Want to hear about the experience of developing and publishing a game on Steam? Come and listen to the presentation from Ilkka and Michael Halila, Finnish game developers from Korppi Games. They released their game Goblin Camp on Steam in September 2024 and is currently rated Very Positive!

The pitch of the game:
Build a new home for your goblins! Grow your settlement from a little encampment to a bustling city in a beautiful procedurally generated northern forest. Fish, farm, explore the forest and harness the spirits in a unique fantasy citybuilder inspired by Finnish mythology.

Event is organized by IGDA Lahti in Fellmanni-talo. Doors open at 17:00 and presentation starts at 18:00. After presentation there is time to do networking. Event closes about 21:00.

WHERE:
Fellmanni-talo, Kirkkokatu 27, 15140 Lahti
WHEN:
Friday 28th March, 17:00-21:00

🚅 You can easily arrive at our event by train from Helsinki in 1h or from Kouvola in 30 min.
🚶 Around 1km walk from the train station.

Join the meetup by grabbing yourself a ticket!

Please let us know if you need further assistance.

IGDA Finland is committed to keeping our community safe for everyone and has a zero-tolerance policy on harassment in any and all of its forms - please read our Code of Conduct.

You can easily contact the organizers through our Discord: https://discord.com/invite/7JkYpw4ZR6

Welcome to Willow Guard launch party!

IGDA Finland Turku Hub March meetup sponsored by MiTale, a local indie gamedev company launching Willow Guard on April 10th to Steam and Itch.io! Join the event and meet developers who will share their 2-years-deving work on the game.

When and where?

Date & time: March 27 from 18.00

Place: Saaristobaari, Aurakatu 14, 20100 Turku

If you wish to check the game, feel free to play a Demo on Steam: https://bit.ly/47PrJux

Welcome!

Come and join us for the IGDA Porvoo March Meetup Friday 21.3.2025!

The Finnish College Jam was created as an initiative to boost the co-operation of Finnish game development academies, to help students improve their skills and meet new contacts.

The jam will run from 17.3 - 20.3 where students from a dozen different schools come together to jam and after the jam as a tradition on fridays, we have an afterparty streamer who plays through every game made by the students! Come join us for a watchparty and showcase of the Finnish College Jam #8 games!

We will be streaming the jam games LIVE from the clubhouse!

Location: Porvoo Game Club (Aleksanterinkatu 22, 06100 Porvoo
Time: 16:00 - Late

The event itself can easily be visited by bus from either Helsinki or Kotka!

Registration via EventBrite (limited space)

The event is FREE and K18 for all who are interested in the games business!

Follow IGDA Porvoo’s other channels: https://linktr.ee/igdaporvoo

IGDA Helsinki Presents:
March Meetup with Laavu Performance and Small Giant Games
11.03.2025

IGDA Helsinki March Meetup – Next Week!

At our March Meetup, we’ll explore what mental resilience means in our industry. How do we stay strong under creative pressure? How can leaders actively support their team's well-being?

Join us for a panel discussion with Tuire Korvuo (Laavu Performance), Salla Ibrahim (Laavu Performance) and Ari Kuokka (Small Giant Games), where they’ll share real experiences, expert insights, and practical strategies for building resilience that lasts. See you there!

WHAT:
IGDA Helsinki March Meetup with Laavu Performance and Small Giant Games

WHEN:
Tuesday 11.03.
Doors open at 17:00
Program starts at 17:30

WHERE:
Maxine, Kamppi shopping center, 6th floor (Elevators can be found on the E-floor, between Jungle Juice Bar and Rax). Note that Maxine is a 18+ venue, hence you must be 18+ years of age to attend.

PROGRAM:
Panel: Leading Mental Resilience in The Gaming Industry - faciliated by Tuire Korvuo, panelists Salla Ibrahim and Ari Kuokka

Our March Demo Corner is already full. Come check out some cool demos and give feedback! 

At the Chat Corner, we’re excited to host an AMA session with Aki Kanerva from 19:30 to 20:30. 

It's time for the IGDA Finland Grant 2025! We had our first ever Grant last year (with the chosen game coming out this summer) and this year we’re continuing our program to support people starting their career in the industry with their first(ish) game! More details at the Meetup.

Panel: Leading Mental Resilience in The Gaming Industry
The world of gaming presents unique challenges to mental resilience. This panel explores what mental resilience means—both from a psychological perspective and through personal experiences. The panel will be facilitated by Tuire Korvuo, a psychologist at Laavu Performance with extensive experience supporting professionals in the gaming industry. Our panelists, Salla Ibrahim, the co-founder and co-CEO of Laavu Performance and Ari Kuokka, a design lead at Small Giant Games will discuss the biggest resilience challenges in the industry, how to break down stigma, and why mental well-being should be actively led, not just encouraged.

How can leaders foster resilience in their teams? What practical steps can individuals take to take care of their own mental resilience and maintain long-term well-being? Join us for an insightful conversation on balancing creativity, performance, and mental health in gaming.

