“Gaming is quietly the largest segment of the $2 trillion global entertainment industry,” said Todd Harris, CEO of Skillshot Media. “Games Week Georgia celebrates the gaming and esports industry, bringing together gaming leaders and experts from around the world alongside a week of consumer events, culminating in one of North America’s largest gaming festivals — DreamHack Atlanta.”
As global esports has exploded, Georgia (and Atlanta) is often called the nation’s esports capital by some enthusiasts, including the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD). According to the GDEcD, digital entertainment is a $550 million industry in the state, responsible for more than 12,000 direct and indirect jobs.
GEORGIA GAMES WEEK ACTIVITIES
Games Week Georgia will kick off on Monday, December 11 and culminate with DreamHack Atlanta December 15-17 at the Georgia World Congress Center.
GAMING PANEL & SCREENING* | PLAZA THEATRE | MON, DEC 11
“THE SUPER MARIO BROS. MOVIE” (Details and Tickets HERE)
• Big Cheese, Nappy Boy Gaming
• Christopher Escobar, Executive Director of Atlanta Film Festival / Owner of the Plaza and Tara Theatres
• Bob Carter, Voice Actor (Mortal Kombat, Asgard’s Wrath 2, The Legend of Nayuta: Boundless Trails, Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed, MultiVersus)
• Todd Harris, Skillshot / Atlanta Esports Alliance
8pm — Film Screening: “The Super Mario Bros. Movie”
While working underground to fix a water main, Brooklyn plumbers—and brothers—Mario and Luigi are transported down a mysterious pipe and wander into a magical new world. But when the brothers are separated, Mario embarks on an epic quest to find Luigi.
There will be Toys for Tots x DreamHack donation bins at the Plaza Theatre and on site at DreamHack, as well as at partnered businesses and organizations throughout Metro Atlanta. Those attending the Plaza Theatre event are encouraged to bring a toy to donate.
GIRLGAMER ATLANTA | SKILLSHOT MEDIA ATRIUM | DEC 13
Celebrating women’s competitiveness in esports and engaging young women in STEM/STEAM. The top four professional teams will compete in Rocket League onsite. The winning team will represent the USA at the GIRLGAMER International Finals in 2024. A limited number of FREE tickets are available for students as part of school field trips. More details HERE.
• 8am — Breakfast for Parents of Gamers: Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Gaming
• 10am — Career Panels: Women Working in Gaming & Esports
• 11am — Youth STEM/STEAM Engagement | Meet Women Pro Gamers, YouTubers and Streamers | Onsite Gaming Competitions and Activities | Behind-The-Scenes Tour of Live Esports Production
• 12pm — Rocket League Girl Gamer Atlanta Championship Tournament
ESPORTS SUMMIT | SKILLSHOT MEDIA ATRIUM | DEC 14
The annual Esport Summit will take place, punctuating the thriving esports industry in Georgia and beyond. Esports Summit provides global business leaders and educators a comprehensive view of the entire esports ecosystem, including networking opportunities, presentations from industry leaders, and workshops with some of the largest names in the esports and scholastic esports industry. Esports Summit tickets include a FREE 3-day pass to attend DreamHack Atlanta (Dec 15-17). More details HERE.
Esports Summit Speakers (100+) including:
Larry Settembrini (DreamHack) | Wayne Mackey (Aim Lab) | Julian Cagggiano (Ghost Gaming) | Marco Mereu (M80 Esports) | Wim Stocks (Belong Gaming Arenas) | Rob Stamey (G2 Esports) | Neil Duffy (eFuse) | Robb Chiarini (Zenni) | Julian Fitzgerald (Cxmmunity) | Chris Aviles (Garden State Esports | Jen Dawson (CDW-G) | Malcolm Coley (Futures First Gaming) | Dr. Joey Gawrysiak (Esports, Syracuse University) | Jihan Johnston (NASEF/BeatBotics)
Esports Summit Activities include:
Industry Panels | Scholastic Esports | Professional Teams | Student Tournaments | Workshops | Behind-The-Scenes Tour of Skillshot | Mixers and Networking
• 8am — Registration + Breakfast
• 9am — Welcome | Hosting and Operating Large Live Events
• 10am — Discovering My Purpose Through Gaming
• 11am — Brands Activating in Gaming & Esports | Esports Venues: Best Practices for Sustainability | Esports is Community: Research and Impact
• 12pm — Lunch + Showmatch in Brawlhalla
• 1pm — Esports Teams: The Path Forward | Esports City Showdown: Esports for Economic Development | Elementary & Middle School Scholastic Esports
• 2pm — Health and Wellness in Gaming | Esports League Operations and Referees | Tools and Resources for Esports Coaches
• 3pm — Equity and Access in Gaming and Esports | Adaptive Gaming | High School Scholastic Esports
• 4pm — Perspectives from Around the Globe on Gaming, Esports and Education | Pathways Through Content Creation | Collegiate/University Scholastic Esports
• 5pm — Performance Training for Gaming and Health | Esports Ecosystem: Sustainability and Growth | Yes, the U.S. has a National Esports Team
• 5:40pm — Esports Summit Legacy Award Presentation
• 6pm — Georgia Entertainment 100 VIP Creative Industry Mixer
VIP INDUSTRY MIXER | SKILLSHOT ATRIUM | DEC 14, 6PM
The Signature Georgia Entertainment 100 creative industry mixer will host the who’s who of film, music, gaming and broadcast around the theme of gaming, esports and digital entertainment. Including directors, producers, and studio executives across film, gaming, music & esports, the invite-only gathering is also an opportunity to honor elected political leaders and government officials to recognize their role facilitating Georgia’s digital entertainment economy.
SIEGE | GEORGIA WORLD CONGRESS CENTER | DEC 14-17
This year, the annual SIEGE conference will take place as part of DreamHack Atlanta. SIEGE is the largest professional game development conference in the South to learn about game art, audio, business, design, esports, programming, VR and more. The event will also include a college fair for high school students interested in the Gaming industry on Thursday, December 14. SIEGE tickets include access to DreamHack Atlanta. Full details on SIEGE are available HERE.
DREAMHACK ATLANTA | GEORGIA WORLD CONGRESS CENTER | DEC 15-17
DreamHack, an international gaming lifestyle festival and ESL FACEIT Group brand, is returning to Atlanta for the fifth edition of its immersive, gaming lifestyle experience where the community comes to life. The festival weekends feature everything gaming under one roof as attendees experience professional esports tournaments, amateur and varsity gaming tournaments, world-famous bring-your-own-computer (BYOC) LAN party, cosplay championship, panels, art, activities, expo, screenings, and more. Tickets are available now at dreamhack.com/atlanta/tickets.
