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.
His work frames games as a cultural medium: he created the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s The Art of Video Games exhibition, tracing how the medium evolved and why it matters.
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.
Emilia Russell & James Back, Supercell
How do you tell the difference between community noise and actionable feedback?
In this Games First session, Emilia Russell and James Back from Clash Royale share lessons from real updates that sparked strong player reactions and what the team learned from them.
Through examples ranging from feature removals and progression changes to the launch of a successful new game mode, they explore player trust, community management, creator collaboration, and how feedback can help shape better 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.