If one looks back in time say five years ago, the core online gamer demographic would be perceived as the teen thru middle-aged guy living at home, hanging on a Saturday night ( perhaps every night) playing World of Warcraft, Dungeons and Dragons, etc….In 2009 that demographic has greatly shifted in terms of age, gender, and more open and social game play. Communities are thriving online, friends are connecting via their social networks, and online gaming is a vibrant pastime for many. Brands are taking notice and strategically positioning themselves to leverage this exploding category within games.  This session, presented by Bob Ferrari , VP Publishing and Business Development at SanrioDigital & Typhoon Games, will take a look at how the industry has transitioned, where it is heading domestically and globally, and how independent game developers should approach online gaming from a business perspective. This session won’t dig into forecasts and research data, but instead will look at the issues and opportunities and offer some candid insights into building your business.