Two years on since its humble beginnings, DigitalSurrey is doing better than ever – consistently welcoming world-class speakers into packed out venues across Surrey.

The reason DigitalSurrey is able to go ahead each month is largely down to the generous support of its sponsors who help in funding the venue and refreshments.

We aim to keep costs for our sponsors as low as possible: we’ve never even paid for a speaker and we’re able to tailor events to suit any number of budgets!

In return, sponsors receive a platform to address the DigitalSurrey guests about their chosen subjects. Sponsors are also able to distribute marketing collateral to target audiences, run competitions with the community and utilise the DigitalSurrey website for guest blogging.

If you think you could be a sponsor for one of our future events please get in touch! We’d love to discuss some options with you to find out how we can help you reach the people you want to.

The subjects discussed at each event vary month to month, attracting a wide range of influential people and specialists from the digital world. If there’s a specific area that your company wants to target, or find out more about, then do let us know and we’ll be able to talk through what we’ve got coming up.

Please email us at: getinvolved@digitalsurrey.co.uk

Over the past two years, we’ve been lucky enough to welcome a range of world class speakers and April 2012 is no exception.  Executive Director at Schaefer Marketing Solutions, Mark is a globally-recognised business writer, lecturer, college educator and innovator.

Named as one of the 50 top social media influencers in the world by Forbes magazine, Mark will be discussing his latest book, Return On Influence: The Revolutionary Power of Klout, Social Scoring and Influence Marketing. An essential guide to the latest trends in social networking, the book illustrates how to measure, adapt, and grow influence online using groundbreaking new technologies and field-tested marketing tools.

Read about Mark’s work and thoughts on his blog: www.businessesgrow.com

Follow Mark on Twitter: @markwschaefer

The event will be held in the Cellar Bar at The Farnham Maltings, with generous sponsorship from Venture Strategy Partnership – mentoring talented leaders turning good intentions into great results. For more information visit: www.venturestrategypartnership.com

We’re looking forward to seeing you there to celebrate DigitalSurrey’s second birthday!

Another huge thank you to Richard Bartle for giving such a great talk on the future of virtual worlds and to Guy Stephens for connecting us. A big thank you of course to Martin Stillman from Venture Strategy Partnership for sponsoring the event and Cameron Wilson at Surrey Enterprise for arranging the venue.

Take care, and we’ll see you again on Tuesday 17th April for the next DigitalSurrey!

What about players that haven’t played before? Well, surely if they were truly interested in the concept then they’d already be playing… So what then? Too many MMOs ruin the fair play and fun of online games.

Children who play online games from a young age take the experience if online games for granted. Educators are trying to invade online worlds to educate people, removing the fun of the gaming experience.

MMOs will become a platform to sell, be educated, do business… They will lose their awe and experience.

View from 2022…

Richard Bartle discusses how Law and Order is increasingly becoming important in MMORPGs and how it is becoming transferable in online worlds. When players own items in online world, do they have a claim on the intellectual property?

When people misbehave online, can you ban them? Are we responsible for our actions online and should we be held accountable for them? The lines between real life and online are becoming blurred. Gamers are paying real currency for objects or advantages… Electronic items are being bought and sold for money – making game playing a lucrative business.

But what about tax? When you win a virtual sword which is worth an in-game value of 800g, that 800g could be worth £32… If you cash that £32, it’s income – you should pay income tax. So where do the laws stop… Or start for that matter.

The lines are blurred. Within 10 years time Parliament could be charging tax on virtual earnings. Richard Bartle argues that in 2022, virtual games will become real – too real. They will no longer be ‘fun’…

We’re very much looking forward to hearing our speaker, Richard Bartle, discuss the future of virtual worlds at tonight’s event.

We’d also like to thank Martin Stillman from Venture Strategy Partnership for sponsoring this event, Cameron Wilson from Surrey Enterprise for organising the venue Guy Stephens for putting the community in touch with tonight’s speaker!We hope you enjoy March’s event and don’t forget to use the hashtag #DigitalSurrey!

Once again we will be hosted by the University of Surrey.  This time sponsorship has kindly been provided by Venture Strategy Partnership limited: mentoring talented leaders turning good intentions into great results. For more information please visit: www.venturestrategypartnership.com

So, venture with us into the realms of the virtual.

To purchase tickets for the event, please visit: digitalsurreymarch12.eventbrite.co.uk

We also want to offer our appreciation to the University of Surrey who are hosted tonight’s event, with kind sponsorship from the Open Digital Policy Organisation.

Don’t forget, DigitalSurrey is your community so if you have any ideas of great venues, speakers or even topics – do get in touch and let us know! You can e-mail getinvolved@digitalsurrey.co.uk or call us on 01252 899969.

The next DigitalSurrey is February 23rd at 7pm – location and speaker to be confirmed so keep a lookout on the DigitalSurrey Twitter @DigitalSurrey!

Thank you, and good night.