“Call of Duty” Game Co-Creator Vince Zampella to Keynote at 2nd Annual 3D Gaming Summit: 3D Gaming and Beyond®

With Current Respawn Entertainment Partner Jason West Developed Hugely Popular Franchise

As a principal at Infinity Ward, Zampella and partner Jason West played key roles in the development of the multibillion-dollar military shooter franchise Call of Duty. The two formed Respawn (in the gaming world, "respawn" means a character that was killed off has come back to life) in April of 2010. Electronic Arts will have exclusive distribution rights to their next creation.Sessions & Moderators: The 3D Gaming Summit: 3D Gaming and Beyond®Gaming in the CloudVideo game companies like Gaikai and OnLive are bypassing traditional retail stores and serving games to consumers through TVs, laptops, tablets and other devices. The age of gaming in the cloud, where servers host the software and allow any device to run high-end games, is here. A panel of experts will discuss why gaming in the cloud will change the business of video games.Moderators, Panelists for Gaming Conference Sessions ConfirmedModerator: Shane Satterfield, MTVPanelists: Ethan Einhorn, Sega America, Inc.; Jeremy Nikolai, Senior Programmer on God of War: Origins Collection, Ready at DawnModerator: Neil Schnieder, Executive Director, S3DGA & Meant To Be SeenPanelists: Andrew Fear, NVDIA; Matty Rich, Producer/Director; Jon Peddie, JPR Research; Kris Roberts, MTBS"Respawn Entertainment is one of the most talked about new game studios in the world," said John Gaudiosi, Senior Content Advisor to the 3D Gaming Summit: 3D Gaming and Beyond® and Co-Founder, Gamerlive.tv. "Vince Zampella and Jason West helped evolve the video game space with their Call of Duty games while at Infinity Ward, pushing the envelope of interactive entertainment. I'm sure they'll continue to bring exciting new game experiences through their new Electronic Arts partnership moving forward."Glasses Free 3D Gaming is Officially a TrendA look at how autostereoscopic devices like the Nintendo 3DS, the Sprint HTC Evo 3D and the AT&T LG Thrill are opening up new audiences to glasses free 3D gaming and entertainment with a panel of leading game developers from THQ, Gameloft, Ubisoft and EA Mobile. They’ll also explore the cross-over effect of glasses free gaming to the living room.There have been six Call of Duty games released since 2003, four set during World War II, and two which carried the subtitle Modern Warfare featuring contemporary counter-terrorist combat. Call of Duty, Modern Warfare 2 alone has sold approximately 20 million units and generated an estimated $1.3 billion.Throughout his career, Zampella, 40, whose industry stops have included Gametek, Atari, Panasonic/Ripcord, and Sega, has created many of the most successful and popular games in the world, with blockbuster action sequences in real-world settings that resemble those of big budget movies. Some of these include extensive online options allowing competition against other players via the Internet. All of this experience allows Zampella a wide canvas to expand his horizons for his next creations.Unicomm LLC is an independent business-to-business communications company specializing in originating and managing world class trade shows and conferences in underserved and nascent markets. Founded in 1998 in Milford, CT, Unicomm enjoys an impressive track record of dozens of successful show launches and hundreds of event productions. Unicomm’s properties include the 3D Entertainment Summit™, the 3D Gaming Summit™ and the LA Mobile Entertainment Summit™ all presented in association with Variety; the Travel & Adventure Show in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Dallas, Washington, D.C. and Atlanta; the Faith Travel Conference & Exposition™ and Travel & Destination Summit™. For more information: