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.

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.

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.

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!

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!

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!

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! 

IGDA Helsinki Presents:
May Meetup
14.5.2024

Hope you are ready for the IGDA Helsinki May Meetup! We’ll be welcoming our summer break together with Metacore! The program includes a talk by Metacore's Tech Services Lead Tomi Niemenmaa. Tomi’s talk will be focusing on the experiences of developing a centralized backend. Milla Pennanen from Game Makers of Finland will also be presenting the results of their Salary Survey. For more info on the program and speakers, scroll further below. 👇

Come join us on Tuesday May 14th for one final Meetup before the summer! 🌞 Let’s make it a good one!  

Wanna showcase your game at our Demo Corner? Sign up here. 🕹️

Chat Corner is available for everyone to join for however long of a duration! 💬 

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

Tomi Niemenmaa, Tech Services Lead at Metacore
Tomi is a Tech Services Lead at Metacore. Currently leading the development of Metacore's in-house game backend and related live ops tooling. Tomi has worked over 11 years building different backend and frontend solutions for various different industries like finance, e-commerce and games.

Talk description: Developing centralized backend at Metacore - Sharing lessons learned. We have been building our in-house game backend at Metacore now for 3 years. Going over quickly the goals and design principles we set out when we started, where we are and lessons we have learned along the way.

Game Makers of Finland conducted a Salary Survey for the sixth time and Milla Pennanen will be presenting the results for us! In addition to salaries and pay equality in the industry, the survey also investigates issues related to internships, working hours and coping skills.

WHAT:

IGDA Helsinki May Meetup x Metacore

WHEN:

Tuesday 14.05.

Doors open at 17:00

Program starts at 18:15

Demo Corner and 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.

BUT I WANNA DEMO MY GAME:

If your game is awesome and you’d like to demo it, sign up here!

TL;DR:

- IGDA Helsinki May Meetup x Metacore

- Tuesday 14.05.

- Doors open at 17:00, program starts at 18:15

- Chat and Demo Corner are open!

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

Are you readyyyyyy??? 

The legendary IGDA Helsinki x Rovio Xmas Party is in two weeks! Time to put your party pants on and get jolly! 🥳 This special Meetup is done in collaboration with Rovio Entertainment. In addition to making the party possible, they’ve prepared a fantastic talk about inclusivity for all of us to enjoy. ✍️ This will be the last Meetup of the year, so let’s make it a good one! See you at Maxine on Tuesday December 12th from 17:00 onwards~  ☃️

No Demo Corner this time, but please look forward to the January Meetup! Chat Corner will be open! 💬  

Rovio Entertainment Corporation is a global mobile-first games company that creates, develops, and publishes mobile games, which have been downloaded over 5 billion times. Rovio is best known for the global Angry Birds brand and has since evolved from games to various entertainment, animations, and consumer products in brand licensing.

Tatu Petersen-Jessen, Senior Art Director at Rovio Entertainment — known for the global phenomenon Angry Birds — has dedicated over two decades to the gaming industry. His journey encompasses diverse roles in more than 50 globally released games, ranging from mobile to AAA. He is skilled in both conceptualizing innovative ideas and implementing them in ways that uphold ethical values and technical rigor, a capability honed through working with some of the best teams in the industry. In his speaking engagements, he focuses on sharing this wealth of knowledge with the art and games community, emphasizing the importance of both innovation and methodology in game development.
 

Topic: Crafting Joy for All - Making Gaming Everyone's Game

In this talk, we'll look at how including everyone makes games better for all. We'll use examples from our new Playbook for Inclusive Game Development and Marketing to explain how inclusivity is not just about fairness but also essential for more enjoyable and engaging games. Discover practical strategies for making your games more welcoming and learn why inclusivity in gaming is key to creating better experiences for every player.

WHAT:
IGDA Helsinki Xmas Party with Rovio

WHEN:
Tuesday 12.12.
Doors open at 17:00
Seminar starts at 18:00
Chat Corner open at 17:00 (break during the seminar)

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

TL;DR:
- Xmas Party with Rovio on Dec 12th!
- Doors open at 17:00, seminar by Tatu Petersen-Jessen starts at 18:00
- Chat Corner is open!

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

IGDA Helsinki Presents:
November Meetup with GRUX SIG
14.11.2023

Happy November!

