Playaway Speakers

Natalie is a writer and game designer based in Los Angeles, CA. Having studied both dramaturgy and game design at Carnegie Mellon University, Natalie specializes in narrative design and script development for multi-media storytelling. She’s designed small-scale TTRPGs, and her previous narrative work for Carnegie Mellon’s Human-Computer Interaction Institute explored human-AI decision-making via branching interactive stories.

She is particularly passionate about meaningful representation of BIPOC within the TTRPG space, as well as accessibility of design within interactive entertainment. Natalie is currently working freelance, as well as on several personal projects.

Websites:
natalie-schmidt.wixsite.com/portfolio
medium.com/@s.natalie25

I am an MPhil Research student at the University of Glasgow, following my interest in the field of video game studies that I gained during my undergraduate degree in film and television studies. My masters project on fandom and games preservation came about from years of interest in video game modding, repairing older consoles and game emulation. My love for retro-games and computers themselves probably started as a kid when my dad and I kept having to repair our Windows 95 PC to play 3D Realms games! The enthusiasm in gaming fandoms for preserving even the rarest games of the 1990s and 2000s era has been a great drive for me in my research as I strongly believe even the most niche communities of the internet have great insights into contemporary online culture. Being able to research a subject I have loved for so many years, as well as one that needs so much critical attention and research, is a privilege that I hope to continue working on for many years to come.

Twitter: @polarframe

Dr David Farrell is (at least for the next week) a lecturer at Glasgow Caledonian University where he teaches game design and researches the design of Applied Games.  He’s interested in just about every aspect of game design practice.  David currently leads the a small game dev team at GCU who are making LifeLab+, a gamey / app that has a mixture of playful challenges, self experiments, and games aimed at helping teenagers take charge of their health (trailer here: http://bit.ly/2019LLPT ).

Twitter: @unthank
LinkedIn: davidfarrell
Portfolio:  gameologist.com

Robin is a Senior Lecturer and Programme Leader for BA (Hons) Game Design and Production at Abertay University, who left the games industry in 2007 to pursue a PhD in game character animation and joined Abertay as a Lecturer in 2011.  

Susie Buchan is Creative Producer who works across games, art and beyond in both physical and digital spaces. She is a member of Biome Collective and most recently co-produced Arcadia Night 2020 – an evening of online micro-talks, game demos and discussions from leading game designers and thinkers from across the industry.

Twitter: @susepicious | @arcadia_fest twitter

Andy designs games and immersive experiences with inclusivity at the forefront. He is also an award-winning generalist, creative consultant and director – working across several creative industries. Andy has most recently delivered for the likes of Sky, Nat Geo and Johnson & Johnson.

M is a VR “sitting-simulator” in which snippets of memories are discovered when light and shadows come to life. Orphaned shadows can be picked up and then become physical objects, which are used to alter a fragmented and abstract environment.

This mini-talk will explore some of the ways in which M’s demo was built with accessibility in mind, to make a better VR experience.

Website: FurryTailDragon.com

Twitter: FurryTailDragon

Currently conducting a PhD in Music at the University of Glasgow, his research investigates the world of live streaming and intends to act as a stimulus for greater scrutiny around this new medium. His latest work which focused on the socialites surrounding live streaming revealed an increasingly collective practice where a complex network of relationships is created between the different active parties. If this research has been conducted within a music paradigm, the findings can be transposed to other use of live streaming, including gaming.

LinkedIn

Charly Harbord works at Abertay University as well as doing a PhD on RPGs to enhance second language acquisition focussed on Mandarin and English. She wrote a chapter in ‘Digital Games and Language Learning’ and is an Applied Game Designer in Residence for Women in Games. Charly founded ‘The Kilted Otter Initiative’ a research-based Gaelic Game Jam.  She is looking forward to working on creating an app for Indigenous Languages with the members of First Nations.

The Kilted Otter Initiative is a research-based extended Gaelic game jam focusing on exploring Scottish heritage, culture and language and is open to anyone.  Created by Abertay University staff from the School of Design and Informatics and supported by MG ALBA and Women in Games, the project aims to create collaborative experiences and make games design and Gaelic accessible to all.  It will embed Gaelic within games ensure it is not lost from Scottish culture.

LinkedIn

Tess is an award winning Bristol, UK based composer for the screen. She made her orchestral recording debut at Air Lyndhurst Studios in London with her score for the video game Steampunk Riders. This work being one amongst many for orchestra, Tess has recorded her music with the likes of the London Session Orchestra, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, The Budapest Art Orchestra, and The Bratislava Symphony. In 2017, a medley of her orchestral scores has been showcased in famous concert halls across the United Kingdom as part of the Heroes and Legends Tour with the Bournemouth Symphony. In October 2018, Tess worked with the composer, songwriter, and musical innovator Imogen Heap. Together they developed a project entitled, The Life of A Song, and as a result Tess composed, performed and produced on the highly successful single, Marble.Tess continues to write music for the screen, as well as a recording artist. In 2020 she debuted  her first LP, ‘_fractals’.

Website: tesstyler.com
Instagram: @tesstylermusic
Twitter: @tessmakesmusic

Websites:
slab.org
tidalcycles.org
post.lurk.org/@yaxu

YouTube: yaxu