www.unicomm.org.The 3D Gaming Summit: 3D Gaming & Beyond® will feature a jam-packed, full day of world-class programming, and highlight the latest in gaming technology as part of the Entertainment Technology Showcase, an exclusive exhibits/tabletops area within the event venue. The conference will explore how videogames, aided by new technologies like stereoscopic 3D and augmented reality, are bridging the gap between interactive and linear entertainment.LOS ANGELES & MILFORD, Conn. -- Unicomm, LLC, a leading event management company, and The Bob Dowling Group announced today that Respawn Entertainment's Vince Zampella, a key developer of the mega hit franchise “Call of Duty,” will be the Keynote Speaker at the second annual 3D Gaming Summit: 3D Gaming and Beyond® presented in association with Variety, on Thursday, September 22, 2011 at the Hollywood & Highland Center, Hollywood, CA.Moderator: (to be announced)Panelists: Careen Yap, Konami Digital Entertainment; Matt Costello, President, Polar Productions, Ltd.; Matt Norton, Studio Director, Bigpoint; Michael Lustenberger, VP of Global Brand Management, THQSocial GamingCompanies like Zynga and Facebook have changed the face of gaming, while introducing millions of new fans to the hobby. Social games are also attracting a large female demographic as well as older gamers. And the new line-up of smartphones and tablets are opening up social gaming beyond the PC. A panel of experts will explore what's next for the evolution of social games.Moderator: Gus Mustrapa, WiredPanelists: David Perry, Gaikai; Lorne Lanning, OddWorld Inhabitants; Mike Chase, CTO, dinCloud; Rick Marazzani, Director of Content and Programming, Exent; Mark Deloura, VP Technology, THQ; Joe Bentley, VP Engineering, OnLive; Chris Petrovic, GameStopModerator: Mike Schramm, JoyStiqPanelists: Bruno Uzzan, Total Immersion; Brian Selzer, Ogmento, Inc.; Jay Wright, Sr. Director, Business Development, Qualcomm; Richard Marks, Sony Computer EntertainmentTop Game Developers Discuss the Future of 3DSony has been pushing stereoscopic 3D since last year. This fall will see the majority of its top-tier games being released in 3D, including Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception, Resistance 3, Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One, and God of War: Origins Collection. Developers behind these PlayStation 3 exclusives, including Naughty Dog, Insomniac Games, and Ready at Dawn will talk about what 3D is adding to the video game experience in this panel.“Vince has unparalleled hands-on experience in creating one of the great video game franchises of all-time,” said conference co-chairman Bob Dowling, "and as a Keynote Speaker confirms the 3D Gaming Summit as the thought-leader in the gaming entertainment landscape.”The 3D Gaming Summit: 3D Gaming and Beyond® is co-located with the 3D Entertainment Summit® and the LA Mobile Entertainment Summit® presented by Ortsbo.com, taking place September 20-22. Together the three conferences comprise the most comprehensive array of experts, research and analysis covering the 3D and mobile entertainment sectors. Attendees will gain practical insight into technology developments, market considerations, adoption rates, creative and production strategies, content aggregation, talent and licensing issues.As previously announced, Mick Hocking, Vice President of Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios, will be a featured speaker at the conference. Due to a scheduling conflict, Mr. Hocking's address, "The First Year of 3D on PlayStation®3" - presented entirely in 3D - will be on Tuesday, September 20th, starting at 3:50 pm and will cover case studies from major 3D games illustrating the processes developed to maintain an all important high quality bar and end with a look at how new technologies may shape the future of 3D gaming.

