Games For Change Announces Al Gore Keynote, Awards Ceremony, Demo Spotlight

The 8th annual Games for Change Conference announced today that former Vice President Al Gore will present the event's opening remarks, speaking on the potential of using accessible games to make a social impact. The former Vice President has been a tireless advocate for climate protection since the end of his political career. He's also the co-founder of Current TV, a cable and satellite network focused on viewer-created content. “Vice President Gore is a significant global advocate who has effectively used popular media to bring issues of pressing concern to mainstream audiences,” said Games for Change co-presidents Asi Burak and Michelle Byrd in a statement. Organizers are also introducing a new Games For Change Awards program for this year's show, recognizing socially impactful games in categories including Direct Impact, Knight News Game, Learning & Education and Transmedia. Nominees will be announced May 6, prior to an awards ceremony on the last day of the festival, June 22. This year's festival will also be the first to host a Demo Spotlight presentation where six specially-chosen projects will be displayed on the main stage for feedback from a panel of expert designers and funders. Other speakers at this year's festival, taking place June 20 through 22 in New York's Skirball Center, include game designer Jesse Schell, Zynga.org's Laura Hartman, U.S. Department of Education’s James H. Shelton III and Half the Sky co-author Sheryl WuDunn. Supreme Court justice Sandra Day O'Connor presented a keynote speech at the 2008 Games for Change conference, speaking on an interactive web site she was building to help educate children about the court system.