We are sorry that Tim Lindsey had to postpone his presentation on Elder Scrolls IV, but it gives you the chance to enjoy a number of presentations by some of Georgia’s veteran game developers. Think of this as a taste of what is to come at SIEGE in October.

Professional Progression Systems with Patrick Fram
Progression systems aren’t just about XP bars and unlocks; they are perhaps a designer’s most powerful tool for guiding player behavior. Drawing from my experience as Lead Progression Designer on XDefiant, this talk explores how progression system design and incentives can encourage teamwork, reduce toxic play, and keep players engaged. Attendees will learn practical, proven techniques for using progression design to subtly shape how players play, where they play, and how long they stay.

The Hybrid Role of Technical Design with Brandon Moss

This session breaks down what a Technical Designer actually does, how the role varies from studio to studio, and the skills you can develop to move toward this career path. Even if Technical Design isn’t your goal, you’ll walk away with a deeper understanding of how it strengthens collaboration across teams, improves development pipelines, and ultimately makes for better games—for developers, managers, and players alike.

How to be an Effective Games Artist (a.k.a. How to NOT Drive Producers and Engineers Crazy) with Ezra Kirsch

Building a successful career as an artist requires many skills. Beyond proficiency in your craft, you must have a talent for networking, the ability to market yourself with confidence, and a professional yet personable personality. However, when it comes to establishing yourself in the game development industry, it's not enough to be an effective artist - you have to be an effective developer as well. In this brief run-down, Ezra Kirsch will share some of the best tips she's accrued over her career as an animator in game development that aren’t often discussed outside of studios. Come learn the skills that'll help aspiring artists skyrocket their marketability to recruiters and that’ll help established games artists maintain the sanity of their teams. 

Security, AI & Gaming: Building Trust in Virtual Worlds with Kevin Stallard

As gaming evolves into metaverses, NFT economies, and AI-driven experiences, security isn't just about preventing cheating—it's about building trust that enables creativity and community. Join cybersecurity executive and game developer Kevin Stallard for a fast-paced exploration of how security principles are reshaping game design, how AI is revolutionizing both threats and defenses, and why the gaming industry's approach to trust could transform digital interactions beyond entertainment. Whether you're concerned about AI-powered bots, protecting player data, or designing fair monetization systems, this talk offers actionable insights from the intersection of security, artificial intelligence, and game development.

Speakers

Patrick Fram is a generalist game creator, designer, and one-man development studio rolled into one. With 18 years in the industry, he specializes in progression and systems design, but his toolkit spans art, animation, programming, and audio. He led the progression and metagame design on Ubisoft's XDefiant, designed puzzles, minigames, and levels for South Park: the Fractured But Whole, and contributed to The Division 2 and Rocksmith. Patrick thrives at the intersection of creativity and data-driven design.

Ezra Kirsch is an ATL-based motion designer of eight years and has operated in game development as an animator, UI artist, and art director. Beyond games, she's worked with Crayola, Marriott, the Discovery Channel, The Center for Puppetry Arts, Emory’s Science Gallery Atlanta, and more. Ezra is also a former ASIFA-South committee member and is a regular partner in arts education and career development initiatives through RE:IMAGINE ATL. Recently, she served as the art director and UI designer on Name Change Simulator, a visual novel that helps users auto-fill name and gender change applications, the launch trailer for which accrued over 15k views on TikTok.

Brandon Moss is a Georgia-based Technical Designer and musician with a passion for creativity and technology. With years of experience across design and engineering, he is particularly interested in how hybrid roles like Technical Design are reshaping career paths in the industry—opening doors for developers with diverse skill sets and helping teams collaborate more effectively.

Kevin Stallard is a pioneering technologist and cybersecurity executive who has been at the forefront of digital innovation for over three decades. From developing the first student-run web server at Georgia Tech in the early 1990s to creating groundbreaking remote monitoring systems for Verizon Wireless to working as director of security architecture for Activision-Blizzard, Kevin has consistently pushed the boundaries of what's possible with technology.

As founder of Threat Tape, Kevin bridges the gap between traditional cybersecurity and emerging AI technologies, developing quantum-resistant authentication systems and privacy-preserving machine learning solutions. His extensive patent portfolio includes novel gaming systems with adaptive probability mechanics and blockchain-verified randomness.

When: 6-9 pm September 9

Where: Tripwire Interactive, 1775 Woodstock Road, Suite 100, Roswell, Georgia 30075

How Much: Free for GGDA members; $10 all others

Members get their passes HERE

Non-members get their passes HERE