Unicomm LLC is an independent business-to-business communications company specializing in originating and managing world class trade shows and conferences in underserved and nascent markets. Founded in 1998 in Milford, CT, Unicomm enjoys an impressive track record of dozens of successful show launches and hundreds of event productions. Unicomm’s properties include the 3D Entertainment Summit™, the 3D Gaming Summit™ and the LA Mobile Entertainment Summit™ all presented in association with Variety; the Travel & Adventure Show in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Dallas, Washington, D.C. and Atlanta; the Faith Travel Conference & Exposition™ and Travel & Destination Summit™. For more information: www.unicomm.org.

Canto Digital Asset Management “Heroes” to Present at Createasphere

Canto customers Green Bay Packers, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and MD Anderson Cancer Center to present special “Heroes of Digital Asset Management” session

Demonstrations of Canto Cumulus 8.5 will be provided at the Canto booth throughout both days.About Canto & CumulusFollow Canto on Twitter: http://twitter.canto.comMore info: http://createasphere.com/En/dam-ny-conference-home.htmlOn Friday at 1:45pm, Canto’s “Heroes of Digital Asset Management” session will offer field-proven advice for enhancing any DAM system. Respected digital asset management experts Ryan Nowak (Green Bay Packers), Tom Barnouw (World Wrestling Entertainment - WWE), and Kathleen Wagner (MD Anderson Cancer Center at the University of Texas) will discuss DAM best practices, and share the tips and traps they’ve discovered through years of implementing and managing DAM systems. All Createasphere attendees are invited.Canto® has been dedicated to helping customers fully utilize their digital assets since 1990. Canto Cumulus® is a cross-platform solution that enables companies to easily organize, find, share and track their ever-increasing numbers of digital files, in any format. Canto’s worldwide network of certified developers offers an impressive assortment of plug-ins and add-ons that enhance the Cumulus product line further.Learn more: http://canto.comNominated for this year’s Createasphere “DAMMY of the Year,” Canto co-founder and Canto Cumulus inventor Thomas Schleu has been recognized for his 20 years of dedication to advancing the science of Digital Asset Management. Canto partner Vitras was nominated for a DAMMY in the category of “Ease of Use for End-User Interface” for its adaptation of the SuduS iPad mobile Cumulus client for use in hyper-local advertising.On Thursday at 2:00pm, Canto customer Andrew Mannone (America’s Test Kitchen) will be on a panel of experts assembled for “Developing a Sustainable Digital Workflow,” which will cover topics such as protecting assets from illegal use, distribution management and improving end-user experiences.

Follow Canto on Twitter: http://twitter.canto.com

Atempo to Exhibit Integrated Archiving Solutions for Digital Media at IBC in Amsterdam

Atempo , a leading provider of cross-platform data protection and archiving solutions, today announced that it will exhibit at Booth J03 in Hall 7 at the 2011 International Broadcast Convention (IBC) Conference and Exhibition , located at the Amsterdam RAI Convention Center, in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Held from September 8-13, 2011, IBC is the premier annual event for professionals engaged in the creation, management and delivery of entertainment and news content worldwide.

In addition to the Atempo company booth, Atempo products will also be showcased at Atempo U.K. distributor Global Distribution 's booth, G16, as well as the Atempo partner and German reseller Media Logic 's booth, J18. Atempo will be presenting Atempo Digital Archive during the conference in BlueArc's theater booth, E10, on a daily basis. All booths will be located in Hall 7 of the Amsterdam RAI venue.Atempo, the Atempo logo, and Atempo Digital Archive are trademarks or registered trademarks of Atempo, Inc.Add to Digg Bookmark with del.icio.us Add to NewsvineConnect with Atempo Facebook: www.facebook.com/AtempoInc Twitter: www.twitter.com/AtempoOn the opening evening of IBC, Atempo will participate in Avid's European Partner Summit, a unique opportunity to exhibit and demonstrate the Atempo Digital Archive platform to the most strategic members of the Avid reseller community. Other Atempo partners that are exhibiting at IBC 2011 include Ardis Technologies; Building4media (a Primestream company); EVS/OpenCube Technologies; SGI; Omneon, now part of Harmonic; Isilon; ProConsultant Informatique; Promise Technology; Sony; Rorke Data; Square Box; Spectra Logic and Tiger Technology.About Atempo Atempo enables organizations to preserve and protect digital information simply and effectively, across any infrastructure, on any platform, over long periods of time. Atempo's comprehensive archiving solutions deliver policy-based and workflow-driven management of rich media files, e-mail and other high-value digital assets to maximize the efficiency and performance of storage systems and reduce long-term storage costs. Atempo's fully-integrated software portfolio also includes backup and recovery of heterogeneous servers, workstations and laptops throughout the enterprise -- from the data center to remote offices. Atempo serves thousands of customers around the world through a sales and support network of over 200 resellers and partners. Learn more about Atempo at www.atempo.com ."In today's data-intensive multimedia environments, digital media creators look to data management and protection solutions that are purpose-built to effectively and reliably handle large data sets that grow and evolve over time," said Fabrice de Salaberry, COO of Atempo. "The flexible open architecture of Atempo Digital Archive and Atempo Time Navigator enables seamless integration of applications across the digital workflow, enabling businesses in media and entertainment to simplify processes and be more efficient with limited resources. Atempo's application integrations give users transparent access to all of a company's necessary assets and projects, whether the files are online or in the archive."Aaron Quinones Bhava Communications Email Contact 510-701-1902About IBC Divided into four dedicated areas of focus -- Technology Advancements, Content Creation and Innovation, The Business of Broadcasting and the free Added Value sessions -- the IBC conference combines world-class speakers with an integrated content program. Attracting over 48,000 participants from more than 140 countries, IBC plays host to a wide array of onsite certified training, product demonstrations, big-screen movie presentations and the prestigious IBC Awards Ceremony. For more information, please visit: http://www.ibc.org .Apple Final Cut Pro and Final Cut Server Avid Interplay and Avid Media Composer Building4Media FORK SquareBox CatDV ProConsultant Informatique LOUISE MediaBeacon R3volution DAM Vidispine

