Last Call for Online Speakers for Games Gathering Lviv

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Games Gathering is hosting a hybrid event in Lviv from Feb 29 - Mar 3. The conference kicks off with an online only day on February 29th and physical event will take place Mar 2-3, with the talks available online.

The applications for speakers closes on February 12th. This is a great online speaking opportunity for people who have difficulties traveling. Apply to speak using this form.

Tickets are available on the conference website and IGDA Finland members get 10% off using discount code IGDAGG24 during checkout.

The Games Gathering team is Ukrainian and 10% of ticket proceeds will be donated to the Gamedev Under Bombs project to help Ukrainians affected by the war.

Here is a list of IGDA Finland social media channels!

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IGDA Finland is active on many platforms to help you get information about game industry events. On LinkedIn and Facebook, we have both a company page (with IGDA events only) and a group (with all game industry events).

Choose your favorite way to follow us!
Discord: https://discord.com/invite/FRpyTyKUZq
LinkedIn (company page): https://www.linkedin.com/company/igda-finland
LinkedIn (group): https://www.facebook.com/groups/igda.finland
Facebook (company page): https://www.facebook.com/igdafinland
Facebook (group): https://www.linkedin.com/groups/1791406/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/igdafinland

Design: Alise Hirvonen
Text: Vesna Grau

IGDA Finland Board of Directors 2023-2024

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A new year and a new IGDA Finland Board of Directors!

We’ve got a lot of exciting things coming up this year, here’s a few highlights:
- The start of a new hub!
- IGDA Finland Scholarship
- More communication and autonomy for all of our hubs

What exactly is the role of the board in a non-profit organization?
The main tasks are
- Maintain a national network of IGDA hubs
- National communication channels
- Handle the budget and legal side of things
- In general, support the whole org in any and every way possible

A big thank you goes to Joni Finne and Nova Salmivaara for their incredible work in the Board for past years!

Graphics made by: Martijn Everling

Games Gathering Lviv Call for Speakers

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Games Gathering will open their 2024 season with a hybrid event in Lviv from Feb 29 - Mar 3. The conference kicks off with an online only day on February 29th and physical event will take place Mar 2-3, with the talks available online.

The call for speakers is currently open. Apply to speak using this form. Given the conference’s format, this is a great opportunity for speakers who prefer not traveling.

Tickets are available on the conference website and IGDA Finland members get 10% off using discount code IGDAGG24 during checkout.

The Games Gathering team is Ukrainian and 10% of ticket proceeds will be donated to the Gamedev Under Bombs project to help Ukrainians affected by the war.

Espoo GameLAB is inviting you to join their kick-off event on the 11th of January!

/ Espoo GameLAB/

Espoo GameLAB is welcoming everyone to join their upcoming kick-off event on the 11th of January in A Grid, Otaniemi!

We are thrilled to invite you to the kick-off event of the capital region's game hub for small and medium-sized enterprises. To start the year off in a truly epic way, we will be launching the open call for the first Espoo GameLAB period at the event!

What’s this Espoo GameLAB, you ask?
We would like to think that our game lab is a creative playground and launchpad for anyone into games and creative business that will also offer pre-incubator and accelerator services. Whether you're a game wizard, a visionary artist, or just curious about the gaming scene, Espoo GameLAB is the place for you!

 And what about the game hub?
The goal of our game hub is to create new game businesses in the capital region of Finland. Think of it as a vibrant community space buzzing with game enthusiasts and creative minds. It's not just a hub for gamers; it's a hub for collaboration, ideas, and turning gaming dreams into reality.

When and where all this is happening?
We've found the perfect spot to bring our gaming dreams to life, and we can't wait to share it with you. Join us on Thursday, January 11th, 16.00 - 18.00 at the Mordor auditorium, in A Grid (Otakaari 5, Espoo) to hear more!

AGENDA:
- Welcome words by Harri Paananen, Director, Economic Development and Employment,
- City of EspooThe game hub initiative in a nutshell, Daniela Metsäranta, Senior Advisor, Game Industy, City of Espoo
- Espoo GameLAB in all its glory, Jonne Taivassalo, Senior Advisor, Game Industy, City of Espoo
- Q&A 
- Refreshments and snacks

Questions, doubts or just want to say hello?  
Please contact Daniela: daniela.metsaranta@espoo.fi

We look forward to celebrating this exciting moment with you!

