[Intergen] March Update: THE FUN STARTS FRIDAY + FREE STUFF

Mon Mar 3 08:47:09 CST 2008

Welcome to the March 2008 edition of the South by Southwest (SXSW) 
Interactive Festival monthly listserve. This year's event is only five 
days away, beginning Friday, March 7 and continuing through Tuesday, 
March 11 in sunny Austin, Texas. Read below for information on a lot of 
the cool stuff we have planned for 2008. By the way, if you are not 
registered yet, you can still sign up online at 
http://2008.sxsw.com/register_to_attend/. Additionally, the March 
listserve contains information on an easy way that you can win a FREE 
FREE FREE registration to SXSW 2009.

1. Tons of Incredible Panel Content: Live-Talk About it on Meebo
2. Sleep is Overrated: Full Schedule of Evening Events for 2008
3. Game On: FREE ScreenBurn Arcade Runs March 8 and March 9
4. iF! Trade Show Runs Sunday, March 9 through Tuesday, March 11
5. Are You a Newbie? Watch the Intro Video on the SXSW Website
6. Photo-rific!! Upload Your Image to Speed Up Check-In
7. Text Us in Texas: Everything You Need to Know About SXSW SMS
8. Be Cool: SXSW Tools Allow You to Maximize Your Experience
9. Who, What, Where and When: Tell the World on the Interactive Hub
10. Virtual Worlds 2008 Scheduled April 3-4 in New York City

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1. Tons of Incredible Panel Content: Live-Talk About it on Meebo

The 2008 SXSW Interactive Festival features more than 150 keynotes, 
panel sessions, solo presentations, book readings and core 
conversations. Check out the dynamic, searchable, hour-by-hour panel 
schedule at 
http://2008.sxsw.com/interactive/programming/panels_schedule/ . Also, 
look for a PDF of the Pocket Guide (a mini version of the schedule) on 
the SXSW Interactive website this week. Finally, once the panel 
programming begins, live chat about the sessions at www.meebo.com/sxsw .
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2. Sleep is Overrated: Full Schedule of Evening Events for 2008

Sure, everyone loves panel programming -- but evening events are what 
make SXSW Interactive so incredibly special. These after-dark activities 
begin Friday, March 7 with Mix at Six. On Saturday, March 8, don't miss 
the frog design Opening Party (8 to 11 pm, featuring music by Grupo 
Fantasma). Sunday, March 9 brings the Web Awards Ceremony presented by 
Adobe (and emceed by comedian / actor Eugene Mirman). Finally, on 
Tuesday, March 11, check out the Media Temple Closing Party. For more 
info, see the massive schedule of evening events at 
http://2008.sxsw.com/interactive/evening_events/ . Remember, you must 
have a SXSW Interactive, Gold or Platinum badge to attend these official 
SXSW nighttime activities.
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3. Game On: FREE ScreenBurn Arcade Runs March 8 and March 9

Dedicated to all things video games, ScreenBurn is the newest addition 
to the SXSW Interactive Festival lineup. ScreenBurn panels run 
throughout the event and cover everything from ARGs to gaming in 
education. In fact, from 5:00-6:00 pm on Friday, March 7, there's a 
special FREE FREE FREE session titled "Pro Gamers: New Extreme Athletes 
of the 21st Century." This panel occurs at the Carver Museum & Cultural 
Center (1165 Angelina Street). Also FREE FREE FREE is the ScreenBurn 
Arcade, the hands-on playspace where you can experience the newest 
gaming related technologies. Scheduled from noon to 6 pm on both 
Saturday, March 8 and Sunday, March 9, the ScreenBurn Arcade occurs on 
Level One of the Austin Convention Center.
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4. iF! Trade Show Runs Sunday, March 9 through Tuesday, March 11

Scheduled March 9 through March 11 on Level Four of the Austin 
Convention Center, the Interactive + Film (iF!) Trade Show & Exhibition 
is the center of daytime activities at SXSW Interactive. Moreover, iF! 
Version 2008 should be the best one ever! We've expanded to an 
additional room to bring you more quality exhibitors than ever before. 
Check out the give-aways and exhibitor special events at 
http://2008.sxsw.com/tradeshow/if_exhibition/events/ . Also, don't 
forget the Trade Show Bar, which offers free beer daily at 3pm. Finally, 
you won't believe this year's guests at the Day Stage Cafe, Studio SX 
and the South By Bookstore. Go to http://2008.sxsw.com/tradeshow to get 
all the details on all the exciting things planned for 2008.
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5. Are You a Newbie? Watch the Intro Video on the SXSW Website

