Todd Eckert to speak at GameHorizon

June’s GameHorizon conference has attracted itself another speaker, this time securing the talents of Todd Eckert, media financier and producer of the Joy Control biopic Control.

Eckert’s talk will touch on what games can learn from film, and in particular the film industry’s mistakes that games should be aware of. He will also touch on why the ability to interact with fully-defined characters and storylines could put games in the position of "the world’s dominant medium".

"As the media community contemplates the possible benefits of convergence – the categorical blurring of lines between film, games and other media – it’s important to take a step back and contemplate what the concept really means from a video game perspective," said Eckert, who is currently overseeing UK independent studio Eutechnyx’ expansion into the US.

"Through a consistent ascendance of technological capabilities, games exist today as the most vibrant of all media. While there is certainly much to learn by careful study of where film has repeatedly, and at times disastrously, gotten it wrong, the game industry must make certain it ingests these lessons from outside other media, rather than through a process of assimilation."

Carri Cunliffe, director of the GameHorizon Conference 08, added: "We are excited to have a creative visionary like Todd talking at the conference. Todd will bring a cross-medium perspective and can highlight where the games industry is going right and where it can lead the way creatively."

The GameHorizon Conference takes place on June 18th and 19th at the Baltic Flour Mill in Newcastle, Gateshead. Passes are available in one- and two-day flavours and cost from £175. For more information, check out the official website.