IGDA Melbourne

Next Tuesday will see a slightly different gathering at Thousand Pound Bend.

Join Google as they go deep on how to best leverage their technology to build your next masterpiece. This event will focus on actual code walkthroughs to allow developers to understand exactly how to easily create the cloud component of online and mobile games. See just how simple it can be to get started.

When: Tuesday 25 June 2pm-6pm

Where: 1000 Pound Bend, 361 Little Lonsdale St, City (entry via Heape Crt)

This is a free event but you have to register your place (http://lp NULL.google-mkto NULL.com/GamesonGoogleMelbourne NULL.html?utm_source=igda&utm_medium=online).

Kieran ‘Cratesmith’ Lord and friends have gone on a jam making frenzy! They are running a jam a month, each one with its own unique elements and constraints.

#22Jams02 kicks of at the end of June and the theme is ‘Jam like a Ponycorn’. If you’ve not played Sissy’s Magical Ponycorn Adventure (http://ponycorns NULL.com/), check it out now. It was made by a father and daughter team, and is her first jammed game. So in the interests of bringing more people into the world of game development each team needs at least one participant who hasn’t made a game before.

The first of the 22 jams had teams around the world and you can see what they made and sign up for this month’s jam at the 22 Jams website (http://22jams NULL.com/?paged=2).

Welcome to a long weekend in Melbourne, tbh I’m not even sure what this one’s for, probably the Queen.

But I’m here to remind you of just after that…

We meet again on Tuesday 11 June at our regular hangout, Thousand Pound Bend.

Gathering and get the burgers sorted from about 6.30, talks start at 7.30 upstairs (if anyone has access issues, please get in touch).

Ben Britten is back at the mic, talking about Tin Man Games (http://tinmangames NULL.com NULL.au/blog/)‘ first year on Android. An entertaining and informative speaker, he’s always top value.

As is that’s not enough reason to come along and chat with fellow game developers, we have one more three day PAX (http://aus NULL.paxsite NULL.com/) pass to be given away and the first details of GCAP13 will be announced.

There’s some other interesting projects on the boil, so head along to find out more – and feel free to bring your game along!

If you’re interested in speaking at future events, please get in touch.

RSVPs via the facebook event are appreciated (https://www NULL.facebook NULL.com/events/329047430556513/), and if you’d like further information email giselle@igdamelbourne.org

Thanks to everyone who submitted a logo for the Melbourne Mega Dev Party.

After much deliberation, Andrew Brophy’s image was chosen and Anderew has scored himself a 3 day PAX Australia pass.

Congratulations Andrew!

Tickets to the Melbourne Mega Dev Party are still available, at early bird prices until the end of May. (http://www NULL.trybooking NULL.com/Booking/BookingEventSummary NULL.aspx?eid=49150)

Below is the link to the powerpoint presentation from Mike Cowap and Justin Halliday from Screen Australia, as presented to IGDAM on Tuesday 14 May 2013. The primary focus of the talk was the games production fund.

Screen Australia – Games Production

The first ever non-US PAX will be in Melbourne in July, so it seems only fitting that the Melbourne game development community gets together to celebrate!

To ensure a top evening, we’ve secured the Transit Cocktail Lounge (http://www NULL.transitcocktaillounge NULL.com NULL.au/) and its fabulous views  in Federation Square on Sunday 21 July from 7pm.

You can get your ticket here (http://www NULL.trybooking NULL.com/Booking/BookingEventSummary NULL.aspx?eid=49150). All game developers and their sector friends are invited. Your booking secures you entry, some nibbles, and some drinks to compliment the awesome company and sensational Melbourne views. Early bird tickets close soon – with regular tickets at $50, now’s the time to secure your spot.

Win a three day PAX Australia pass – Mega Dev Party Art!

Fancy yourself handy with photoshop? If you’d like the chance to win a three day PAX pass, create an image for the Mega Dev Party and email it to info@igdamelbourne.org.

The chosen art will be featured on our blog, facebook pages and the drink tickets with credit to its creator, who will also end up as the proud owner of a three day PAX pass and a ticket to the Mega Dev Party.

Preferred format: we’re after an event logo mostly for online use and a drink ticket, further details available upon request.

Entries close Tuesday 14 May with the winner to be announced at IGDAM.