It’s less than two weeks until our next IGDA Helsinki Meetup. This time we are joining forces with the amazing GRUX SIG! We will have talks focused on User Experience from two wonderful speakers. Please see further below for more details on both our speakers and GRUX SIG as a whole~ 

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

Chat Corner is available for everyone to join for however long of a duration! 💬 

Have a great start to your November and see you at Maxine! 🤩

Games Research and User Experience Special Interest Group (GRUX SIG) Finland brings together everyone interested in user experience design and research in games in Finland. Their goal is to raise the UX maturity of the industry by sharing knowledge as well as to ensure everyone has the language and the tools to ensure their games create the desired experiences for the players.

Jasmin Dahncke

Driven by a strong passion for User Experience and Accessibility, Jasmin has worked for over a decade in the games industry and is looking to transform the way we work by helping studios and the game development community as a whole to nourish and maintain a user centric design culture that creates experiences accessible to all.

Talk Abstract: Case Study - Blind accessibility in open world games

Emma Varjo

Emma is a firm believer in the maxim "Leave the world a little better than you found it". She lives by it by creating the best user experiences for the games and products as well as the employee experience of the people creating said experiences. Through the same principle, she is committed to sharing her learnings with the game development community at large, so we can make memorable experiences for all, and have fun while doing so.

Talk abstract: We all care about our players and want to create the best games, so why do we need to talk separately about UX or "player-centric cultures"? This talk is a brief primer to the user-centric approach UX and other great designers use in all their work. 

WHAT:
IGDA Helsinki November Meetup x GRUX SIG

WHEN:
14.11.
Doors open at 17:00
Seminars start at 18:00
Demo and Chat Corner open at 17:00 (break during seminars)

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.

BUT I WANNA DEMO MY GAME:
If your game is awesome and you'd like to demo it, sign up here!

TL;DR:
- November Meetup on the 14th
- Together with GRUX SIG
- Doors open at 17:00, seminars start at 18:00
- Chat and Demo Corner are open!

🎃 Happy almost October! 🎃

Our next Helsinki Meetup is getting closer and this time it’s with GDWC and Skillz! The Game Development World Championship, or GDWC for short, is an annual global competition for game developers of all shapes, sizes, and backgrounds. Skillz is the leading mobile games platform that connects players and developers through fun, fair and meaningful competition. 

We will have interesting seminars from both, so don’t miss it! See below for more info on the speakers. 👇

As usual, we will also have the Demo Corner for showcasing your wonderful games and the Chat Corner for chatting with friends old and new!
  
Let’s kick off the spooky season together, shall we? See you at Maxine! 👋
 
Your game at the Demo Corner? Sign up with this link. 🕹️

WHAT:
IGDA Helsinki October Meetup x GDWC x Skillz

WHEN:
10.10.
Doors open at 17:00
Seminars start at 18:00
Demo and Chat Corner open at 17:00 (break during seminars)

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.

BUT I WANNA DEMO MY GAME:
If your game is awesome and you'd like to demo it, sign up here!

TL;DR:
- October Meetup on the 10th
- Together with GDWC and Skillz
- Doors open at 17:00, seminars start at 18:00
- Chat and Demo Corner are open!

Save the date! More information to come :)

Note, this event is on Monday so it works as an after party for the Leadership Day too.

IGDA Helsinki Meetups are back in business! 🎉

We’re continuing the celebrations with something very special. This Meetup will be the comeback of the glorious Summer Party with Supercell! 😎 There’ll be no seminars, but instead fun chill times together with friends old and new. Join us at Maxine on August 15th to welcome back the Meetups and Summer Party with good vibes and style!  
 
No Demo Corner this time but please look forward to the next Meetup~ 🕹️

Chat Corner will be open as usual 💬

This has been a really popular and liked part of our Meetups, so why not make it better? If you have the interest to join, let us know in this short form and drop us your ideas for this corner!

See ya there!

WHAT:
IGDA Helsinki August Meetup x Supercell

WHEN:
15.08.
Doors open at 17:00
Chat Corner is open between 17:00 - 21:00

WHERE:
Maxine, Kamppi shopping center, 6th floor (Elevators next to the Jungle Juice Bar at the bottom floor).

Maxine is wheelchair accessible! There are a few steps at the entrance, for that please ask security at the cloakroom for an incline.


TL;DR:
- August Meetup on the 15th
- It's the IGDA Helsinki x Supercell Summer Party!
- Doors open at 17:00
- Chat Corner is open
- Leadership Day is coming! More info here

IGDA Helsinki Presents:
April Meetup with Metaplay
11.04.2023

Spring is here, well almost...

