Is it all Fun and Games? Online Gaming as a Branding and Engagement Tool
A MITX Digital Strategy Series Event

Moderator: Victor Lee - Vice President Group Director, Marketing and Branded Entertainment, Digitas

Panelists: Steve Curran, Founder/Creative Director, Pod Digital Design; Marc Girolimetti, Co-Founder, ActsLike, Inc.; Glenn Leeder, Business Development Manager, Microsoft Gaming

Online gaming, and the social interaction associated with the games, is a powerful way to engage with your customers.   The number of people playing social games is expected to grow to 250 million in 2009, new platform developments have created new opportunities for engagement, and users have become accustomed to high quality, connected experiences at a low cost.

With all these changes, how do you create successful online games?  Is it possible to make money - and how?  How do you create a brand experience that stands out in the crowd? Join MITX and a panel of seasoned gaming experts as we discuss the evolution of gaming and how marketers can successfully use games an engagement and branding tool. Discussion points will include:

• What does it take to have a successful online game?   What are the rules of engagement? Where are the main frustrations and how can they be overcome?
• How do you "brand" the game in a way that successfully communicates your messages but doesn't interrupt the user experience?
• What are the pros and cons between a website with gaming elements, a branded microsite, an online gaming community and a social network with gaming elements? 
• What do you need to know about the platforms?  Which ones work better?  Which ones have niche offerings to improve engagement?
• Despite the low cost/low margin structure of social games, how can you make money with interactive games?  What advertising options should you consider above-and-beyond traditional banner ads?

Join the next discussion in MITX's Digital Strategy series as we explore the power of online gaming and how to leverage it to your advantage.

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