We’re also on the lookout of sponsors, so if you want to be a VIP on the night, find out more here. (http://www NULL.trybooking NULL.com/Booking/EventBookingPage NULL.aspx?eid=49150&sid=94463&did=150363)

We’re pleased to announce that Screen Australia Investment Managers Justin Halliday and Mike Cowap will be at IGDAM in May.

Here’s your chance to get across the  Games Production program (http://www NULL.screenaustralia NULL.gov NULL.au/funding/games/games_production NULL.aspx), which is part of Screen Australia’s Australian Interactive Games Fund (http://www NULL.screenaustralia NULL.gov NULL.au/funding/games/default NULL.aspx). Applications for the Games Production program’s first round close on 12 July 2013.

Come along and meet Justin and Mike, get an overview of funding options and ask questions specific to your own plans and project. Whether you’re considering applying for funding  this round, or sometime in the future, we’re sure you’ll find this to be an invaluable talk.

Of course, don’t miss out on catching up with other game developers and feel free to bring along your latest build for a bit of playtesting action.

When: Tuesday 14 May from 6.30pm (talks scheduled to commence at 7.30)

Where: Thousand Pound Bend (http://thousandpoundbend NULL.com NULL.au/) (down the cobblestone alley way out the back), 361 Little Lonsdale St Melbourne

RSVP: Via our facebook event (https://www NULL.facebook NULL.com/events/128383574017164/).

Questions? email giselle@igdamelbourne.org

It’s been a busy month for many, not least of all Rob Caporetto – with the release of Pocket Dogfights on iOS and Android (http://www NULL.pocketdogfights NULL.com/), and yours truly travelling to San Francisco for GDC and too meet IGDA and Global Game Jam folk, along with a host of developers and games folk (and Felicia Day!!)

Travels have meant I’ve been a bit slack here, but we will be holding our regular second Tuesday of the month meeting at 1000 Pound Bend on Tuesday 9 April from 6.30pm (https://www NULL.facebook NULL.com/events/288914667908735/).

My adventures, experiences and lessons are thanks to the amazing Melbourne game development community. A few things cropped up during my time at GDC that I’d like to share and discuss with you all, as this is your community group and I want to make it the best thing possible for all. I hope you can make it along, it’d be great to have your input.

So, in a nutshell, here’s the plan:

6.30pm: rock up, grab a burger and a drink and catch up with game developer friends old and new.

7.30 – 8pm: Pocket Dogfights Post Mortem

8.15-9pm: Post GDC discussion (I’m yet to rope more GDC attendees into the discussion, but it shouldn’t be too difficult)

9-10pm: more community catch up time.

If you have any queries regarding this or any other IGDAM stuff, feel free to email giselle@igdamelbourne.org.

I’m looking forward to seeing you all and being surrounded by dev chat in Aussie accents!

Cheers,

Giselle.

It’s happening and the community support has been amazing already!

GDC starts next week in San Francisco and it offers game developers across the world a chance to gather and catch up. It’s also one of the few times that Australian developers from across the country can catch up, so the plan is to make the most of it. You can see the background for the plan over at Tsumea (http://www NULL.tsumea NULL.com/news/080313/australians-at-gdc13-pozible-campaign).

At time of writing we’ve hit $3300 on the Pozible campaign (http://www NULL.pozible NULL.com/project/18485/), and have 124 people signed up on the Facebook event (https://www NULL.facebook NULL.com/groups/igdam/10151379649289952/?ref=notif&notif_t=group_activity#!/events/506990399351558/).

Mad props to all our sponsors and supporters so far (it’s not too late!), in particular:

Lightmare Studios (http://www NULL.lightmare NULL.com NULL.au/)

Blowfish Studios (http://www NULL.blowfishstudios NULL.com/)

as well as Game Developers’ Association of Australia (http://gdaa NULL.com NULL.au/), Halfbrick (http://halfbrick NULL.com/), Wicked Witch (http://www NULL.wicked-witch NULL.com NULL.au/), The Voxel Agents (http://www NULL.thevoxelagents NULL.com/), Many Monkeys (http://manymonkeysdev NULL.com/), Overbyte (http://overbyte NULL.com NULL.au/) and Loveshack (http://loveshackentertainment NULL.com/).

Please visit their sites and thank them for their support.

P.S.

Yours truly is going to GDC only thanks to the amazing Australian games community and incredible husband, with particular thanks to Drew Taylor  as well as just so many other people! It’s exciting to be able to do the thing that I do over there too and hope if you’re making it to GDC you’ll be at The Trad Bar on the Thursday night from 7-10pm!