March is here and spring is well on its way!

Escape the dready gray slush outside and join us on our March meetup. This meetup comes to you on March 5th as a multi-sponsor event supported by not one, not two, not three but FOUR Tampere’s awesome companies - Boom Corp, Red Stage Entertainment, Neatly Production and One Trick Entertainment.

Boom Corp is a games company founded in 2020 in Tampere, Finland. Boom Corp's first title Boom Slingers was launched globally in December 2020 and has since gained over 1,5 million players!

Red Stage Entertainment is a small and lovable indie game studio located in the left kidney of Finland (Tampere) and the creators of Skábma - Snowfall, a groundbreaking game inspired by indigenous Sámi stories and myths!

Neatly Production is a team of three individuals, each hailing from diverse professional backgrounds, united by a shared passion for the gaming industry. Currently, they are developing a virtual reality (VR) game, Punch A Plant!

One Trick Entertainment, the game studio behind LEMPO, is redefining the indie scene and celebrating the golden age of gaming.

The location is the usual Bar IHKU on Hämeenkatu 23. The doors open at 6:00pm / 18.00 and we have the nightclub side all for ourselves until 9:00pm / 21.00. After which you may move your jacket over to the karaoke side to continue your night with some songs.

So join us for some good company with fellow gamedev people and enthusiasts!

WHAT: IGDA Tampere March meetup with One Trick Entertainment, Neatly, Red Stage, and Boom Corp!
WHERE: Bar IHKU, Hämeenkatu 23 Tampere
WHEN: On March 5th, starting at 6:00pm!

Welcome to join us for October meetup at Pub Virasto on 20.10 from 18:00 forward! We are continuing with the casual theme, so there is no special program for the evening this time, just spending the evening together!

Virasto has some board games if you feel like playing or if you want to showcase your own game project, you are more than welcome to do so! Or maybe you feel like talking about upcoming or newly released games or about what has been happening in the industry with like minded people, welcome!

Let us know if you are coming: https://www.eventbrite.fi/e/igda-lahti-october-hang-out-tickets-730220417927

Are you ready for a grill party, Lahti style?!

Come join us at Pikku-Vesijärvi on July 14th (14.7), when we fire up the grill to serve you the most exquisite culinary food you can find; roiskeläppä.😎🍕

Yes, you read that right! Besides the very excellent roiskeläppä serving, during the evening you can hear about a new game studio established in Lahti, Paahtimo Games and get a change to play Latchback Games Break the Beyond mobile game!

Event begins at 17:00 and estimed time for grilling to start is around 17:30.

You are free to bring your own food to grill, IGDA Lahti will provide roiskeläppä's and some soft drinks!

NOTICE!

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

More info and place to let us know you are attending the event:

https://www.eventbrite.fi/e/roiskelappa-grill-party-tickets-662803993587

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!

With the help of a sponsor and a year worth of hard work IGDA Porvoo is hosting a Christmas party in celebration of becoming an official IGDA Finland Hub!

Event will be held as a private event at GG Bar & Cafe starting from 18:00 to 22:00. After that the Bar & Cafe will be open for public. We have 50 spots available, so make sure to sign up as soon as possible!

First ones to arrive will get free drink tickets! (Non-alcoholic options are also available). At the event you can also buy drinks and food while listening to the evening’s speakers and networking with other game developers.

The event itself can easily be visited by bus from either Helsinki or Kotka! We are also looking at the possibility of streaming the event on Twitch!

For more info about the event visit our Eventbrite site:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/igda-porvoo-xmas-party-tickets-464857921557

Join us for a talk by Games Talent Acquisition specialist Arja Martikainen and a Talentpool platform launc by Baltic Explorers! The event is aimed for students and hobbyist and is also open for indie game companies looking for new talents!

Baltic Explorers is a game industry project funded by the European Union and the Central Baltic programme. Talentpool has been created as part of the project to help students in finding internship & job opportunities and indie game developers & companies in finding new talents. Participants of the event will get access to the platform and can start finding their foothold in the in games industry!

During the event some delicious snack food, sweet and savory, is served.

The event is organized by Baltic Explorers in collaboration IGDA Lahti. Baltic Explorers is a game industry project funded by the European Union and the Central Baltic programme.

Speaker Bio - Arja Martikainen

Arja has been working for two decades in Finnish technology and creative industry companies. Former long-time HR Manager of Digital Chocolate Helsinki. Currently hands-on recruiter and guardian of Games Jobs Finland and Northstar Talent concepts at Barona IT. Long-time mentor, lecturer, HR advisor and an investor focusing on games and growth companies.

