Metatopia 2013 - My Schedule

• Friday, 4:00PM - 6:00PM
  B145: "FCOJ - Real-Time Financial Game" by Visible Hand Games; presented by Michael Keller. Players will compete to make the most money in real-time over three 15-minute rounds. Players are divided into two groups: Industrialists and Financiers. Industrialists make their money building factories to satisfy commodities market demand. Financiers make their money by lending money to Industrialists, funding independent businesses, and placing bets on commodities with futures contracts. All players have to watch out for market crashes which can make them go bankrupt. The Financier and Industrialist who each have the most money at the end of the game win!
• Friday, 8:00PM - 10:00PM
  B169: "FCOJ - Real-Time Financial Game"
• Saturday, 4:00PM - 6:00PM
  B270: Gaming the Design recording for "Jack and the Giant" by Dan Cassar
• Saturday, 6:00PM - 8:00PM
  B283: Gaming the Design recording for "Gnosis Conflict" by HitMouse Studios
• Saturday, 8:00PM - 9:00PM
  D059: "Cognitive Biases in Players And How To Leverage Them" presented by Michael Keller. Cognitive biases have been measured to affect our decision making on a daily basis. If games are a series of interesting decisions, then these biases affect how players approach games without them knowing it. This presentation will examine these biases with an eye towards how a designer can either combat or take advantage of them to improve the player experience.
• Sunday, 10:00AM - 11:00AM
  D070: "Recruiting And Training Playtesters" presented by Stephen Buonocore, Brennan Taylor & Michael Keller. Everyone knows playtesting is crucial. So, where do you go to find them? How do you teach them how to provide useful feedback to you? And how do you reward them to keep them coming back?
• Sunday, 12:00PM - 2:00PM
  B369: "FCOJ - Real-Time Financial Game"
• Sunday, 3:00PM - 5:00PM
  B396: Gaming the Design recording for "Sheep!" by David Wallin

I'll also be playtesting some other people's games during the weekend, but that's my not-just-a-playtester schedule. I'm most nervous about the Cognitive Biases presentation. Specifically, that exactly 2 people will show up. Lots of people and I'm fine. Zero people and I get an hour break. But I cannot imagine anything more awkward than giving a presentation to a room of empty seats plus two actual people.