Panelists
The panel will be facilitated by Tuire Korvuo, a psychologist at Laavu with extensive experience supporting professionals in the gaming industry. Tuire is passionate about helping individuals and teams balance ambition with psychological sustainability—one of the key challenges in the fast-paced world of gaming. 

The Chat Corner will be open and ready for chatting. We’re excited to host an AMA session with Aki Kanerva from 19:30 to 20:30. Aki (he/they) is a veteran indie developer, expert generalist, wearer of all the hats, and game startup mentor in LGIN and other incubators. He founded Virtual Air Guitar Company in 2006 and is currently CTO at Psyon Games. He speaks and translates people, processes, code, business, and marketing.

ACCESSIBILITY:
At IGDA Helsinki we strive for making our events accessible for everyone. We kindly ask all attendees to stay away from using strong perfumes or similar fragrances. The Meetups can be crowded at times, meaning that the sound volume can also become rather loud.

Maxine is wheelchair accessible. There's a few steps at the entrance, for that please ask security at the cloakroom for a ramp. Accessible toilet can be found at the back of the space.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding any type of accessibility of our Meetups, then please contact helsinki@igda.fi and we will do our best to assist you.

Are you interested in developing games? Welcome to hear a presentation from Petri Purho, a game developer from Kloonigames and cofounder of the game studio Nolla Games.

The event is organized by IGDA Lahti in Fellmanni-talo and remotely through Discord. Doors open at 17:00 and the presentation starts at 18:00, the presentation will be held online and after the presentation, there is time to do networking.
The event closes at around 21:00.

WHERE:
Fellmanni-talo, Kirkkokatu 27, 15140 Lahti
IGDA Lahti Discord
WHEN:
Friday 28th February, 17:00-21:00

You can grab a ticket to join the event locally.

How to arrive guide (In Finnish):
https://www.fellmanniatalo.fi/saapuminen

🚅 You can easily arrive at our event by train from Helsinki in 1h or from Kouvola in 30 min.
🚶 Around 1km walk from the train station.

Please let us know if you need further assistance.

IGDA Finland is committed to keeping our community safe for everyone and has a zero-tolerance policy on harassment in any and all of its forms - please read our Code of Conduct.

You can easily join the event or contact the organizers through our Discord:https://discord.com/invite/7JkYpw4ZR6

We are having our first Kouvola meetup of this year! 🙌❤️
On Thursday the 20th of February at 18:00 at Betony we will gather and learn about job opportunities and the IGDA hub of Lahti!
Our neighbor hub in Lahti is visiting us it is a great opportunity for you to get to know what’s happening in the municipality next to us game-development-wise and make some new friends.🤗🫶
See you there!
✨

IGDA Helsinki Presents:
IGDA Helsinki x FGJ25 Post Play Party
11.02.2025

Our February meetup will be the annual Post Play Party together with Finnish Game Jam! This time, we’re gathering to celebrate Finland’s amazing jam culture and showcase the fantastic games created during this year’s #FGJ25.

Huge thanks to Next Games, A Netflix Game Studio whose sponsorship helped us keep this event free and accessible.

All games featured at the Demo Corner will be from this year’s GGJ/FGJ—so get ready to play and have fun!🕹️ #FGJ25 Jammer! If your team created a game during this year's #FGJ25/GGJ and want it to be at the Demo Corner, sign up using this link.

WHAT:
IGDA Helsinki x FGJ25 Post Play Party

WHEN:
Tuesday 11.02.
Doors open at 17:00
Program starts at 17:30

WHERE:
Maxine, Kamppi shopping center, 6th floor (Elevators can be found on the E-floor, between Jungle Juice Bar and Rax). Note that Maxine is a 18+ venue, hence you must be 18+ years of age to attend.

PROGRAM:
On stage, we’ll be joined by three Board members from Finnish Game Jam - FGJ Vice President Jenna Toivonen, GGJ Regional Organizer Emil Ekroth and FGJ PR Manager Irko Kekman. They’ll talk about how Finnish Game Jam supports the game creation community in Finland, give a glimpse into how this year’s #FGJ25 went, and dive into the benefits of game jams and why they are cool!

The Chat Corner will be open and ready for chatting, once again with an Ask Me Anything session! 💬 Samuli Jääskeläinen is an avid game jammer of more than 100 jams behind him and an unpredictable traveler, who travels to a different country for each Global Game Jam. When he is not busy jamming games, he is pushing the boundaries of mixed reality at Varjo. You can ask Samuli anything about jamming and game development in general. The AMA will be held during 19:00-20:30.

Finnish Game Jam (FGJ) is a non-profit organization founded to coordinate game jam events and support the game creation community in Finland. Their main event is the Finnish Game Jam (#FGJ), an annual, multi-location game development event in partnership with Global Game Jam (GGJ). In 2025, #FGJ25 gathered 1088 jammers developing over 320 games at 23 locations across Finland. FGJ honors the Finnish jamming community with the Finnish Game Jam Awards held every year and by running / hosting game jams with specific purpose, such as Pride Game Jam, Assembly Game Jam, and the JamJam festival. For more info about future game jams, check out their website.

