Has Hasbro become a pro at making movies?  Their track record certainly says so.  The toy company has partnered with Paramount and DreamWorks (TRANSFORMERS), Universal (BATTLESHIP), and has upcoming releases with Relativity Media (STRETCH ARMSTRONG) and Sony/Columbia (CANDY LAND) to name a few.  

Many are saying this new shift in films is marking Hollywood's turn to our toyboxes in search of franchises.  Hasbro is without a doubt right in the thick of this trend.  With Michael Bay signed on to OUIJI and Ridley Scott for MONOPOLY, the next couple of years could be laden with revivals of our favorite chidlhood games.  

Hasbro's Chief Executive, Brian Goldner, is a man with a clear plan.  Going Hollywood is a low risk-strategy for the toy company.

Digital Kids Conference is the only event that provides you with unparalleled exposure to best practices, current trends, and effective strategies behind the most successful techniques to develop and market to digital kids and youth.

In addition to saving $400 off the all-access door price by registering online by end-of-day April 20, here are 10 top reasons not to miss this year’s conference:

1. An Extraordinary Focus on Your Business. In all, 95 of the industry’s best and brightest have one thing in mind – sharing their expertise and strategies on how to successfully engage digital kids and connected youth.

2. Expansive Depth & Breadth. The groundswell of opportunity in the digital kids market space means there’s no end in sight for for the diverse array of

The 6th annual Digital Kids Conference presents an exclusive fireside chat interview with Activision VP of Art and Technology Joby Otero at the Pasadena Convention Center on April 25. Otero, who also serves as creative director for product and brand at Skylanders, will discusses transmedia and inter-connected play with ShadyLogic Founder and CEO Marty Poulin, as they share their experiences in helping create different aspects of the mega-hit Skylanders franchise and what it means to bring toys to life.

Activision is poised to broaden its franchise with the launch of Skylanders Giants this Fall. The announcement was made at this year's Toy Fair. The fact that a video game company chose Toy Fair to announce the next game in it's franchise is telling of the integration of video games and

Digital Kids offers an in-depth look at the exploding connected youth market and will help you identify trends and strategies to position your business for success. You'll learn how to build, manage and monetize services, products and interactive content in conference tracks on Business, Content, Market Research, Operations and Safety. digitalkidscon.com/schedule/

Register online by April 20 and save $400 off the all-access door price. digitalkidscon.com/register/

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Wizard101 Creators and Disney Mobile GM to Keynote

April 25: Todd Coleman and Josef Hall, co-creators of KingsIsle Entertainment’s popular online game, Wizard101, will discuss how they moved from hardcore gaming in the world of MMOG and achieved runaway critical and

Event producer Engage Digital presents Todd Coleman and Josef Hall, co-creators of KingsIsle Entertainment’s popular online game Wizard101, in the opening keynote address at the 6th annual Digital Kids Conference in Los Angeles, on April 25-26.

Coleman and Hall will discuss how they moved from hardcore gaming in the world of massively multiplayer online games (MMOG) and achieved runaway critical and commercial success with Wizard101, the top AAA family-friendly online game in North America. Their keynote takes place at 9:30 a.m. PT, on April 25.

Digital Kids Conference provides companies the critical information they need to reach digital kids and connected youth through online and mobile technologies. With five conference tracks, including: Safety, Content, Operations, Business

The 6th annual Digital Kids Conference in L.A. on April 25-26 is the largest gathering of professionals engaged in building online and mobile products and services for kids. Endorsed by the Toy Industry Association, the event provides unparalleled exposure to best practices, trends, business strategies and successful techniques for developing and marketing toys, games and more to digitally connected kids and youth. digitalkidscon.com/register/ 

-          70+ Speaker Lineup

-          Wizard101 keynote: From Hardcore to Kids Games

-          FTC to Address Mobile App Safety

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70+ Speaker Lineup

In all, 70+ experts

Join us for the 6th annual Digital Kids Conference in Los Angeles, CA April 25-26, 2012 featuring 70+ speakers from Sony Online Entertainment, Wizard101/KingIsle Entertainment, Spin Master, Cartoon Network, NFL, Ubisoft, SOE, Cookie Jar and many more. digitalkidscon.com/speaker

Todd Coleman and Josef Hall, co-creators of KingsIsle Entertainment’s popular online game, Wizard101, will deliver the opening keynote address discussing how they moved from hardcore gaming in the world of massively multiplayer online games (MMOG) and achieved runaway critical and commercial success.

Hear from leading producers of kid-related digital content, services and software on everything from games, mobile and tablet apps, virtual worlds, social media, and more, providing critical information you

Publish Date: March 7, 2012

By: Katey Rich

When Suzanne Collins wrote The Hunger Games, she likely had an idea in the back of her mind that the books could be turned into a movie-- after all, what author doesn't want that? But even Collins probably couldn't have imagined the phenomenon that The Hunger Games became, or the amount of products being spun off from her idea in advance of the March 23 release of the movie. There's the film itself of course, with all signs pointing to it being a huge blockbuster, but alsoviral campaigns and mall tours and, of course, nail polish. Now The Hunger Gamesmight have reached the true landmark of success in the modern Internet age: it's becoming a Facebook game.

The Huffington Post has gotten the first look

Jazz pianist, Kyoko Oyobe, leads the late night jam session in New York City, Lower Eastside's newest bar, cafe and jazz venue, The Moldy Fig, Tuesday nights in July. The establishment presents it's jazz offering with an assortment of casual diversions like chess, shuffleboard, Scrabble, and backgammon, and a small plate menu from the kitchen. Poets will feel welcome in this Lower East Side element. Kyoko Oyobe who writes original compositions, is from Okayama, Japan, and has released her first album, 'Cookin' at Smalls', recorded live at Smalls Jazz Club in Greenwich Village, now available on the web at cdbaby.com/cd/kyokooyobetrio.

Taking place in New York City through July 9 to celebrate its 12th Anniversary, Latin Alternative Music Conference is geared towards the marketing