Organization: Games Jobs Finland, Barona IT

Title: Sr Consultant - Games Talent Acquisition

Website: gamesjobs.fi

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Speaker Bio - Katri Putkonen

Aim of the Game Dev Talentpool platform is to connect indie game developer and companies with new talents. If you are looking for new job, internship, employees or a new project, Game Dev Talentpool is the place to start!

Organization: Baltic Explorers, LAB University of Applied Sciences

Title: Project Expert

Website: https://gdtalentpool.eu/

Hello there, everyone!
Come join us at our next meetup on this Thursday 11.8. starting at 18:00 We'll be having another BBQ at Jokipuisto, Karhula while the weather is still summer-ish.
The after party will be hosted by our friends from Kuura.

Meet-up for Game devs and anyone interested in Game Development!

The event is organized by IGDA Lahti in collaboration with Baltic Explorers.

During the evening you will have chance to chat with Baltic Explorers project staff and teams, enjoy delicious BBQ buffet plus network with other Game Developers.

Pogram

17:00 Doors & Sign In open | GastroPub Mylly, Vuorikatu 35, 15110 Lahti

17:10 Opening words – Baltic Explorers & IGDA Lahti | Ria Gynther

17:20-17:50 PANEL - The path of an indie dev, two views from Lahti

Panelist: Janika Suhonen, Hope for Winter & Toni Tilsala, Latchback Games

Host: Ria Gynther

17:50-18:00 Intoduction to Sore Thumbs Sound: Juho Helppi & Teemu Ylämäki

18:00 BBQ Buffe opens

19:00 Demo Corner opens

(we have loads of room if you want to present your own Game/project!)

20:00 End of the (official) event

—

Click the Tickets link to acquire a spot at the event.

Food Allergies and Restrictions:
Please inform all allergies and restrictions 7 days before the event.

If you have any questions, please contact: katri.putkonen[at]lab.fi

Hello there everyone!

IGDA Kotka is extending its wings!

Kouvola Meetup on 4.5. at 18:00 at the Betony Gastropub.

Come join us there and have a concrete good time.

Hello everyone!

Come join us at our next Meetup on the 20.1 starting at 18:00.

We'll be having an online Meetup at our discord channel because of the current state of things.

The main focus of this Meetup will be our DnD campaigns character building workshop! We'll also be discussing some key things about the campaign.

Everyone is welcome as usual whether you play DnD or not.

We hope to see you there!

Hello everyone!

Prepare yourselves for our Christmas party on the 3rd of December at Players Sports Bar!

Baltic Explorers has graciously sponsored us with the venue and food. We will also have drink tickets sponsored by Nitro Games, Game Makers of Finland and Kukouri.

Official after-party at Kuura Games venue with no pre-registration.

We strongly advise you to bring a facemask with you and if you are feeling unwell we kindly ask you to not participate.

Get your free ticket here.

We hope to see you there!

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Hello again!

Are you too eagerly waiting for the Christmas party? Only 3 weeks to go until December the 3rd and the party at Players Sports Bar!

Venue and food are sponsored by Baltic Explorers and drink tickets sponsored by Nitro Games, Game Makers of Finland and Kukouri.

Official after-party at Kuura Games venue that does not require pre-registration.

We recommend you to bring a facemask with you and if you are feeling unwell we kindly ask you to not participate.

There are still tickets left! Get yours quickly!

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Hello there!

Still haven't got a ticket? Now is the time to get one! 

Only 2 weeks to go until December the 3rd and the party at Players Sports Bar!

Venue and food are sponsored by Baltic Explorers and drink tickets sponsored by Nitro Games, Game Makers of Finland and Kukouri.

Official after-party at Kuura Games venue that does not require pre-registration.

We recommend you to bring a facemask with you and if you are feeling unwell we kindly ask you to not participate.

______________________________________________________________________________________
Hello again everyone!

Notice! We will be requiring a COVID-19 Passport from everyone joining the party!

Wow! It seems that everybody wants to come and party with us! Our ticket quota is now full, but you can still get on our waitlist for a chance to join the party.

But do not worry, if you still want to participate you can enter the waitlist to get your ticket if somebody cancels their booking. And the afterparty doesn't require you to have a ticket, so feel free to come there even if you can't get your hands on a ticket for the main event.

See you at the party!

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Hello there!

