Based on feedback from our attendees, below are some of the hot topics they'd like to hear talks on plus our suggested session ideas.

What our attendees really want from the conference sessions across all tracks is:

• Practical "how to" advice
• Best practice guidance
• Tangible takeaway that can be implemented back in the studio
• Inspiration and information to help them make better games and be more successful

Design

• How to make game design more interactive
• Designing your game to sell
• How to incorporate diversity into your game design 
• Case studies showing innovation from other creative industries
• AI for storytelling
• Advanced narrative in design
• Big narratives on small screens

Coding

• Big Data 
• Tips & tricks on security
• Automated AI & machine learning
• Demystifying AI
• Deep learning
• Innovation and future technology

Mobile

• "How we did it" - design and commercial insights from successful mobile F2P games
• Managing live ops
• Maximising ad and IAP monetisation
• App Store optimisation
• Marketing-led game concept testing
• Ad creative optimisation
• Calculating predicted return on advertising spend

New Platforms and Technology

• Machine learning and AI for creating game content
• Developing for the next gen platforms
• Developing for streaming and subscription services and how to monetise from them
• Tell us about new platforms, new trends, new business models and new technologies in the games industry
• Tell us what’s over in technology and what will replace it

Discoverability & Customer Acquisition

• Attracting and retaining a paying audience
• Beating the competition, promoting your game and getting a good following/fan base
• Social Media - best practice/fools guide
• Defining your target market
• Tips & tricks on managing your community
• How to develop a relationship with streamers

Funding and Budget Management

• Tips on giving the most effective pitch
• Where’s the money?
• Case study on using Blockchain funding
• Where to find experimental funding

Running a Successful Business

• Crunch management and work-life balance
• Monetisation - how to actually make money from your game
• Lessons learned during your first year of business
• Growing your studio
• Talent aquisition, retention and recruitment
• Building company culture
• Managing staff from remote locations

Diversity & Inclusion

• How to incorporate diversity into your creative design 
• How to make sure your business is inclusive 
• Evaluating the business benefits of diversity 
• Ensuring your content is appropriate for and accessible to diverse audiences
• Case study on your own experience of implementing diversity and diversity hiring

Other suggested case studies

• Inspiration from other creative industries (for all tracks)
• Detailed best practice guidance (for all tracks) 
• Making your game from start to launch 
• Successful marketing of your game
• Successful self-publishing 
• Your game as a service
• Developing for VR/AR/XR 

Your submission must fit into one of these:

ART – to inspire artists and creatives across the whole spectrum of game development 
AUDIO – for anyone involved in sound or music and games 
BUSINESS – tackles the commercial issues and opportunities of game development including production and funding  
CODING – a focus on the technical side of game development aimed at programmers of all levels 
DESIGN – aimed at anyone interested in game design issues or case studies 
DISCOVERABILITY - find out how to attract and retain a paying audience for your game
INDIE - tackles the challenges and opportunities facing independent developers 
INDIE BOOTCAMP - covers the basics for start-ups, anyone interested in setting up a studio or those looking for a career in games
MOBILE - exploring the best business strategies and game design for mobile F2P games
ROUNDTABLES - a safe place to discuss sensitive topics and personal issues affecting game devs today

All submissions need to be in a lecture or roundtable format, not panel:
Duration: 45 mins

Lecture Format
Talks should be issue-based, provide concrete examples or case studies and may contain both practical and theoretical information. There's normally only one speaker, but we do sometimes accept more than one if that works better for the session. Please include time for Q & A within your time slot. Our delegates are particularly interested in:

• Best practice advice on all disciplines
• Case studies of successful or innovative game development
• Case studies of lessons learned
• Industry trends, stats and analysis

Roundtable Format
The roundtable discussions provide a safe place during the conference to discuss sensitive topics and personal issues affecting game devs today. And we'll ask people to turn off their devices so that conversations can be uncompromised. Topics for roundtables in the past have included diversity, mental health and managing work-life balance. 
Due to popular demand and to ensure that sessions are not over-crowded, we will be holding each Roundtable on more than one day, so if you are selected to host a Roundtable please be available to chair your session more than once on any of the three days.