Don't let this takatalvi hold you back, this time we have Meetup with Metaplay! They have prepared you seminar speakers from Metaplay's own and their customer's team. 👀

Also! April's Meetup is going to be this the last Helsinki Meetup before summer, because on May we have IGDA Finland's 20th birthday! psst. grab your birthday tickets here 😉

Your demo and this Meetup? Follow this link - we'll make it happen! 🕹️

Be there or be square!

Chat Corner! 💬 This has been a really popular and liked part of our Meetups, so why not make it better? If you have the interest to join, let us know in this short form and drop us your ideas for this corner!

WHAT:
IGDA Helsinki April Meetup x Metaplay

WHEN:
11.03.
Doors open at 17:00
Seminar starts at 18:00
Chat Corner is open between 17:00 - 21:00 (break during seminars)

WHERE:
Maxine, Kamppi shopping center, 6th floor (Elevators next to the Jungle Juice Bar at the bottom floor).

Maxine is wheelchair accessible! There's few steps at the entrance, for that please ask security at the cloakroom for an incline.

BUT I WANNA DEMO MY GAME:
If your game is awesome and you like to demo it, sign up here!

TL;DR:
- April Meetup on 11th
- Doors open at 17:00, seminars start 18:00
- Chat and Demo Corner are open!

Our March Meetup is coming closer and it is done with Next Games Moonloot Netflix game studios and Game Makers of Finland!

There's a lot to see this time. We have a bunch of seminars coming, a look into yearly salary survey and CV Corner with possibility to take new headshots!

Evenings guest speakers!

Saara Bergström, COO, Next Games
Introducing Netflix Finland

Reko Ukko, CCO, Next Games
Introducing Next Games

Mari Wallgren, Development Director, Moonloot
Introducing Moonloot

Milla Pennanen, Game Makers of Finland,
Peek into yearly salary survey's results

Chat Corner!  This has been a really popular and liked part of our Meetups, so why not make it better? If you have the interest to join, let us know in this short form and drop us your ideas for this corner!

If your demo should be on display, follow this link - we'll make space for your game

WHAT:
IGDA Helsinki March Meetup x Next Games Moonloot Netflix

WHEN:
14.03.
Doors open at 17:00
Seminar starts at 18:00
Chat Corner is open between 17:00 - 21:00 (break during seminars)

WHERE:
Maxine, Kamppi shopping center, 6th floor (Elevators next to the Jungle Juice Bar at the bottom floor).

Maxine is wheelchair accessible! There's few steps at the entrance, for that please ask security at the cloakroom for an incline.

BUT I WANNA DEMO MY GAME:
If your game is awesome and you like to demo it, sign up here!

TL;DR:
- March Meetup on 14th
- Doors open at 17:00, seminars start 18:00
- Chat and Demo Corner are open!

Save the date! More information to come :)

Welcome to IGDA Helsinki on the 17th of January!

This time we don't have seminars, so prepare to have time for catching up with your friends! If you’re new to IGDA meetups or in general looking to meet new people, we will be having Chat Corner waiting for you and Demo Corner available for showcasing your game!

WHAT:
IGDA Helsinki January Meetup

WHEN:
17.01.
Doors open at 17:00
Chat Corner is open between 17:00 - 20:00

WHERE:
Maxine, Kamppi shopping center, 6th floor (Elevators next to the Jungle Juice Bar at the bottom floor)

BUT I WANNA DEMO MY GAME:
Click this link and let’s get your game out!

The mandatory cloakroom fee is 2.5€

TL;DR:
- January Meetup on 17th
- Chat Corner is open!

Finally it’s FridAI!

FridAI brings Ambitious youth and professionals together around 
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and things defining our future.

IGDA Finland hosts this FridAI and we share AI cases on game development.

Programme from 3PM to 5PM:

Welcome / Waltteri Mäkinen, SAMK
– few words about FridAI / Peter Vesterbacka & Ronny Eriksson
– few words about IGDA Finland / Joonas Häll

Level up your game with AI
Christoffer Holmgård, Modl.ai

Adaptive AI Behavior in Stealth Games
Anton Petrushenkov, Bigger Scope

AI at its Core: Rival Peak - A Case Study
Chirstopher Hamilton, Genvid Technologies

Interactive discussion

*** More info and registration: 
https://www.ambitious.africa/ambitious-fridai

FridAI will be held on Deal Room platform which can also be used for networking. Please use couple of minutes to fill in your profile!

Welcome!