Banquet Keynote
Thursday, October 12th, 2023 6:30pm – 7:30pm (EDT)

Dr. Kris Alexander
Since the age of eight, Kris Alexander has spent two to four hours a day playing video games — while working a full-time job, being a present father and husband, and running a successful business. Known as “the professor of video games,” he teaches game design at Toronto Metropolitan University, where he received his BA and MA. For his PhD at Concordia University, he wrote his thesis on video game design in education. He is also a two-time globally ranked video game player. As an educator, he teaches video game design, virtual production and esports broadcasting — the core ingredients of the metaverse. He strives to show that the power of video games extends behind and beyond the controller, offering what many of the three billion gamers on earth see and enjoy when playing video games: a new perspective.
Keynote: Impactful Synergy – Video Games and Humanity
Dr. Kris Alexander, the professor of video games, is a two-time globally ranked player turned scholar, and game developer. His work focuses on video game design, esports broadcasting, and virtual production. Currently the Director of The Red Bull Gaming Hub a live broadcast classroom and interactive 3D training facility at Toronto Metropolitan University focused on esports broadcasting, virtual production, and video game design, Dr. Alexander has gained globa attention with his TED Talk entitled “How Video Games Can Level Up Education”, which has been viewed over 1 million times. Dr. Alexander has also completed academic video essays with Wisecrack, done educational work with Epic Games, worked on esports in academia with Red Bull, Team Liquid, the Esports Travel Summit, and even transformed into an animated bear live on Breakfast Television. He is Canada’s academic expert guide to the nuanced nature of video games that extends beyond the playing of games.
Important Dates:
Attendance
From September 11th, 2023 | Regular Registration |
Full Papers (Journal Articles)
Work in Progress
Perspectives on Play
Student Game Design Competition
Interactivity Track
Connections Track
Doctoral Consortium
Student Volunteer