We understand that SXSW can be a very confusing process -- even 
understanding which is the proper entrance for the Austin Convention 
Center can be totally perplexing. That's why we have created a short 
"SXSW 101" online video to acquaint you with all the basic information 
you need to know about the 2008 event. Even if you have been to SXSW 
Interactive before, we suggest that you want this clip (as it will help 
explain the new room configuration for 2008). Look for this video 
beginning Wednesday, March 5 on the SXSW Interactive website -- 
http://www.sxsw.com/interactive
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6. Photo-rific!! Upload Your Image to Speed-Up Check-In

Are you already registered for the 2008 event? Then make the 
badge-pickup process in Austin quick and painless by uploading a 
passport-style headshot for your SXSW badge. Just login to your Online 
Registrants Directory listing at 
https://regdir.sxsw.com/registrants/login , click on 'BADGE' and follow 
the directions. This interface will also allow you to make any necessary 
corrections to your Badge information. If you don't remember your user 
name and password, use the above link to retrieve it. Finally, please 
remember that badge pick-up hours for this year are slightly different 
than in previous years. For 2008, registration opens at 10:00 am on 
Friday, March 7. See full schedule of registration hours at the right 
nav bar at http://2008.sxsw.com/
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7. Text Us in Texas: Everything You Need to Know About SXSW SMS

SXSW SMS (47979) is the easiest way to stay up-to-date on all things 
related to the 2008 event. Use text-messaging on your mobile phone to 
get the band, film, and panel listings, sxsw alerts and more. Get the 
info you need direct to your mobile phone. If you are a SXSW Registrant, 
sign up and receive special notices through the Online Registrant's 
Directory. SXSW will send you alerts and updates specific to your badge 
type for last minute schedule changes, special events, breaking news and 
more. Not a registrant? No problem. Text join to 47979. Even without a 
badge for SXSW, you can still easily stay in the loop. To sign up for 
general updates and alerts about SXSW 2008 just send the text message 
join to 47979 from your mobile phone! We'll make sure you don't miss 
out! Search the Schedules By Texting to 47979 Text 'find panelname' or 
'find bandname' or 'find filmname' to 47979 to get sxsw schedule 
listings. For more info on SXSW SMS, go to: http://2008.sxsw.com/tools/sms/
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8. Be Cool: SXSW Tools Allow You to Maximize Your Experience

Check out the SXSW Tools section for everything you need to make most of 
your SXSW 2008 experience. Use Opera Mini to browse sxsw.com on your 
smartphone, join Facebook to become a member of the SXSW group and 
network with other attendees, or grab the SXSW Gydget to put a little 
bit of SXSW on your website, blog or social networking profile. Use 
Utterz to share your SXSW, as it’s happening .Sign up for SXSW SMS and 
text-messaging on your mobile phone to get the band and film listings, 
festival updates alerts and messages specific to your badge-type and 
more. Log into the Online Registrants Directory to communicate with the 
housing desk, upload your badge photo, find out who else is coming to 
SXSW, add people to your contact list, and plan your meetings in 
advance. Whatever your needs, SXSW has got a tool to help. 
http://2008.sxsw.com/tools/
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9. Who, What, Where and When: Tell the World on the Interactive Hub

Which speakers for the 2007 SXSW Interactive Festival are you most 
excited about? What scheduled panel sessions do you think will be the 
most compelling? Where in Austin do you find the best breakfast tacos to 
revive your energy after a long night of networking activities? Tell the 
online community what you think at the SXSW Interactive Hub at 
http://blogs.sxsw.com/interactive_hub/ . This blog is free and open for 
all to contribute to -- you do not have to be a SXSW registrant to post 
your thoughts on this page.
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10. Virtual Worlds 2008 Scheduled April 3-4 in New York City

If you like the SXSW Interactive Festival, then we think that you will 
also like Virtual Worlds 2008, which runs April 3-4 in New York. Virtual 
worlds are being rapidly adopted by media and entertainment companies to 
extend established brands, engage audiences, and generate new revenue. 
Virtual Worlds 2008 connects content owners, major brands, and 
technology providers for a complete discussion on virtual world 
solutions. Conference details and registration information are available 
online at http://www.virtualworlds2008.com
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BONUS: Submit Your Photo to Win a FREE FREE SXSW 2009 Registration

Another new addition for the 2008 event is the Photo Galley, which gives 
members of the SXSW online community an additional outlet to showcase 
their creativity. People often say that SXSW Interactive inspires them 
-- so the theme for this year’s exhibit is inspiration. Here's where you 
come in. Send us a photo that depicts what inspiration looks like or 
feels like or acts like to you.

Please hurry as final deadline for this project is midnight today (March 
3). The top 300 entries -- as decided by online voting -- will be 
displayed at SXSW Interactive at a special exhibit located on Level 4 of 
the Austin Convention Center. Moreover, the 10 overall winners of the 
Photo Gallery competition will receive a FREE registration to next 
year’s event (March 13-17, 2009).

For complete entry details, see http://pixish.com/assignments/4