Click here to register your participation by January 9th:
https://link.webropol.com/s/gamelabkickoff2023

 

Get 15% off from #XmasJKL - The Industry Business Seminar, Fri 10th of Nov + "Day Zero" 9th of Nov

/ Ilokivi/

Get 15% OFF! from #XmasJKL - The Industry Business Seminar, Fri 10th of Nov 2023

Join us for an exciting in-person event, #XmasJKL 2023 – The Finnish Game Industry Business Seminar, on Fri Nov 10, 2023 at 10:00 AM. This seminar will take place at Ilokivi, Keskussairaalantie 2, 40100 Jyväskylä, offering a fantastic opportunity to network and learn from industry experts.

Discover the latest trends and insights in the Finnish game industry, as well as valuable business strategies. Gain valuable knowledge from renowned speakers, engage in interactive discussions, and forge new connections with like-minded professionals.

Whether you’re a game developer, entrepreneur, investor, or simply interested in the gaming world, #XmasJKL 2023 is the place to be. Don’t miss out on this incredible event that promises to inspire, educate, and entertain.

Mark your calendar, and get ready to level up your game industry expertise at #XmasJKL 2023 – The Finnish Game Industry Business Seminar!


Get -15% OFF - USE CODE: XMASLOVESIGDA

Get ticker https://www.xmasjkl.com


“Day Zero“at Digi & Game Center!

We shall have a day before the main event a “Day Zero” networking event at multiple times awarded Coworking space and Ecosystem Digi Game Center (DGC). Digi & Game Center is also the place where IGDA Finland Jyväskylä Hub Meetups happens now days.  The Premises are just 15 min from Matkakeskus by walking or about 5 min walk from Jyväskylä city center .

Get to know the premises and network: 14.00-18.00 (2-6pm)

Sauna at the DGC 20:00-23.00

Read more about: Digi & Game Center

This is day event is open for all, but we would like to know how many is visiting so please do sign via Eventbrite too: Day Zero ticket

Need more details?
Please feel free to contact
Tuomas Roininen, tuomas.roininen (at) expa.fi

Give Your Career an Edge With Games Job Fair Autumn 2023

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lf0TRbZG0p8

Ready for new growth and career opportunities from Games Job Fair Autumn 2023?

Join studios such as Redhill Games, Gaijin, FunPlus, GIANTS Software, and many more for 3 days of networking and fresh new fun, career-boosting activities ONLINE & ONSITE on October 25-27. The onsite part of the Hybrid Day takes place once again in Espoo, Helsinki area on October 27th. 

Event Highlights

🎮 Expert talks, panels, workshops
🙋 Dedicated recruitment day
💬 Networking with games studios
💻 Unreal, Unity, and Art Challenges
📔 Creative and Animation Portfolio Reviews
🗺️ Hybrid Day 3 in Espoo + Afterparty at HypeHype HQ

Be sure to keep an eye on the event’s Career Wall as well.

Programming and Art Challenges

The Unreal and Unity Programming Challenges are back, and there are new, fun prompts to work on. Show us your coding skills and win prizes!

Redhill Games are hosting a VFX Art Challenge where you get to create a complete projectile effect that fits either of the two provided character’s visual theme.

If you want to take a swing at something different, Sloyd brings us the Sloyd in-a-Ball Render Challenge. Create your own snow globe using the Sloyd tool, and showcase your rendering, material design, and environment art skills!

Animation and Creative Portfolio Reviews

The event’s familiar Creative Portfolio Review is being held as usual, but now you get the brand new Animation Portfolio Review! Adam Turnbull, Principal Animator at NetEase Games, will be reviewing animation portfolios and works!

New Workshops

Arja Martikainen of GamesJobs.FI and Barona, is hosting a super fun onsite workshop on the event’s hybrid day, October 27th. During “Play & Learn the Basics Through a 1-Hour Roleplay - The Do's and Don'ts of Interviewing With a Games Studio,” participants get to dust off their acting skills and step in the shoes of those involved in interviews with games studios.