ACCESSIBILITY:
At IGDA Helsinki we strive for making our events accessible for everyone. We kindly ask all attendees to stay away from using strong perfumes or similar fragrances. The Meetups can be crowded at times, meaning that the sound volume can also become rather loud.

Maxine is wheelchair accessible. There's a few steps at the entrance, for that please ask security at the cloakroom for a ramp. Accessible toilet can be found at the back of the space.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding any type of accessibility of our Meetups, then please contact helsinki@igda.fi and we will do our best to assist you.

We are back from the break!
Hope you had a wonderful winter holiday break.

We are starting this year with a meetup in Kotka on the 29th of January (observe that it is on a Wednesday!) at 18:00.
We’ll meetup at Ravintola Kairo to hang out and to catch up. However, this is also after the Finnish Game Jam! This means that for the people who participated and want to show off the games they made, this will be the opportunity to do so!

We will have people from the Finnish Game Jam board talking at the event and after the event our friends at Kuura will host an after event hangout.

If you want to showcase your game jam game – bring your own device.

See you soon!

Peliosuuskunta Expa / IGDA Finland Jyväskylä Hub Meetup (28.01.2025)

Time to get back in the saddle!

We're kicking off the year with our first meetup, and we're excited to welcome Miika Anundi from Veikkaus! Join us to hear and learn interesting insights on how the games of Veikkaus are built.

Guest: Miika Anundi, Veikkaus Oy

Topic: How games are built in Veikkaus

Time: 18:00

Interviewer: Wanda O Rly (Valtteri Lahti, chairman of Expa)

Date: Tue 28.01.2025

Where: LIVE @ Digi & Game Center, Matarankatu 2

– STREAM on Expa’s Twitch channel: https://www.twitch.tv/expajkl

SCHEDULE

17:30 Doors open

18:00 Streaming starts, interview with Miika Anundi

18:30 Q&A with Miika

19:00 Free mingling on-site

#DemoCornerJKL is open for all to showcase their things at event. This time we have students from Metropolia University of Applied Sciences showcasing their games. Come and check them out!

The event is FREE and open for all, language of the online Meetup event is English!
🤝 - Invite your friends, questions welcome throughout the event.

Be there - socialize - get Expa!

IGDA Helsinki Presents:
January Meetup with MiTale and Dreamloop
14.01.2025

🎮✨ Kick off 2025 with the IGDA Helsinki January Meetup! 🚀

Join us next week for an inspiring event dedicated to indie game developers, as we dive into the latest trends and opportunities.

Natasha Skult (MiTale) and Joni Lappalainen (Dreamloop) will be on stage with an Indie Fireside Chat, where they’ll share insights, experiences, and a glimpse into the future of indie game development.

Let’s start the year with learning, connection, and conversations. See you there!

WHAT:
IGDA Helsinki January Meetup with MiTale and Dreamloop

WHEN:
Tuesday 14.01.
Doors open at 17:00
Program starts at 17:30

WHERE:
Maxine, Kamppi shopping center, 6th floor (Elevators can be found on the E-floor, between Jungle Juice Bar and Rax). Note that Maxine is a 18+ venue, hence you must be 18+ years of age to attend.

PROGRAM:
This month, we’re hosting an Indie Fireside Chat with Natasha Skult (MiTale) and Joni Lappalainen (Dreamloop), diving into the latest trends and opportunities for indie game developers in 2025 and beyond. Don’t miss this chance to connect, learn, and share!

Wanna showcase your game at our Demo Corner and get some valuable feedback? Sign up here: https://forms.gle/pcWQR5uombr1Zi4p9

The Chat Corner will be open and ready for chatting. 💬 Remedy Entertainment's Senior Development Manager Jani Pääjärvi has an Ask Me Anything session in the Chat Corner between 19-21. If you have any questions regarding getting to work, or working on world-class console games, now is your chance to ask! Jani's go-to crafts are game design, programming, lighting, VFX and UI/UX - and obviously production.

See you at Maxine on Tuesday January 14th from 17 onwards! 👋 

ACCESSIBILITY:
At IGDA Helsinki we strive for making our events accessible for everyone. We kindly ask all attendees to stay away from using strong perfumes or similar fragrances. The Meetups can be crowded at times, meaning that the sound volume can also become rather loud.

Maxine is wheelchair accessible. There's a few steps at the entrance, for that please ask security at the cloakroom for a ramp. Accessible toilet can be found at the back of the space.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding any type of accessibility of our Meetups, then please contact helsinki@igda.fi and we will do our best to assist you.

🎄 Join us for IGDA Lahti’s Christmas party and 5th anniversary of IGDA Lahti on December 17th at Gastropub Mylly!

Food will be provided during the evening as we explore the world of game development and entrepreneurship during a panel discussion.
Also, make sure to bring your own games for display at our demo corner, no pre-registration is required.

Program:

🕠 17:30 - Doors open

🍽️ 18:00 - Food and panel “Game development and game entrepreneurship”

🚪 22:00 - Doors closing

For any questions, contact: lahti@igda.fi

Please note: Attendees must be 18 years or older to join in on the fun.

