SXSW Interactive News

The SXSW Interactive Festival brings together digital creatives from across the United States and around the world. In particular, the event has enjoyed a large increase in attendance from British-based new media experts over the last few years. Look for an even bigger presence in 2009, thanks to the first-ever Digital Mission which will bring 40 of the UK's hottest tech companies to Austin in March. From AMEE to Yiibu, the full alphabetical list of participating businesses has now been released. And for even more information on the Digital Mission, click here to read the press release announcing these 40 companies.

To kick-start the new year, airlines in the U.S. and around the world have slashed airfares making travel to SXSW ridiculously cheap from lots of places. Airfares under $300 are commonplace online and travel from Los Angeles to Austin can be had for as low as $218. Fare sales like this usually don’t last long so don’t hesitate to make your SXSW plans.

Register now and take advantage of the discount badge price (before January 16th), inexpensive hotels (outside downtown), and cheap airfares (while they last).

More than 35,000 people in the United States and around the globe read the the SXSW in-house magazine SXSWORLD. Doesn't your company, product or service want to reach this influential readership? If so, there is still time to introduce your brand to these creative decision-makers through advertising in one or more of the upcoming issues of this publication. Advertise in one of the two issues that come out in March plus the May issue at the 3x discount rate and receive the second March issue for only $400. This offer only valid when purchasing a companion ad in the SXSW Interactive / Film / Music Program/Directory. Click here for more information on advertising rates -- or just e-mail Katie King for details. Katie can also give you information on all other 2009 marketing options.

Getting your message into the hands of SXSW registrants has never been easier. Just put a super cool and functional insert into our Conference Big Bags. CD samplers, keychains, sunscreen and lip balms can be customized with your company's information and distributed to our attendees through the commemorative Big Bags. SXSW registrants are happy to receive these promotional items and increase your company's brand exposure with each use.

To make things even easier, we also have a turn-key solution available. Simply pick an item from our list of premium inserts, send us your artwork and we take care of the rest. Don't fuss with price comparisons and multiple shipping costs when we have already handled all of that for you. Contact sales@sxsw.com for more information, but hurry, as the ordering deadline for these inserts is January 21.

Click here for a description of each Premium Insert available.

For out-of-towners, getting a good hotel room is an integral part of a successful SXSW experience. While several downtown-area establishments are now sold out in the second week of March, there are still hundreds and hundreds of outstanding rooms available during the event. Most of these rooms are just a short drive (or even a manageable walk) from the Austin Convention Center. Want to book yourself into one of these available rooms? The first step is registering for the 2009 SXSW Interactive Festival -- cost to purchase a badge is just $425 if paid by Friday, January 16. Once you have completed this paperwork, then you will be taken to a page that allows you to choose your desired hotel property. As always, if you have any questions, then we have answers. Please e-mail the Housing Desk for more info.

It's a little cold in Austin, but we're warming ourselves with reflections upon last night's Fiesta Bowl. In that championship spirit, thought some might like to know that a new video game has the Eye of the Tiger when it comes to best-selling console game of all-time.

The GOAT that was Super Mario Bros. has been passed by—wait for it—Wii Sports. Yes, in the true under hyped Wii fashion of slow but steady, Wii Sports eclipsed all other sales to become the best-selling Game Of All Time. Just like the old title holder Super Mario Bros., Man Zero blog points out that Wii Sports' insane distribution of 40.24 million titles has a lot to do with it being bundled with most every Wii system shipped. So, whether Super Mario or Wii Sports, the way to the sales title seems to be all about becoming the linchpin game in a transcendent console by Nintendo.

I hear Dennis Hopper has not said no to a Wii Sports movie. Yet.

Image Source: Nintendo of America, Inc.

Hey Bay Area new media professionals. The annual SXSW Interactive Networking Party in San Francisco is scheduled from 7:00-9:00 pm on Monday, January 12 at Mighty (119 Utah Street). This is a great opportunity to meet with event organizers as well as mix with other cool digital creatives in a fun and festive environment. Also, one lucky attendee will win a FREE registration to the 2009 SXSW Interactive Festival. Want to be part of the fun? Then please RVSP to interpress at sxsw.com. Hurry, the guest list at this January 12 event is very limited -- so the sooner you RSVP, the better.

Other SXSW networking events are scheduled for Portland, Oregon (Monday, January 19) and New York City (Monday, January 26) -- stay tuned to this website for more details. These networking parties are co-hosted by Porter-Novelli, which is the official PR agency for SXSW Interactive.

