Chris Melissinos
A look back at where games came from – and a conversation about where they’re going next.
Chris Melissinos’ work consistently centers on games as craft that’s capable of shifting culture. At AWS, he serves as a developer advocate and Principal Evangelist for Video Games and Immersive Technologies.
In this keynote, Chris explores the history of games, the cultural impact they've had, and the forces shaping the industry's next chapter – from changing player behavior and AI to emerging platforms and new opportunities for developers. As the industry navigates another period of change, he'll share why he believes there's never been a more exciting time to be making games.
Odongo Ahere, Dean Gichukie, Nuno Leiria & Jennifer Lufau
How do you build great games when time, money, resources, and certainty are all in short supply?
In this Games First panel, Jennifer Lufau is joined by Odongo Ahere (Weza Interactive Entertainment), Dean Gichukie (Kunta Content), and Nuno Leiria (Nilo) to discuss the realities of building games under constraints.
The conversation explores production pressure, creative decision-making, community feedback, AI-assisted development, music licensing, and the challenge of staying focused on what matters most when resources are limited.