Aaron Quinones Bhava Communications Email Contact 510-701-1902

Build-A-Bear Workshop® Celebrates Bearemy’s Birthday by Supporting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®

ST. LOUIS -- Build-A-Bear Workshop®, the interactive entertainment retailer of customized stuffed animals, is celebrating the birthday of its huggable mascot, Bearemy®, by supporting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®, one of the world’s premier pediatric cancer research centers. Bearemy will make appearances in all Build-A-Bear Workshop stores in the United States and in Canada on August 20 and 21 from 2 through 4 p.m. Children from St. Jude have been invited to participate in special celebrations for Bearemy at select locations throughout the country on August 21 starting at 11 a.m. local time including:

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is internationally recognized for its pioneering work in finding cures and saving children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases. St. Jude is the first and only pediatric cancer center to be designated as a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute. Founded by late entertainer Danny Thomas and based in Memphis, Tenn., St. Jude freely shares its discoveries with scientific and medical communities around the world. St. Jude is the only pediatric cancer research center where families never pay for treatment not covered by insurance. No child is ever denied treatment because of the family's inability to pay. St. Jude is financially supported by ALSAC, its fundraising organization. For more information, go to www.stjude.org and follow St. Jude on www.facebook.com/stjude and www.twitter.com/stjude.A birthday party for Bearemy also will be held at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn. on August 17. Each St. Jude patient will receive a gift card and note from a Build-A-Bear Workshop Guest who has previously supported the hospital. Bearemy will, of course, be in attendance to celebrate his birthday and bring smiles to the patients who may be experiencing some of the toughest times of their lives. Everyone attending this event will have “cause for celebration” as they celebrate the milestones in their lives.

To further celebrate Bearemy’s birthday, Build-A-Bear Workshop is encouraging its Guests to make a one dollar (or more) donation to St. Jude when they check out at a Build-A-Bear Workshop store in the United States or buildabear.com® from August 21 through September 5. Guests in Canada can also make a donation to the hospital by purchasing purple satin hearts in stores. The company and its Guests have raised more than $200,000 for St. Jude since March.Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. is the only global company that offers an interactive make-your-own stuffed animal retail-entertainment experience. There are more than 400 Build-A-Bear Workshop stores worldwide, including company-owned stores in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Canada, the United Kingdom and Ireland, and franchise stores in Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, the Middle East, Mexico and South America. Founded in St. Louis in 1997, Build-A-Bear Workshop is the leader in interactive retail. Brands include make-your-own Major League Baseball® mascot in-stadium locations, and Build-A-Dino® stores. Build-A-Bear Workshop extends its in-store interactive experience online with its award winning virtual world Web site at bearville.com™. The company was named to the FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work For® list for the third year in a row in 2011. Build-A-Bear Workshop (NYSE: BBW) posted total revenue of $401.5 million in fiscal 2010. For more information, call 888.560.BEAR (2327) or visit the company's award-winning Web site at buildabear.com®.TRADEMARKSBuild-A-Bear Workshop is our well-known trade name and our registered trademark of Build-A-Bear Retail Management, Inc. Build-A-Bear Workshop® should only be used in capital letters to refer to our products and services and should not be used as a verb.For every Cause for Celebration St. Jude party held in its stores, Build-A-Bear Workshop gives a child at the hospital a special celebration gift package which is presented at the completion of their hospital stay or when they reach a special milestone in their treatment. It contains a personalized card from the Guests who attended the store party and a $10 gift card. The gift card is a way for each child to celebrate with their family while they experience the fun of making a new furry friend at the Build-A-Bear Workshop location of their choice.When Guests “like” the Build-A-Bear Workshop Facebook page, they can enter for a chance to win a “Cause for Celebration” St. Jude party valued at $300 through August 31, 2011. Build-A-Bear Workshop has given away one party each month since March. All participants in this contest will be entered to win the grand prize, a Build-A-Party® celebration valued at $500, plus a $500 contribution to be made in their name to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.About St. Jude Children’s Research HospitalIn March, Build-A-Bear Workshop launched its “Cause for Celebration” St. Jude party program. Guests can add a $10 donation to St. Jude when they book a party at any Build-A-Bear Workshop store. The entire $10 donation goes to St. Jude. Each party attendee signs a special St. Jude card and receives a sticker to remember the occasion. The Guest of Honor receives a bear-sized tee shirt that says “I helped the children of St. Jude” for all party attendees to sign. A St. Jude party allows Guests of all ages to experience what it is like to lend a helping paw to children in need.We would like to thank you for your interest in covering our business. As you write your story, we would ask that you use our full Name: Build-A-Bear Workshop® and that when referencing the process of making stuffed animals you use the word “make” not “build.”About Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc.Build-A-Bear Workshop and its associates believe in the teddy bear philosophy of being good people and good bears. Throughout its 14 year history, the company with heart has shared the hug of a teddy bear wherever needed in local communities and abroad. Build-A-Bear Workshop has given Guests a voice in supporting the causes that are important to them, such as children’s health and wellness, animals, literacy, and has given more than $30 million through its corporate donations and foundation grant programs to these causes.