Redhill Games are hosting one for the audio folks this time. Rob Carr, Mission Scripter & Senior Audio Designer, will head “The Art of Sound Design;” an hour long, detailed overview on how sounds are made for video games and movies.

Make sure to click on the links and register for the workshops above!

The Legal Employment Clinic by Maria Jauhiainen, expert lawyer with Game Makers of Finland, returns, so be sure to check out their booth onsite.

More HypeHype’s Afterparty Goodness + Surprise Activity

HypeHype is welcoming attendees of Games Job Fair back for the October event. Enjoy drinks and snacks in the good company of peers, and get that competitive spirit going for a special fun activity the studio has planned for the hybrid day.

How to Join

Just fill out this registration form and remember to pay for your ticket when you are taken to Eventbrite. All applications are screened, and all approved talents receive further instructions by email. Don’t forget to join the Games Factory Talents Discord server and get to know the community.

Use the code "IGDA" if you're a member to get a 15% discount! Only 100 tickets available, so act fast!

For more on the event, check out GamesJobFair.com.

Catch the GDWC Award Show on Sept 21

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The Game Development World Championship is closing the 2023 Summer Season with an Awards Stream on Thursday September 21st at 18:00 EEST / UTC+3.

Catch the show on the GDWC YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thegdwc

The Summer Season, had only three and a half months of submission time and attracted over 1800 games submitted from 100+ countries. From this pool of games the jury has selected 58 nominees & finalists in 11 categories.

See all the Finalists on the GDWC website: https://thegdwc.com/#finalists

IGDA Finland Leadership Day 2023 - Get your tickets now!

/ BioRex/

We invite you to join us on our fifth Leadership Day on the 11th of September at BioRex Helsinki!

Leadership Day by IGDA Finland is an international event about how we build companies, teams and working cultures to build better games. Games companies, their inner workings and cultures are some of the least documented aspects of game development. Yet we and our work are all defined by these choices every single day. Join us in learning and challenging the cutting edge of leadership in games from some of the brightest minds in the industry!

Speakers

Saara Bergström
Next Games / Netflix

Mika Tammenkoski
Metacore

Jaakko Kylmäoja
Fingersoft

Jinesha Gandhi
Redhill Games

Wanda O Rly
Psyon Games

Aki Kanerva
Virtual Air Guitar

Sponsors

For more info visit our event page

IGDA Future at Assembly 2023

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As previous year, we are delighted to welcome you to the workshops and seminars at Assembly 2023, organized by IGDA Future program of IGDA Finland!


To sign up for the workshops, feel free to use this form, but also ad hoc attendance is possible.

Check full program of Assembly Creative Zone and welcome to the party of the year!

POCKET GAMER CONNECTS - Early Bird is Closing!

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The leading games industry conference, Pocket Gamer Connects, returns to Finland again on September 12-13 this autumn!

This year over 1,500 games industry professionals will gather in Helsinki to network, discover, pitch and learn from 200 of the world’s top experts. EARLY BIRD tickets are closing this Thursday, August 3rd, make sure to register in time.

IGDA Finland members get a 20% discount with the code IGDAFinland20, get your ticket today!

https://www.pgconnects.com/helsinki/registration/ 

Games Gathering Bratislava Call for Speakers

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Games Gathering will be returning to Bratislava with an online and live format taking place from Sep 25-27.

In order to make the event accessible to everyone, particularly those who can’t travel, the 25th will be a one-day online event of talks and networking. The physical conference will kick off with a pre-party on the 25th and run through the 27th at the Hotel Tatra.

The event will feature lectures of industry experts and networking opportunities. The call for speakers is currently open. Apply to speak using this form.

IGDA Finland members can get 10% off their tickets by using promo code IGDA_GGCBratislava23 during checkout.

The Games Gathering team is Ukrainian and 10% of ticket proceeds will be donated to the Gamedev Under Bombs project to help Ukrainians affected by the war.

Support Ukraine by attending Games Gathering Kyiv

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Games Gathering will be hosting the largest game developer conference in Ukraine with a hybrid event taking place online and at the Hotel Rus in Kyiv from August 3-6, 2023.

Show your support by applying to speak at the event.

IGDA Finland members get 10% off tickets using promocode IGDA_GGCKyiv23 during checkout.

