Casual games subject of inaugural conference

The first-ever Casual Games Conference will take place this July in Seattle, conference producers The Game Initiative said today. Casual game designers and publishers will have the opportunity to attend the conference this July 19 and 20.

For two days, producers, designers, and publishers of those less-involved puzzle, action, and parlor games will meet to discuss their craft at the Meydenbauer Center in downtown Bellevue. While no speakers have yet been announced, the Game Initiative has appointed an advisory board, which consists of:

Chris Early - Studio Manager, MSN Games
Dan Prigg - Producer, Real Networks, Inc.
James Gwertzman - President, Sprout Games
Jessica Tams - Director of Partner Development, Trymedia Games
Juan Gril - Producer, Yahoo Games
Robert Khoo - Director of Business Affairs, Penny Arcade
Kristina Erickson - Program Manager, Film and Interactive Media, Washington State Film Office

The conference will focus on those games typically found on Web sites and mobile phones: everything from Tetris to solitaire, pool to bowling, and Zuma to Bejeweled.

The Game Initiative is the group behind this October's Women's Game Conference and the Austin Game Conference as well as the San Francisco Game Job Conference and Resume Workshop, which takes place on June 4.

The Casual Game Conference is now accepting submissions for speakers. Attendees can register on the event's Web site.