As Anna already knows, I’m a big supporter of this idea - I already talk game theory to anyone else who shows the slightest interest in it
My topics tend to be more on the practical rather than theoretical end of the spectrum - more “how to involve more players in more plots” than “how best to get the proper emotional response out of your player base when you set the game in a tulip field” (clearly showing my bias here )
I’d be very interesting in a serious discussion of the sorts of topics speakers would bring to an event like this, who the audience is supposed to be, and why they’d be interested in what you’d have to say. Are we pitching this at players? At game-writers? Is it purely an intellectual exercise where we have a “my mind is bigger than yours” contest? I’m afraid I’m not at all familiar with what these are about overseas; I had a look at one of the ones Idiot linked to, but couldn’t get to any actual content just a list of topics.
Also as The Dunedin Larper I strongly endorse the use of Skype/some other mass remote communication deal to be able to do this with. Switching between Wellington and Auckland each year is fine for Wellington and Aucklanders but not so hot for Hamiltonians, Dunedinites, Christchurchians, Palmy Northers, etc etc etc - and those venues quite frankly won’t/don’t have the numbers or clout to insist the “big two” both go there for a conference either. Hence I think Internet enabled broadcasts are the way to go.