are an event coordinator, press, or general attendee, if you have an event video to share with us, please let us know and we’ll be happy to feature it!