Please note: We don't usually accept proposals for panel sessions, however if you are interested in doing a panel instead of a talk please email Susan at susan@tandemevents.co.uk rather than completing the Speaker Submissions Form.

Here are a few things to think about before you submit your talk:

• How good are your delivery and presentation skills?
• Who are your audience and how relevant will your talk be to them?
• Your talk really must match your session description, so please make sure you are able to deliver what you promise.
• What visuals and/or other assets will you use to enhance your talk?
• What's the "takeaway" from your talk? What 3 tangible things will delegates get out of your session?
• Please be aware that most talks will be filmed
• All sessions are reviewed by delegates and low scorers won't be invited back!

The speaker submission form will ask for the following:

1. Contact Information, Bio and a Photo of Yourself
Please provide full contact details, a biography and a high res jpg image of yourself which will be used to promote your talk should you be successful.

2. Title of your proposed talk
This needs to stand-alone as well as with the session description, so keep it concise and relevant so delegates can easily understand what this session is about. Having said that - we need to fit your title onto a timetable, adverts etc so please don't be too wordy! Clear and concise are the key words here.

3. Track
You need to decide in which area of expertise your session sits best - select one of the seven tracks listed – art, audio, business, coding, design, discoverability, indie, mobile and roundtables.

4. Session Description
This description will be used on the website and in promotional materials so delegates can determine whether or not they should attend this session. It's really important that it is clearly written and that delegates can understand why this session will be interesting and exactly what they will get out of it. Please use third person and present tense.

5. Session summary
Please summarise your talk in 140 characters - this is a mini version of your description, for use in social media and other promotion. 

6. Session Takeaway
Exactly what will delegates learn in your session - please list as separate bullet points, 6 max.

7. Audience Level
Is your session aimed at all experience levels so no specific experience needed, intermediate or advanced?

8. Intended Audience
Exactly who would benefit from attending this session - you can use job titles or specialist areas of responsibility or roles. Is there any prerequisite knowledge needed for understanding the content of this session?

9. Previous Speaking Engagements
Please tell us where else you have spoken - conference name, title of session and if possible a link to footage of you speaking.

When you hit the submit button at the end of the form you will receive a confirmation email. If you do not receive this email please contact Susan Marshall at: susan@tandemevents.co.uk

Please note: if your talk is accepted then we will use the information given in your form to promote it, so please only submit information you are happy for us to use.

Q. What is the submission deadline?
The Develop:Brighton Call for Speakers deadline is 2 June 2021.

Q. What makes a good submission?

• Be very clear exactly what you are going to talk about, make it appealing
• Be clear who your talk is aimed at
• Explain what is compelling about your talk
• Give clear take-away for attendees, bullet points work well for this
• The best session titles are the ones that clearly and succinctly summarise the talk (on the at a glance schedule this is the only info immediately visible)

Q. What is considered a sponsored session?
Develop:Brighton does not accept sales related submissions. If your talk is an advertisement for a new product, technology or service your company is offering, please do not apply. For sponsored session opportunities please contact Andy Lane: andy@tandemevents.co.uk

Q. What do I need to provide in my submission?
The Submission Form will ask for the following information:

1. Contact Information, Bio and Photo

2. Title of your proposed presentation

3. Track

4. Presentation Format

5. Session Summary

6. Audience Level

7. Intended Audience

8. Session takeaway

9. Previous Speaking Engagements

Q. What are the benefits of speaking?
The benefits of being a speaker include:

• Complimentary pass to the conference (includes access to all conference sessions, networking events and the expo)
• Lunch
• Your name and presentation featured in pre-event promotion, on our website and event App
• Opportunities for press interviews

Q. When will I be notified of the status of my submission?
You will receive an automated email response once your submission is received. We will then let you know whether your submission has been successful by early to mid April. If you do not hear from us or have any questions, please contact Susan Marshall