🚂 At our IGDA Lahti meetup, you can easily arrive by train from Helsinki in 1h or from Kouvola in 30 min.
♿ Gastropub Mylly is wheelchair accessible!

Please let us know if you need further assistance.

IGDA Finland is committed to keeping our community safe for everyone and has a zero-tolerance policy on harassment in any and all of its forms - please read our Code of Conduct.

You can easily contact the organizers through our Discord: https://discord.com/invite/7JkYpw4ZR6

IGDA Helsinki Presents:
Xmas Party with Superccell
10.12.2024

🎄The IGDA Helsinki Xmas Party with Supercell is happening! 🎉

It’s time to dig out your favorite holiday clothes — ugly Christmas sweaters, glittery party outfits, or whatever makes you feel festive. This month’s program features a talk by Stephen Routledge, Game Lead at Supercell, who will share insights and stories to inspire your game development journey. 🎮✨ But that’s not all—we’ve got a little extra holiday magic planned:

🎅 Porridge and glögg for our early attendees (because nothing says Finnish Christmas like these cozy treats!)
🎁 Holiday Party Bingo! Get ready for some friendly competition.

Let’s wrap up the year in true IGDA Helsinki style! We’ll meet you there! 🎅🎉

WHAT:
IGDA Helsinki Xmas Party with Supercell

WHEN:
Tuesday 10.12.
Doors open at 16:30
Program starts at 17:30

WHERE:
Maxine, Kamppi shopping center, 6th floor (Elevators can be found on the E-floor, between Jungle Juice Bar and Rax).

PROGRAM:
Our Journey With Community Focused Development
Stephen Routledge is the Game Lead for mo.co, a new Supercell game in development. Starting with a brief introduction to the game, Steve will walk through the idea of community focused development, the inspiration behind it and what it means for the mo.co team. We’ll hear about the team’s journey so far and the learnings they picked up on the way.

No Demo Corner this time, but please look forward to the January Meetup!
The Chat Corner will be open and ready for chatting. 💬

ACCESSIBILITY:
At IGDA Helsinki we strive for making our events accessible for everyone. We kindly ask all attendees to stay away from using strong perfumes or similar fragrances. The Meetups can be crowded at times, meaning that the sound volume can also become rather loud.

Maxine is wheelchair accessible. There's a few steps at the entrance, for that please ask security at the cloakroom for a ramp. Accessible toilet can be found at the back of the space.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding any type of accessibility of our Meetups, then please contact helsinki@igda.fi and we will do our best to assist you.

TL;DR:
- Xmas Party with Supercell.
- Tuesday 10.12.
- Doors open at 16:30, program starts at 17:30
- Chat Corner is open!
- Glögg, porridge and bingo!

This month Lahti got big things happening, namely the launch of Project Sakura!

Wondering, “What’s Project Sakura?” It’s an initiative by Lahties, Lahti’s very own entrepreneurship society, dedicated to building a thriving startup culture in the region.

Through Sakura, they’re supporting aspiring game developers in Lahti by organizing workshops, community events, game jams, and eventually establishing a Lahti Game Hub.

Their mission?
To create a dynamic and inspiring space for everyone passionate about game development! Join their first event on November 22nd at the LUT Lahti Campus (Mukkulankatu 19) from 15:00 to 19:00!

Whether you’re an industry veteran interested in joining a Q&A session, a developer excited to showcase your game to students and guests, or simply curious to check it all out—sign up through the attached form!
https://forms.gle/F8LcDyytoN3d4D8N9

If you're interested in the project, check our our social media here: https://linktr.ee/ProjectSakuraLahties

The event is done in collaboration with IGDA Lahti and is following game industry’s zero-tolerance policy on harassment in any and all of its forms - please read our Code of Conduct.

#XmasJKL – The Finnish Game Industry Business Seminar 2024 (Fri 15.11.2024)

#XmasJKL – The Finnish Game Industry Business Seminar 2024 (Fri 15.11.2024)

#XmasJKL is the most relaxed business seminar in the finnish game industry. The seminar is held on, Ilokivi, Jyväskylä, Finland.

#XmasJKL is also a networking event where you can listen and learn from the best in the business and meet the great game industry people.

Put your Christmas hat on and join us!

Discount code:
IGDA LOVE #XmasJKL CODE and get -15% off USE CODE: XMASLOVESIGDA

Check the Event and Tickets details!

Read more: https://www.xmasjkl.com/

The language of the event is English!
🤝 - Invite your friends, questions welcome throughout the event.

Be there - socialize - get Expa!

“Day Zero“at Digi & Game Center 14th of Nov 2024!

“Day Zero“at Digi & Game Center 14th of Nov 2024!

“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: 12.00-16.00 (12-4pm)

VIP Dinner for VIP ticker holders

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 2024 ticket

The event is FREE and open for all, language of the online Meetup event is English!
🤝 - Invite your friends, questions welcome throughout the event.

Be there - socialize - get Expa!

Come and join us at IGDA Porvoo November Meetup Wednesday 13.11.2024.

In the venue there are dozens of board- & card games that are waiting to be played.
Some beverages and snacks are available!

The event itself can easily be visited by bus from either Helsinki or Kotka!