Build-A-Bear Workshop is our well-known trade name and our registered trademark of Build-A-Bear Retail Management, Inc. Build-A-Bear Workshop® should only be used in capital letters to refer to our products and services and should not be used as a verb.

Brick City businesses draw $6.3M from NCAA

Visitors who came to Newark for the NCAA Men's Basketball East Regionals spent $6.3 million at Newark regional businesses, according to a report by the Prudential Center, Brick City Development Corp. and the Newark Regional Business Partnership.

The analysis drew on spending formulas used by Raleigh, N.C., when it hosted the 2008 NCAA tournament. The $6.3 million included estimated spending on hotels, restaurants and retail merchandise, but didn't include sales taxes, transportation, tickets or parking sales. -AndrewKitchenmanMore than 80 percent of the tournament visitors came from outside New Jersey, according to data from ticket sales for the games between North Carolina, Marquette, Ohio State and Kentucky. The analysis estimated visitors booked more than 4,480 hotel rooms for an average of two-and-a-half days, resulting in $1.5 million in hotel revenue.

The analysis drew on spending formulas used by Raleigh, N.C., when it hosted the 2008 NCAA tournament. The $6.3 million included estimated spending on hotels, restaurants and retail merchandise, but didn't include sales taxes, transportation, tickets or parking sales. -AndrewKitchenman

3D Gaming Summit: 3D Gaming and Beyond® Announces Speakers and Sessions

Social Gaming, Glasses-Free Gaming, Augmented Reality, and Gaming in the Cloud All Focus of Expansive Forward-Looking Programming At 2nd Annual Gaming Conference