I’ll go straight to the point; there will be no afterparty for the Christmas Party due to the new Covid-19 limitations and the fact that I don't want to stuff too many people in a small space without being able to make sure it is safe to do so. I could go on with all the explanations about this, but frankly I don't think it would really matter at this point.

The partying doesn't have to end to that though, Players will be open after the party so we can continue partying there after the official event ends.

To end on a positive note, I still think we are going to have one of the best christmas parties, we have ever organized despite of everything going on. I also know that this is and will only be the first step on our path to making 2022 and the following years the best time yet to be a part of IGDA Kotka in the whole Kymenlaakso area.

Kristo Juurinen

Hub Lead of IGDA Kotka

Hello everyone!

Our next meetup will be on the 16th of September, stay tuned for more information about the location of the event.

This event will be special! We're inviting the Game Programming first-year students from Xamk.

We hope to see you there!

UPDATE

Hello everyone!

We're having our next meetup at Katariinan Meripuisto! The date was announced earlier but as a reminder it's on September 16th from 18:00 onward.

We're going to grill some food and hang out!

Also as a reminder because of the current state of the world we encourage people to stay home if they are feeling sick, we will provide hand sanitizer on-site and please bring a mask with you in case we need to move indoors!

Remember to dress warm, it's not summer anymore!

Good news everyone!

We're having a live Meetup for the first time in a long while!

Come join us at Katariinan Meripuisto in Kotka on the 19th of August starting at 18:00.

We're going to grill some food and hang out in person!

Please remember what times we're living in, if you are not feeling well, refrain from coming to the Meetup and join us next time when you are feeling better. Also remember to bring a mask just in case and use the hand sanitizer which will be provided by us at the site.

UPDATE

Bad news everyone!

Unfortunately due to poor weather conditions expected on Thursday, we're not going to have the BBQ Meetup.

Instead we'll be having an online Meetup at our Discord server. Join us there for some games and chatting! (time and date are still the same)

Hello people!

Come join us at our next online Meetup on the 20th of May starting at 18:00!

We’re having some interesting speakers over; Teemu Kokkonen (FGJ), J. Häll (IGDA) and Milla Pennanen (Game Makers of Finland).

We hope to see you there!

More details on our Discord server: https://discord.gg/7EeNy9D

The event is getting ever closer, our guests in the upcoming May Meetup:

Teemu Kokkonen, FGJ

During the day Teemu Kokkonen is a game programmer and designer doing hyper casual games at Lightneer in Helsinki. At night, he is the president of the Finnish Game Jam organization, which organizes and supports the game jamming scene in Finland and promotes it globally.

Milla Pennanen, GMOF (Game Makers of Finland)

Milla is one of the founders of the Game Makers of Finland. With a strong background in labour union activities and her network with game and tech companies she is perfectly poised to stand up for the workers within the industry. As an enthusiastic gamer she, like all of us, wants to keep getting new games but not at the expense of the people who make them.

J. Häll, IGDA Finland

A cheeky nerd with a long history of pen & paper RPG's, LARPing and, naturally, video games. Spends most of his time teaching game design at Metropolia and as a game dev at Totally Valid Company. But once work is done it's time for the good stuff, being the chair of IGDA Finland.

An organisation that supports game devs, from students to veterans, across all of Finland and works constantly to keep up the unique community we have.

Hello people!

Come join us at our next online Meetup on our Discord server on the 29.4 starting at 18:00.

We’re hanging out and might play some games depending on what people want to do. Come chat and chill with us.

We hope to see you there!

Link to our Discord.

Welcome to IGDA Kotka Monthly Meetup picnic on Thursday, the 10th of September!
Meet us at Karhulan Jokipuisto from 18:00 ->
The grill will be hot, so if you want to eat, bring something you want to grill.

We remind you that Covid 19 is still a thing and if you are feeling sick please stay at home. Also, we remind you that if you want to participate in this event live, you do it at your own risk.

There will be an afterparty at Kuura almost next to the park. Please bring your own towels for the sauna and swimming pool. You can also bring your own drinks for the afterparty.

Welcome to IGDA Kotka Monthly Meetup picnic on Thursday, the 13th of August!

Meet us at Karhulan Jokipuisto from 18:00 ->

The grill will be hot, so if you want to eat bring something you want to grill.

We remind you that Covid 19 is still a thing and if you are feeling sick please stay at home. Also, we remind you that if you want to participate in this event live, you do it at your own risk.

There will be an afterparty at Kuura almost next to the park. Please bring your own towels for the sauna and swimming pool. You can also bring your own drinks for the afterparty.