Where?
- Porvoo Game Club ry & IGDA Porvoo clubhouse
- Aleksanterinkatu 22, 06100 Porvoo

What?
- Board Games and socializing!
- Open Mic: Tell everyone about yourself and what you do
- Demoing: Showcase your games!

The event is FREE for all who are interested in the games business.

Please tell us if you’re attending by joining our Discord! https://discord.com/invite/aHcv8Ewzq7

Follow IGDA Porvoo hub social medias: https://linktr.ee/igdaporvoo

IGDA Helsinki Presents:
November Meetup x Ubisoft Redlynx
12.11.2024

This time for the IGDA Helsinki Meetup we are teaming up with Ubisoft RedLynx! Welcome, excited to see you there! 👋

WHAT:
IGDA Helsinki November Meetup x Ubisoft RedLynx 

WHEN:
Tuesday 12.11.
Doors open at 16:30
Program starts at 17:30

WHERE:
Maxine, Kamppi shopping center, 6th floor (Elevators can be found on the E-floor, between Jungle Juice Bar and Rax).

PROGRAM:
The November Meetup is sponsored by Ubisoft RedLynx, and Chris Castro and Aku Mähönen will be on stage to discuss how automated tools can improve development processes in a number of ways. For more details, check further below!

🕹️ Wanna showcase your game at our Demo Corner and get some valuable feedback? Sign up by filling in this form

💬 The Chat Corner will be open and ready for chatting.

Program: In their talk, Senior Development Tester Chris Castro and Senior Game Designer Aku Mähönen will join forces and talk about how an automated tool can ease the daily lives of not just programmers, but also development testers – like Chris – and game designers – like Aku. With several years of experience in mobile game development, Chris and Aku will explain how automation can improve game development processes, like bug catching and time management in projects, by giving examples on different use cases.

Ubisoft RedLynx is a multiplatform game development studio located in Helsinki. The studio brings HD, mobile, and tech development together under one roof, cherishing this unique combination. As part of Ubisoft, the studio is currently working with both unannounced projects and collaborating on world-known IPs. Check out the Ubisoft RedLynx website for more! www.redlynx.com

ACCESSIBILITY:
At IGDA Helsinki we strive for making our events accessible for everyone. We kindly ask all attendees to stay away from using strong perfumes or similar fragrances. The Meetups can be crowded at times, meaning that the sound volume can also become rather loud.

Maxine is wheelchair accessible. There's a few steps at the entrance, for that please ask security at the cloakroom for a ramp. Accessible toilet can be found at the back of the space.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding any type of accessibility of our Meetups, then please contact helsinki@igda.fi and we will do our best to assist you.

Reminder that IGDA Meetups use the THE FINNISH GAME INDUSTRY Code of Conduct!

Welcome to IGDA Finland Turku Hub monthly meetup!

As it is tradition, our October meetup is a Halloween Party, hosted at HIVE-Turku Game Hub with the following program:

🕸 Demo Corner and networking - starting at 16.00

🕷 Karaoke

🦇 Board Games

Date: 31.10.2024

Time: 16.00 Doors open with Demo Corner, 18.00 party starts

Place: Turku Game Hub. Itäinen Pitkäkatu 4 A, 3rd floor, 20520 Turku

Sign up for the Demo Corner here: https://forms.gle/A8VCCUwoi8VrVLccA

Peliosuuskunta Expa / IGDA Finland Jyväskylä Hub Meetup with Quicksave Interactive (29.10.2024)

Peliosuuskunta Expa / IGDA Finland Jyväskylä Hub Meetup with Quicksave Interactive 29.10.2024

In this month’s meetup we are joined by Ren Soharab from Quicksave Interactive, with the talk discussing about The Quicksave Toolkit for HTML5 & WebGL.

 
Guest: Ren Soharab, Partner Experience Manager at Quicksave
Topic: The Quicksave Toolkit for HTML5 & WebGL
Time: 18:00
Interviewer: Wanda O Rly (Valtteri Lahti, chairman of Expa)

– STREAM on Expa’s Twitch channel: https://www.twitch.tv/expajkl

 SCHEDULE
17:30 Doors open
18:00 Streaming starts, Guest’s presentation
18:30 Q&A with Guest
19:00 Free mingling on-site

#DemoCornerJKL is open for all to showcase their things at event. This time we have students from Metropolia University of Applied Sciences showcasing their games. Come and check them out!

The event is FREE and open for all, language of the online Meetup event is English!
🤝 - Invite your friends, questions welcome throughout the event.

Be there - socialize - get Expa!

FORTHEM Startup Day on Game Technologies on 24.10. 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM EET at the Digi & Game Center

FORTHEM Startup Day on Game Technologies on 24.10. 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM EET at the Digi & Game Center

Interested in Unreal Engine?