For more information visit the conference website.

Leadership Day - Last Call for Speakers

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Leadership Day by IGDA Finland is an international event about how we build companies, teams and working cultures to build better games. Games companies, their inner workings and cultures are some of the least documented aspects of game development. Yet we and our work are all defined by these choices every single day. Join us in learning and challenging the cutting edge of leadership in games from some of the brightest minds in the industry!

Save the date: This free event will take place at BioRex in Helsinki on Sept 11th, the day before Pocket Gamer Connects.

Last call for speakers! The speaker application deadline is Jun 30th.

For more information visit: https://www.igda.fi/leadership-day

Pocket Gamer Connects Helsinki 2023

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The leading games industry conference, Pocket Gamer Connects, returns to Finland again in 2023!

Over 1,500 games industry professionals will gather in Helsinki on September 12-13 to network, discover, pitch and learn from 200 of the world’s top experts.

Mobile, PC and console, blockchain, VR/AR and more will be covered, across unmissable conference tracks. Our speakers and panellists will share their expert insight into design and development, monetisation and growth, AI, blockchain and loads more.

The event is called Connects because that’s what we help you do; connect with the whole gaming industry, from students and indie studios to the media, international investors and publishers. We offer our MeetToMatch meeting platform free and unlimited to all delegates, so you can find that perfect contact and arrange to meet them in person.

We’ll be running a whole host of side activities and curated matchmaking events to cater to everyone’s networking needs.

  • Investor Connector

  • Publisher SpeedMatch

  • The Global Connects Party

  • The Very Big Indie Pitch (Mobile Edition)

  • The Very Big Indie Pitch (PC + Console Edition)

  • The Big Indie Zone

Join us in Helsinki for the return of the leading games industry conference! Book your tickets now: https://www.pgconnects.com/helsinki/registration/ 

Discount code for IGDA Finland members: IGDAFinland20 

Get 15% off your ticket to DevGAMM Vilnius

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DevGAMM returns to the Radisson Blu Hotel Lietuva in Vilnius from June 20-21, 2023.

Game submissions are now open until May 25th, so if you’ve been working on something, this is your chance to show it to major studios, publishers, investors, and developers at one of the fastest-growing conferences in the region.

Activities include:
Exclusive Sessions
Roundtable Discussions
The Game Showcase
The Public Pitch
Yet Another Steam Event
The Career Wall
And The DevGAMM Awards

The deadline to submit your game is MAY 25, 23:59 GMT+3.

IGDA Finland members get 15% off Business and Standard tickets using promocode DG_IGDA_15

Vote for IGDA Finland: Support Shirt 2023 Design Competition!

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Community voting has started and will last until the 15th of May, the winner will be announced on IGDA Finland 20th birthday on the 27th of May. The new design will be available after the party and be sold there to support IGDA Finland’s future events!

 

ALSO

If you´re interested in the birthday party, make sure to get your tickets now!

 

Baltic Dev Days Are Back!

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Baltic Dev Days, Europe's largest international non-profit game developer conference, will be held at the Atlantic Hotel Kiel in Kiel, Germany on June 1-2, 2023.

Around 600 people from twenty different countries are anticipated to attend the event to share knowledge and network. Through lectures and hands-on workshops, over 50 professionals from the games industry and other areas that overlap with games will share essential expertise. A free Indie Expo is the final piece of the puzzle that will provide 15 developers from Germany and the Baltic Sea countries with the opportunity to present their games. Furthermore, because there is no meeting system, speakers, experts, and all attendees will have ample time to provide valuable feedback.

Further information on the program, speakers, and ticket rates may be found at https://www.balticdevdays.com

Discounted tickets are available for students and professors (who show their credentials) for only €30.

IGDA Finland members get 25% off their tickets using promocode: BDD23-IGDA

Join the IGDA Game Accessibility SIG's European Conference

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The IGDA Game Accessibility Special Interest Group volunteers have worked since 2003 to aid the game industry in making games accessible for all, regardless of impairments or other limitations. The European conference is a hybrid event taking place in London and online April 24-25. Tickets for the streamed content and networking in Discord are free, but it’s possible to make a donation when getting your ticket.

For more information visit the IGDA Game Accessibility SIG webpage or the conference registration page: