Check out the preliminary agenda for GamesBeat 2014

Above: Dan "Shoe" Hsu, editor-in-chief of GamesBeat, and Dean Takahashi, lead writer for GamesBeat, opened day two of GamesBeat 2013 with a Halloween theme.

Image Credit: Michael O'Donnell/VentureBeat

We’re pleased to announce our preliminary agenda for GamesBeat 2014, our game-industry conference that takes place Sept. 15 and Sept. 16 at the Parc 55 Wyndham Hotel in San Francisco.

This preliminary agenda will be subject to change, but it will give you a good idea of how our conference is taking shape. Many of our speakers are directly addressing our theme of Total World Domination, which we’ll explain below.

We have secured a discounted room rate of $219/per night for GamesBeat attendees at the Cartwright Hotel. The cutoff date for making reservations is approaching: August 14 ^th. To make a reservation, please call (415) 421-2865 and reference GamesBeat or VentureBeat. We also have a discounted room rate of $399/per night at the Parc 55. The cutoff date for making reservations at the Parc 55 is August 13th. You can call 888-228-1952 and ask for the GamesBeat 2014 Room Block to make reservations.

We’ll post our speakers for GamesBeat University, our parallel track of talks with practical tips and tricks, later on as we book more of them.

Above: Mike Gallagher, president of the Entertainment Software Association.

Image Credit: Michael O'Donnell/VentureBeat

We’ll cover the full spectrum of gaming at our sixth annual GamesBeat event. The conference gathers the top executives, investors, analysts, journalists, and entrepreneurs from the industry to explore the latest trends and monetization opportunities.

GamesBeat editor-in-chief Dan “Shoe” Hsu and I will once again serve as masters of ceremonies. Our theme for 2014 is “Total World Domination.” Gaming is competing on the world stage to become the dominant medium for entertainment. Will it succeed? And will blockbusters dominate the game business across all platforms — consoles, PCs, mobile, and online — or will diversity thrive as indies stay strong?

If you purchase one of the first 50 tickets, you can get up to $400 off the event.

Our previously announced speakers include:

• Bob Meese, global head of games business development for Google Play

• Jonathan Simpson-Bint, chief revenue officer of Twitch

• Malathi Nayak, reporter for Reuters.

• Lucy Bradshaw, senior vice president of the Maxis label at Electronic Arts

• Rachel Franklin, the general manager of The Sims Studio at EA

• Rick Thompson, the chairman of Signia Ventures

• Chris DeWolfe, the chief executive of SGN

• Phil Sanderson, a game-savvy partner at IDG Ventures

• Peter Levin, the president of interactive ventures and games at Lionsgate, the film studio that made The Hunger Games and Divergent

• Mike Gallagher, the president and CEO of the Entertainment Software Association

• Jens Begemann, the chief executive of German social mobile game publisher Wooga

• Mitch Lasky, a general partner at Benchmark and an investor in Riot Games and Natural Motion

• John Riccitiello, a gaming investor and the former CEO of Electronic Arts

• Evan Hirsch, the founder of Engine Co. No. 4 (talking about seeing signs of trouble in game studios)

• Alisa Chumachenko, the CEO of Moscow-based mobile game maker Game Insight

• Tim Chang, managing director at the Mayfield Fund

Our advisers include:

• Brock Pierce, the managing director of the Clearstone Global Fund

• Eric Goldberg, the managing director of Crossover Technologies

• Michael Chang, the managing director of Mavent Partners

• Tim Chang, managing director at Mayfield Fund.

We’ll roll out a steady drumbeat of speakers as we get closer to the event. We expect to have about 100 speakers.

Each year, GamesBeat follows a big trend. In 2009, we focused on how “All The World’s a Game” with the explosion of games on the global stage. In 2010, GamesBeat@GDC focused on “Disruption 2.0.” In 2011, our theme was “Mobile Games Level Up,” focusing on the busy intersection of games and mobile technology. In 2012, we explored the Crossover Era, defined by the time when so many big game companies and startups were transforming themselves by expanding from one market to the next. Last year, we talked about the Battle Royale as barriers between the different industry segments came down. Now, in the bid for Total World Domination, the competition to become the biggest global gaming company is wide open.

As game companies adapt to change, we’re witnessing disruption, change, consolidation, innovation, and the arrival of big money. Billions of dollars that are at stake. Last year, more than 550 notables from throughout the game industry — social, mobile, online, PC, and console — attended the event. Please join us.

This year, we’ll see the return of our contest for the best gaming startup. The attention that these startups get for speaking onstage and winning the event is invaluable. An all-star panel of judges will pick the most promising game startup, based on freshness, innovation, and potential for business success. The top nominees will appear onstage, and the judges will pick the winner at the event.

We are still exploring our subthemes for the event and welcome your suggestions. If you’d like to sponsor, please send an email to sales@venturebeat.com.

Here’s what a couple of game-industry leaders said about last year’s event:

Purchase one of the first 50 tickets and save $400!

Thanks to the following industry leaders for supporting GamesBeat 2014: NativeX as a Corporate Partner; Tapjoy and SupersonicAds as Gold Partners; TrialPay as a Silver Partner; SponsorPay, LifeStreet Media and Personagraph as Event Partners.