Then join us at the FORTHEM Startup Day on Game Technologies on 24.10. 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM EET at the Digi & Game Center (Matarankatu 2, 40100 Jyväskylä) or via Zoom.Keynote speakers:

• Ari Arnbjörnsson, Senior Software Engineer, Developer Relations, Epic Games: "Epic Games and Unreal Engine"

• Daniel Imbert, Developer and Board Member, Expa Game Business Co-operative: "Building Finland's first Unreal Engine training center in Jyväskylä"

Hosted by: Wanda O Rly

Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, simply curious about the startup community in Finland or already have your own idea to pitch, this event is for you! Join the event and

• explore the world of startups

• gain valuable insights from industry experts

• present your own ground-breaking ideas.

Startup Day by JYU StartupLab brings together entrepreneurs, future talents, researchers, and experts. This year, the event is going global with FORTHEM alliance, which means you're in for support on a grand scale! Let’s turn the “what ifs” into “what’s next”!

Register by 24 October to get either a link to Zoom or coffee on-site: https://www.jyu.fi/en/events/forthem-startup-day-game-technologies

Read more: https://www.jyu.fi/en/events/forthem-startup-day-game-technologies

Read more: https://www.jyu.fi/en/events/forthem-startup-day-game-technologies

The event is FREE and open for all, language of the online Meetup event is English!
🤝 - Invite your friends, questions welcome throughout the event.

Be there - socialize - get Expa!

Ever wanted to know what is like to quit your job and start a game company? Come hear presentation from the CEO of Paahtimo Games!

Mika Savolainen will tell about his experience after quitting his day job and going full-time indie dev. Hear about how he managed to survive for a year and what he accomplished during that time. He will tell about his experiences developing Mushy Score and his upcoming game.

We will also have Aliasgar Khimani tell about their Sakura project, which goal is to connect students, developers, and companies. The IGDA Lahti October gathering is organized at Green Star Hotel, Lahti, on 18.10. Doors open at 18:00, and presentations start at 18:30. After presentations, there is time to network or come share your game demos! The event closes at about 21:00.

WHAT:
Paahtimo Games - Going Full Time Indie

WHEN:
18.10
Doors open at 18:00 and talks begin at 18:30.

WHERE:
Greenstar Hotel, <200 m walk from the train station (Approx 3 min walk)

🚂 At our IGDA Lahti meetup, you can easily arrive by train from Helsinki in 1h or from Kouvola in 30 min.
♿ The entrance to the Greenstar Hotel is wheelchair accessible!

Please let us know if you need further assistance.

IGDA Finland is committed to keeping our community safe for everyone and has a zero-tolerance policy on harassment in any and all of its forms - please read our Code of Conduct.

You can easily contact the organizers through our Discord: https://discord.com/invite/7JkYpw4ZR6

Sign up now to join this inspiring event!

IGDA Helsinki Presents:
October Meetup x Next Games
8.10.2024

Ready for our IGDA Helsinki October Meetup? We’re gonna be bringing the fun with Next Games: A Netflix Game Studio!

As the days grow darker, we want to bring some fun and happiness to your days! That is why Next Games will be hosting a fireside chat about making time for creativity and play in game development. 💜 Chatting about this topic will be Next Games Design Director Timothy Coolidge and Next Games Art Lead Ilona Lindholm. Later during the second half of the program, we’ll have Annakaisa Kultima continuing with a topic in the same realm. Stay tuned to find out more! ✨

Note: We will again be starting the program earlier. Doors open at 16:30 and the fireside chat starts at 17:30! Come listen to some great discussion and chill in great company~

Wanna showcase your game at the Demo Corner? Sign up here! 🕹️

Chat Corner will be open and ready for chatting. 💬

See you at Maxine on Tuesday October 8th from 16:30 onwards! 👋

Can’t make it to Maxine? We’re happy to announce that this time the program will also be streamed! You can find the stream on IGDA Finland’s Twitch channel.

Next Games Fireside chat

Topic: Creative Well-Being: Making Time for Play in Game Development

Annakaisa Kultima is a games researcher, lecturer and jamtivist. Her research concentrates on game development cultures, creativity, game industry trends, and game jams. She’s also one of the founders of Finnish Game Jam & The Finnish Museum of Games.

WHAT:
IGDA Helsinki October Meetup x Next Games

WHEN:
08.10.
Doors open at 16:30
Program starts at 17:30

WHERE:
Maxine, Kamppi shopping center, 6th floor (Elevators can be found on the E-floor, between Jungle Juice Bar and Rax).
Livestream of program on IGDA Finland’s Twitch channel.

ACCESSIBILITY:
At IGDA Helsinki we strive for making our events accessible for everyone. We kindly ask all attendees to stay away from using strong perfumes or similar fragrances. The Meetups can be crowded at times, meaning that the sound volume can also become rather loud.

Maxine is wheelchair accessible. There's a few steps at the entrance, for that please ask security at the cloakroom for a ramp. Accessible toilet can be found at the back of the space.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding any type of accessibility of our Meetups, then please contact helsinki@igda.fi and we will do our best to assist you.

TL;DR:
- October Meetup with Next Games!
- Tuesday 08.10.
- Doors open at 16:30, program starts at 17:30
- Demo and Chat Corner are Open!

Reminder that IGDA Meetups use the THE FINNISH GAME INDUSTRY Code of Conduct!