Writer, activist, and all-around Web hero Jon Lebkowsky sat down with SXSW for the New Year to discuss what panels have him excited for March.

SXSW: So, first lead us through what you'll be doing at SXSW this year? Who are your fellow panelists and what topics have you excited?

JL: In our panel, we're talking about using digital technology and social media to accelerate sustainability, which is about doing more with less, and using materials "cradle to cradle." In the next economy the emphasis shifts from resource extraction and labor to knowledge and engineering, mediated by social/collaborative technologies. This is a futurist discussion - we're still coordinating panelist commitments, but I expect to have a combination of futurists and social media thought leaders.

SXSW: You were on the panel picker advisory board this year. What do you look for when picking panels?

JL: Advisors look at all the entries submitted for a particular category and suggest which of those are particularly strong and compelling based on the description, the participants, and the key questions they expect to address. We provide a balance, and make sure that significant entries aren't rejected just because they didn't get votes. My area was community and social networks, consistent with my field, and there were 190 entries. Careful consideration of all of those took quite a lot of time, but it was wonderful to see how many potentially great entries there were this year.

SXSW: I'm told you and Bruce Sterling are pretty tight, any word on what he'll be up to at SXSW? Any other panelists or speakers we should keep a particular eye out for?

JL: Bruce is coming, but it's hard to say what he'll be discussing - he probably won't know himself until close to the date. I think he'll want his talk to be fresh and timely, though I suspect he'll be talking about his latest project, "The User's Guide to Imaginary Gadgets."

As for other panelists, I'm looking forward to Heather Gold's talk on the web and feminism, Charlene Li on The Future of Social Networks, Beth Kanter on Social and Nonprofits, Jen Bekman on Curating the Crowdsourced World, Jon Wiley on user-generated discovery in science, Rachel Weidinger on Sustainable Food 2.0, William Brent on Living Buildings, Katrin Verclas on mobile web hype vs reality, Adam Fisk on "P2P 2.0," Doc Searls on "Free Everything," Jonathan Zittrain on Civic Technologies, Brian Zisk on the failure of copyright law, and Derek Powazek on Design for the Wisdom of Crowds.

SXSW: Okay, for all us ScreenBurn fans, I have to know what games you're into right now? Anything you like on the horizon?

JL: I've been in ongoing conversations over the last year about what you might call the sustainability metaverse - the creation of a digital layer fed by real data about the environment, and our interactions with and within the environment - sort of like a highly dynamic, highly interactive form of ecological footprint, accessing more and more data as we evolve our ability to access data from all systems. Remember how we used to say "IP on everything," talking about an Internet of things? The mantra for the project I'm describing would be "API for everything."

Imagine a world where, in any given built environment, you could interface with the building and all its systems to get a clear picture of energy use, emissions, anything that has an impact on the sustainability, not just of the building, but of the building, its occupants, and the various ongoing interactions and processes within. That's not exactly a game, though you could build games within and around it - I would think collaborative rather than competitive games. That's what I've been thinking about, and I know some people who are interested in building it.

I should also note that Obama, in his interest in government transparency, wants to create an API for the Federal budget, and eventually make all government financial data - and other forms of data - accessible for use in building external models that could facilitate far better informed citizen participation and input. That would be a source of games, as well... "Bust the Budget"!

"I hope you all had a wonderful and relaxing break. You're going to need it! The next few months are going to be packed full of information and excitement as we make our way to South by Southwest 2009 in March."

The class is ready and waiting, attentively watching the instructor write a date on the chalk board.

"January 16th, 2009. What does that date mean to you?"

From the front row, "We have just two weeks to save on registrations for SXSW 2009!"

"Very good! Somebody's done their homework. Register for the 2009 SXSW Interactive Festival on or before Friday, January 16th, for just $425!"

Another eager student speaks up, "We can also save on Gold and Platinum badges. Film and Music, too."

"That's right. How do you guys know so much?"

The class, in unison: "Monthly Email Newsletter!"

Happy 2009 from SXSW! Want to make the new year even brighter? Then sign up for the monthly SXSW Interactive Festival listserve and you will have a chance to a FREE registration for this March. Here's how the giveaway works. Each edition of the listserve contains an easy-to-answer trivia question related to some aspect of the March event. Answer this trivia question correctly, and your name will go into the hopper for the FREE registration to SXSW Interactive. But sign up today if you want to get in on the winnings -- the next edition of this information-packed listserve is scheduled for release on Tuesday, January 6.