"Similar to HDTV and Blu-ray, 3D adoption will be led in large part by gamers," said Mr. Hocking. "With 3D content now exploding across movies, TV, and of course video games, including more than 50 titles on PlayStation 3, gamers now have more choices than ever. One of the most important factors in the continued growth of the 3D market is the need for the games industry to produce high quality 3D experiences. This will certainly bring more consumers in and it's clear that once they experience true stereoscopic 3D, the feedback is overwhelming positive."■ Mike Chase, CTO, dinCloud■ Loren Lanning, Co-Founder, Odd World Inhabitants■ Careen Yapp, Vice-President, Acquisitions and Franchise Development, Konami Digital Entertainment■ Brian Selzer, President/Co-Founder, Ogmento, IncA New Augmented RealityThe 3D Gaming Summit: 3D Gaming and Beyond® is co-located with the 3D Entertainment Summit® and the LA Mobile Entertainment Summit® presented by Ortsbo, both presented in association with Variety and taking place September 20-22, 2011. (Note: Due to scheduling conflicts, Mr. Hocking’s remarks will be delivered on September 20th; exact time TBA.) Together the three conferences comprise the most comprehensive array of experts, research and analysis covering the 3D and mobile entertainment sectors. Attendees will gain practical insight into technology developments, market considerations, adoption rates, creative and production strategies, content aggregation, talent and licensing issues.■ Matt Costello, President, Polar Productions Ltd."With Sony pushing stereoscopic 3D with top releases like MLB 11 The Show, Uncharted 3 and Resistance 3, coupled with Nintendo's recent $80 price cut on Nintendo 3DS, and Market and Research forecasting the global 3D TV market will reach $100 billion by 2014; 3D gaming isn't going away," said John Gaudiosi, Senior Content Advisor to the Summit and co-founder of Gamerlive.tv. "Companies like Sony, Nintendo, NVIDIA, Sprint, LG, AT&T, and HTC are investing heavily in 3D games. But the game industry is also growing at a record pace with Gartner Research forecasting global video game sales reaching $74 billion in 2011, which is why this year's conference is expanding to include some key growth areas like cloud gaming, augmented reality gaming, mobile gaming, and social gaming."■ Matt Norton, Studio Director, BigpointLOS ANGELES & MILFORD, Conn. -- Unicomm, LLC, a leading event management company, and The Bob Dowling Group have announced speakers and sessions for the second annual 3D Gaming Summit: 3D Gaming and Beyond® presented in association with Variety, scheduled for Thursday, September 22, 2011 at the Hollywood & Highland Center, Hollywood, CA. Producers have also confirmed Mick Hocking, Vice President of Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios, as a featured speaker.■ Shane Shatterfield, VP, Content, MTV NetworksVideo game companies like Gaikai and OnLive are bypassing traditional retail stores and serving games to consumers through TVs, laptops, tablets and other devices. The age of gaming in the cloud, where servers host the software and allow any device to run high-end games, is here. A panel of experts will discuss why gaming in the cloud will change the business of video games.Gaming in the CloudMr. Hocking is also Director of the Worldwide Studios 3D Team supervising the development of 3D games across Sony’s entire platform. He has been largely responsible for the creation and development of some of PlayStation’s leading racing brands; notably the officially licensed World Rally Championship (WRC) series of games for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system and the multi-platinum selling and award-winning MotorStorm® franchise for the PlayStation®3 (PS3™). Mr. Hocking has won numerous awards for the creation and development of key artificial intelligence based gaming systems (WARGEN) and for PC flight simulations such as EF2000, F22-ADF and Total Air War. WARGEN went on to be licensed by the Royal Air Force as a training aid and instruction tool.A look at how autostereoscopic devices like the Nintendo 3DS, the Sprint HTC Evo 3D and the AT&T LG Thrill are opening up new audiences to glasses-free 3D gaming and entertainment. A panel of some of the leading game developers from THQ, Gameloft, Ubisoft and EA Mobile discuss what 3D opens up to them creatively. They’ll also explore the cross-over effect of glasses-free gaming to the living room.■ Jay Wright, Senior Director, Business Development, QualcommCompanies like Zynga and Facebook have changed the face of gaming, while introducing millions of new fans to the hobby. Social games are also attracting sizable female demographic as well as older gamers. And the new line-up of smartphones and tablets are opening up social gaming beyond the PC. A panel of experts will explore what's next for the evolution of social games.■ Mike Schramm, Contributing Editor, JoyStiq■ Rick Marazzani, Director of Content and Programming, Exent■ Matty Rich, Hollywood 3D Director and Game CreatorSpeakers and sessions at the 3D Gaming Summit: 3D Gaming and Beyond® will include:New tablets like Apple’s iPad 2 and Motorola Xoom, smartphones like the iPhone4 and LG Mobile Optimus 2X, and gaming devices like Nintendo 3DS and Sony PSP are opening up a mainstream audience to augmented reality. Game makers, advertisers and technology experts will discuss the ramifications of this new technology, which combines real-world objects with virtual characters for unique user interactions.■ Bruno Uzzan, Co-Founder & CEO, Total ImmersionMick Hocking, Vice President of Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios, Confirmed As Featured SpeakerUnicomm LLC is an independent business-to-business communications company specializing in originating and managing world class trade shows and conferences in underserved and nascent markets. Founded in 1998 in Milford, CT, Unicomm enjoys an impressive track record of dozens of successful show launches and hundreds of event productions. Unicomm’s properties include the 3D Entertainment Summit®, the 3D Gaming Summit: 3D Gaming and Beyond® and the LA Mobile Entertainment Summit® all presented in association with Variety; the Travel & Adventure Show in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Dallas, Washington, D.C. and Atlanta; the Faith Travel Conference & Exposition™ and Travel & Destination Summit™. For more information: www.unicomm.org. For more information on sponsorship and exhibition at the Entertainment Summits, please contact Sharon Pierce at 203.713.1083 or spierce@3d-summit.com.Glasses-Free 3D Gaming is Officially a TrendSocial Gaming■ Chris Petrovic, GM GameStop Digital Ventures, GameStop Corp.■ Ethan Einhorn, Creative, Director, Sega America, Inc.The 3D Gaming Summit: 3D Gaming & Beyond® will feature a jam-packed, full day of world-class programming, and highlight the latest in gaming technology as part of the Entertainment Technology Showcase, an exclusive exhibits/tabletops area within the event venue. The conference will explore how videogames, aided by new technologies like stereoscopic 3D and augmented reality, are bridging the gap between interactive and linear entertainment.