Welcome to IGDA Finland Turku Hub September meetup and DEMO CORNER! 👾

This time we are dedicating the event to celebrate a major milestone - 10th anniversary of Quantum Game Jam 🎉

We will present the history of the jam and how it evolved into a global event, along with the most inspiring games that became actual commercial games from the quantum game jams.

In addition to the program we also host a DEMO CORNER for the teams to present their latest games and innovations, if you wish to get a table please fill in this form:

https://forms.gle/NCLZR2MoEQFtoXNY9

Join IGDA Lahti grill party on the 20th of September. IGDA Lahti will provide grilled sausages to the event. You are also welcome to bring your own foods to grill. We also have karaoke! The event will take place at Pikku Vesijärvi grilling spot next to Kioski Pikkuvesku (event address: Kariniemenpuistotie 12). There's a parking area near the kiosk and the grill place.

NOTICE!
As this is an outdoor event and we can't control the weather, the venue place
might change to indoors. We will be notifying all attendees with changes as soon as possible, if the need comes!

Reminder: IGDA Finland uses the Finnish Game Industry Code of Conduct!

🎮 Follow IGDA LAHTI in Discord 🎮

Come and join us at IGDA Porvoo August Meetup Wednesday 11.9.2023.

In the venue there are dozens of board- & card games that are waiting to be played.
Some beverages and snacks are available!

The event itself can easily be visited by bus from either Helsinki or Kotka!

Where?
- Porvoo Game Club ry & IGDA Porvoo clubhouse
- Aleksanterinkatu 22, 06100 Porvoo

What?
- Board Games and socializing!
- Open Mic: Tell everyone about yourself and what you do
- Demoing: Showcase your games!

The event is FREE for all who are interested in the games business.

Please tell us if you’re attending by joining our Discord! https://discord.com/invite/aHcv8Ewzq7

Follow IGDA Porvoo hub social medias: https://linktr.ee/igdaporvoo

IGDA Helsinki Presents:
September Meetup
10.9.2024

IGDA Helsinki presents: The September Meetup on Sep 10th!

Note: There is a mandatory cloakroom and security fee of 2,5€ for the event this time!

This Meetup our program will be split in two. Doors will open already at 16:30 and the seminar starts at 17:15! Our seminar will be focused on the main implications of EU sustainability legislation on the games industry. Jani Kahrama, the Founder of Secret Exit & Founder of Pelimetsä, and Tommi Lappalainen, the Senior Sustainability Manager at Rovio, will be on stage chatting about the topic. At the end, there will be an opportunity for Q&A! We encourage everyone to attend regardless of your current knowledge on the subject~ A bit further below, you can find a short intro to the topic and more info on our speakers. ⬇️

After the seminar and a short break, we’ll start our more regular program. ✨ As a highlight, the talented participants of the first round of the Espoo Game LAB game dev program will be on stage sharing about their experiences. They’ll also be showing off their games at the Demo Corner! Come check it out~

A packed evening, be sure not to miss it! See you at Maxine on Tuesday September 10th 16:30 onwards 🤩

Demo Corner for September Meetup is already full! Come check out all the cool games 🕹️

Chat Corner will be open as usual. 💬

What is this EU sustainability legislation? Need a short intro to the topic? We got you! Dr. Benjamin Abraham, Research and Standard Lead of Sustainable Games Alliance, wrote us a short summary to give you some background:

“The previous EU parliament made the green transition a central focus of its policy effort, resulting in a suite of new regulations that will oblige EU businesses to avoid greenwashing, undertake comprehensive sustainability disclosures, align with Paris Agreement climate targets, and, for the largest companies, to engage their entire value chain to ensure human rights and environmental protections are upheld. Some of these initiatives are already in force, and more are set to be phased in over the next 5 years.

Several new implications for the games industry arise from these various legislative acts as they come into effect. The first is the requirement to ensure that all green claims be verified in advance by an accredited third party, ending the current situation where claims of “carbon neutrality”, “green” initiatives, and other ambiguous terms leave consumers with little confidence about products and services. Deriving commercial benefits from unsubstantiated green claims is to be considered “unfair” commercial practice across the EU, applying to all businesses and products. Another next major implication will be that between now and 2028 large, and eventually even SMEs that are publicly traded in the EU will be required to disclose according to the requirements of the European Sustainaiblity Reporting Standard (ESRS). The ESRS is perhaps the most detailed and complicated sustainability regime in the world, with an enormous list of 600+ mandatory sustainability data points requiring considered responses, and even SME’s are likely to receive new requests for data from larger business partners (publishers, platform holders, etc) which may require new sustainability data collection and measurement efforts. Finally, many game developers may begin to be required by their business partners to ensure the protection of human rights and environmental concerns in new ways, if they are within the value chain of larger companies covered by the Corporate Sustainaiblity Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) which will apply to even international business with a substantial interest in the EU. The next several years in European business are set to be challenging, potentially disruptive to the unprepared, but ultimately transformative in a positive way. EU businesses and consumers will both become more aligned with the green transition and prepared for a changing world.” 

