Brenda and John Romero to Keynote Develop:Brighton 2017

Two Talks to Take Place, Followed by Q&A

Friday 17 March: Tandem Events, organisers of Europe’s leading game developers conference Develop:Brighton, are pleased to announce Brenda and John Romero as keynote speakers for this year’s conference, with the talks opening the main Develop Conference at 9.30am on Wednesday, 12 July.

Brenda Romero has worked in the video game industry since 1981, with credits on over 45 games. Though best known for her work on the Wizardry titles, she’s also worked on other notable franchises including Dungeons & Dragons, Def Jam and Ghost Recon. Her keynote, ‘Stay: How Not to Burn Out and Thrive in the Game Industry’, looks at the positive reasons so many people stay in the games industry despite pressures, and explores lessons learned from industry veterans.

John Romero has enjoyed an illustrious, decades-long career in the video game industry. He co-founded id Software in 1991, and was a crucial part in the development of iconic franchises including Wolfenstein, DOOM and Quake. His keynote, ‘A Life in Games’, will explore experiences spanning almost forty years from the Apple II to the Apple iPhone, from Dangerous Dave to DOOM, and culminate in speculation on what the future holds.

“We’re delighted to announce Brenda and John Romero as keynote speakers for Develop:Brighton 2017,” said Andy Lane, managing director of Tandem Events. “With a combined total of nearly 70 years’ experience working in the games industry, and a surname that helped forge it into what it is today, I’m incredibly excited to hear their insights on topics old and new.”

As well as delivering this year’s opening keynotes, the Romeros will be individually awarded the 2017 Industry Legend Awards at the Develop Industry Excellence Awards, organised by NewBay Media, on the evening of Wednesday 12 July.

“Brenda and John Romero are the perfect choice for the Development Legend award and we’re very excited to accept them on stage to award it to them in person,” said Jem Alexander, editor of Develop Magazine.“Their influence on the industry is truly legendary and their continued work and presence in games is a boon for all involved. So no pressure, guys! This is the first Development Legend award handed out by the new Develop magazine team and we’ve made some changes to the structure of the awards to further highlight the best of the games industry from the past twelve months - to be revealed on the night.”

Develop:Brighton, Europe’s leading conference for the European game development community, is a three day conference, expo and networking event taking place from Tuesday 11 to Thursday 13 July 2017 at the Hilton Metropole in Brighton.

Other sessions announced for Develop:Brighton 2017

Designing a Game that Markets Itself

Tim Wicksteed, Twice Circled

The Delicate Art of Managing Community Expectations

Molly Carrol, Chucklefish

Better World, Better Play: Narrative Design Tools to Enhance Gameplay Experiences

Mata Haggis, NHTV University

Story in Games (and Other Optional Extras)

Dan Abnett, Novelist & Comic Book Writer

Innovative Thinking in Mobile Gaming with eSports and Beyond

Tony Yang, Space Ape Games

Joining Up The Dots - Creating Games With An Integrated Art Style, Ethos & Identity

Rex Crowle, Foam Sword Games

Passes are currently available at www.developconference.com

Nominations for this year’s Develop Industry Excellence Awards are now open, with more information available at https://www.nbmevents.uk/developawards/categories