Unicomm LLC is an independent business-to-business communications company specializing in originating and managing world class trade shows and conferences in underserved and nascent markets. Founded in 1998 in Milford, CT, Unicomm enjoys an impressive track record of dozens of successful show launches and hundreds of event productions. Unicomm’s properties include the 3D Entertainment Summit®, the 3D Gaming Summit: 3D Gaming and Beyond® and the LA Mobile Entertainment Summit® all presented in association with Variety; the Travel & Adventure Show in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Dallas, Washington, D.C. and Atlanta; the Faith Travel Conference & Exposition™ and Travel & Destination Summit™. For more information: www.unicomm.org. For more information on sponsorship and exhibition at the Entertainment Summits, please contact Sharon Pierce at 203.713.1083 or spierce@3d-summit.com.

Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association: Casino gaming matures

Casino gaming is becoming a sophisticated combination of entertainment and gaming, said Sheila Morago, executive director of the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association.

Tall Chief spoke during a panel discussion on "Small Market, Big Impact: Entertainment for Tribal Casinos."The entertainment market is saturated, Tall Chief said."Depending on the site, every casino has to decide what works for themselves in their own area," Tall Chief said. "What works well at River Spirit (in south Tulsa) may not work for us (in north Tulsa).""We are looking forward to getting back to Oklahoma City," Morago said.Casinos are smart to use social media, said Kell Houston, owner of Las Vegas-based Houston Productions."Just a few years ago, the Osage had the only real entertainment venue," Cornelius said, referring to the Million Dollar Elm Casino on 36th Street north of downtown Tulsa. "Now we are third. That's how quickly things change."There are about 111 casinos across Oklahoma, and in Tulsa three major tribes operate facilities - the Cherokees, Muscogee (Creek) and the Osage, Morago said.And the market changes quickly."A lot of people are becoming more mature players," Morago said on Wednesday at the Tulsa Convention Center. "People are demanding more from the machines all the time.""It is a pure competitive environment," Cornelius said. "It is almost saturated.""But you have to ask yourself, 'How are you driving your customers back to the casino?'" Houston said. "Entertainment does not make sense if you are not driving business toward your floor.""The connection between the gaming and entertainment crosses on several levels - from music groups to video games - all kinds of entertainment."The OIGA had its annual conference this week for the third straight year in Tulsa. The association attempts to alternate between Oklahoma City and Tulsa, but construction in downtown Oklahoma City over the past two years has forced the group to stay on the north end of the Turner Turnpike, Morago said.More than 2,000 people registered for the three-day event, which ended Wednesday. There were 136 booths across 100,000 square feet of exhibit space.Casinos range in size, from small fuel stops where there might be a couple of games to Thackerville's WinStar World Casino, which is the fifth-largest casino in the nation.Tribes are always searching for ways to drive business to their casinos, said Amy Tall Chief, entertainment director of Million Dollar Elm Casino.Gaming in the Tulsa market is one of the most intense anywhere, said Neil Cornelius, CEO of Osage Million Dollar Elm Casino.Indian gaming has become a huge industry in Oklahoma, with tribes generating about $3.4 billion in 2010, according to the latest figures from the National Indian Gaming Commission report. The Gross Gaming Revenue report said the Oklahoma City market, which consists of the western half of Oklahoma and all of Texas, generated $1.6 billion in gross revenues - up from $1.5 billion the previous year. The report said the Tulsa market, which includes the eastern half of Oklahoma and all of Kansas, generated $1.8 billion in gross receipts, up from $1.7 billion the previous year.The Creek and Cherokee nations each built facilities after the Million Dollar Elm Casino opened.Last year in Oklahoma, 30 tribes paid the state $118.2 million in gaming fees.

"But you have to ask yourself, 'How are you driving your customers back to the casino?'" Houston said. "Entertainment does not make sense if you are not driving business toward your floor."