Seminar speakers

Espoo Game LAB is a creative playground and launchpad for anyone into games and creative business that will also offer pre-incubator and accelerator services. The aim of the project is to increase the number, quality, cooperation and employment readiness of small and medium-sized Finnish gaming companies.

In the Espoo Game LAB programme, a number of selected participants can develop their games as well as themselves in a professional environment. The first Espoo Game LAB round began in March 2024.

WHAT:

IGDA Helsinki September Meetup

WHEN:

Tuesday 10.09.
Doors open at 16:30
Seminar starts at 17:15
Regular program at 18:15

WHERE:

Maxine, Kamppi shopping center, 6th floor (Elevators can be found on the E-floor, between Jungle Juice Bar and Rax).

Maxine is wheelchair accessible! There's a few steps at the entrance, for that please ask security at the cloakroom for a ramp. Accessible toilet can be found at the back of the space.

TL;DR:

- September Meetup!
- Tuesday 10.09.
- Doors open earlier! At 16:30, seminar starts at 17:15
- Demo and Chat Corner are Open!
- Mandatory cloakroom and security fee of 2,5€

Reminder that IGDA Meetups use the THE FINNISH GAME INDUSTRY Code of Conduct! 

IGDA Helsinki Presents:
August Meetup
13.8.2024

IGDA Helsinki Meetups are back in business! 🎉
We are gonna be kicking it off with our Summer Party Meetup in collaboration with Rovio Entertainment! Not only will Rovio Entertainment’s Senior Art Director Tatu Petersen-Jessen be holding a very interesting seminar talk, but we will also have wonderful acoustic live music from Rovio’s talented House Band! Additionally, the IGDA Finland Grant finalist will be revealed! So put on your summer glam, get ready to celebrate, and come say hi to everyone again after the long break. Join us at Maxine on August 13th 17:00 onwards! 

No Demo Corner this time, but please look forward to the next Meetup~ 🕹️Chat Corner will be open as usual. 💬

Note that the cloakroom has its space limitations, and might not accept bags after a certain threshold.

Talk description: Angry Birds in the Age of Generative AI

Even in the age of Generative AI, brands still need to live up to their brand promise, deliver great stories and keep characters on brand and stories in canon. So, what has changed? Discover how AI is transforming the creative industries and why it's crucial for us to understand how AI tools work - what they can and can’t do - especially in regards to brands and IPs. Learn effective ways to safeguard your IP and ensure your creative vision isn't compromised by haphazard use of AI. This session will address the challenges, problems, and pitfalls, as well as the innovative possibilities AI can bring to game development, and where should we aim our innovative focus in this new age of Generative AI.

WHAT:

IGDA Helsinki August Meetup x Rovio Entertainment

WHEN:

13.08.
Doors open at 17:00
Program starts at 18:15
Chat Corner open at 17:00 (break during the program)

WHERE:

Maxine, Kamppi shopping center, 6th floor (Elevators can be found on the E-floor, between Jungle Juice Bar and Rax).
Maxine is wheelchair accessible! There's a few steps at the entrance, for that please ask security at the cloakroom for a ramp.

TL;DR:

- August Summer Party with Rovio!
- Tuesday 13.08.
- Doors open at 17:00, program starts at 18:15
- Chat Corner is open!
- Remember your summer glam! 

Join us for the IGDA Porvoo July Minigolf & Grilling Meetup 18th of July!

Event will be held as a private event in the Porvoo Minigolfkeskus. At the venue there will be minigolf, billiard, darts and a grill!

The event will start at 18:00 and end at 21:00 (minigolf center closes). Access to minigolf, billiard and darts will be free of charge and for grilling there will be some sausages available, but please bring your own if you desire!

The event itself can easily be visited by bus from either Helsinki or Kotka!

Registration is required and will be closed a few days before the event and please do inform/refund if you cannot make it! Register here:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/igda-porvoo-july-meetup-minigolf-grilling-tickets-931784070237?

Afterparty will be held at the Porvoo Game Club / IGDA Porvoo club house! Afterparty will include some drinks (alcoholic and non alcoholic)! Porvoo Game Club is located near the city center (Aleksanterinkatu 22, 06100 Porvoo, there is a staircase downstairs into the clubhouse by the road)

The event is FREE for all who are interested in the games business.

For further questions please contact porvoo@igda.fi

Remember to join the IGDA Porvoo discord: https://discord.gg/4hs4CpW3

Did you know, IGDA Porvoo now has a Linktree with all relevant social media links and upcoming events: https://linktr.ee/igdaporvoo

We welcome you to join us at this summer's first IGDA Kymenlaakso outdoor meetup, on June 6th at the cozy Urheilupuisto in Kouvola!

We are gathering on the 6th of June by the picnic blankets at 18.00 (we are easy to spot)!
We provide some snacks and non-alcoholic drinks, but feel free to also bring your own consumables! It's also beneficial to take your own blankets / sitting arrangements with you (there are a few benches though).
There will also be Frisbee golf and Mölkky and other games for you to play - but most of all: GOOD COMPANY!

Free Parking nearby, 10 min walk from the train and bus station.
address: Palomäenkatu 23, 45100 Kouvola