Retro Game Jam 2024

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Retro Game Jam 2024
Dates: May 17-19th, 2024
Location: Espoo Game LAB (A Grid, Otakaari 5, Espoo, Finland)

Retro Game Jam is for everyone interested in developing new games for older hardware. No prior experience on retro development is required, but we encourage to do some research of the platform of your choice before the jam.

There will be a selection of retro consoles with development tools available and of course you are welcome to bring your own. Mentoring help for getting started is available.

The jam will have a theme revealed on the spot. You can come alone or as a team. There will be short brainstorming and team forming session at the beginning. Espoo Game Hub is open for jamming around the clock. You are welcome to sleep on premises, but note that there are no sofas or anything provided by the location.

Please tell us if you have any special needs regarding movability, allergies etc. Please do not hesitate to ask anything from us! Everyone has access to the following:

  • Working space (table, chair, internet etc.)

  • Selection of retro consoles & televisions

  • Workshop / introduction to development hardware

  • Mentoring help for getting started

Discord server: https://discord.gg/FEgkQUJ8kV

List of hardware available for jammers by organizers:

  • Nintendo Game Boy / Game Boy Color with SD card reader

  • Nintendo Entertainment System with Mapper30 flash cart (NesMaker)

  • Nintendo Famicom with SD card reader

  • Nintendo Super Famicom with SD card reader

  • Nintendo 64 with SD card reader

  • Sega Mega Drive / Master System with SD card reader

  • Sega Saturn with SD card reader

  • Sega Dreamcast with SSD

  • Sony Playstation 1 with SD card reader

  • Sony PocketStation

  • NEC PC-Engine with SD card reader

  • Neo Geo Pocket with SD card reader

  • WonderSwan with SD card reader

  • Vectrex with SD card reader

  • MSX with CF card reader

  • Oscilloscope with PC connectors

  • CRT televisions

    This is primarily on-site game jam.     You are welcome to jam via Discord too, but we do not stream opening ceremony or organize team building in Discord. Submissions are open for everyone in Itch.io page. Register to the jam below!

JOIN THE JAM

Leadership Day: Call for Speakers

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Save the date for Leadership Day by IGDA Finland: September 30, 2024! This international event explores the company structures, team dynamics, and working cultures that make the best games, offering insights to vital but often overlook aspects of game development.

The call for speakers is open. Share your expertise on leadership topics such as team building, change management, DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion), accessibility, corporate culture, mentoring, CSR (corporate social responsibility), stakeholder management, remote team/company management, community management, conflict resolution, investor/publisher relations, outsourcing, or any leadership topic that you are passionate about. The deadline for applications is June 7, 2024.

Got an idea for a talk, a series of lightning talks, or a panel discussion that needs some fleshing out? Contact us at leadership (at) igda (dot) fi for support.

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

IGDA Finland Hub Highlight: Kajaani

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Burning straw goats and the booming games industry are some of the things Kajaani is known for, but how did this seemingly middle-of-nowhere hub become what it is today? Let’s find out!

In this first part of our hub highlight we dive into IGDA Kajaani, to find out who are they and why you should definitely visit their hub. We asked Kajaanis hub lead Tuomas Vartiainen to tell us a bit about their hub.

How did your hub get started and how old is it?
The IGDA Kajaani hub was founded in 2015, and it originally replaced an event called Industry Beer, where locals from the gamedev community gathered in Rock House Kulma, but now has grown into a much larger portion of the Kajaani gamedev culture.

What makes your hub special?
Our location comes with a fairly unique ecosystem with game companies and study opportunities. Kajaani is also just located very out of the way, despite that numerous people gather here to develop games within a healthy and good community. We always come up with new things to make our events more interesting and allow everyone to get involved.

What are some of the events, achievements, or other causes your hub is proud of?
For one of our more recent game jams, we collaborated with our local library to hold a game jam where children can take part in the development process by drawing in-game characters for the jammers to use. Yle News also ended up writing a couple of articles about the game jam.

What have been some of the struggles your hub has faced? Or anything you would wish to have?
Covid was the toughest struggle. Our hub was among the first to move online only, and we offered online seminars and meet-ups but of course people missed face-to-face meet-ups.
Our team of volunteers started out very small (3-4 people), so when people could not volunteer it had a large impact. Thankfully our volunteer team has grown a lot after Covid.

It has also been difficult to create a permanent feeling culture as students often have to move away after graduation due to the limited work market.

Where can people follow or find your hub?
You can find us on Facebook, Instagram, and Discord, they are all updated actively with our upcoming events!

Currently, Kajaani has 19 volunteers, and game companies such as  Critical Force & Black Smoke Studios are located in Kajaani.

Join the IGDA Game Accessibility SIG's European Conference

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The IGDA Game Accessibility Special Interest Group volunteers have worked since 2003 to aid the game industry in making games accessible for all, regardless of impairments or other limitations. The European conference is a hybrid event taking place in London and online April 22-23. Tickets for the streamed content and networking in Discord are free, but you must register in order to get the link for the remote networking.

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

Stay Ahead of the Curve with Games Job Fair Spring 2024 LITE

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Games Job Fair Spring 2024 LITE is arriving on April 18-19, with a free entrance, great talks and challenges, new opportunities, and your chance to have your CV and portfolio reviewed by top Finnish games studio, and careers industry recruiters!

Event Highlights:
🎮 Top online presentations
💬 Networking with games studios
💼 New job opportunities
💻 Visibility-boosting Challenges
📔 Onsite CV/Portfolio Reviews by studio recruiters

Join the team in Kamppi, Helsinki for CV and portfolio reviews

Onsite participants joining the day in Helsinki on the 19th of April need only to register on Eventbrite and show up nice and early to have their CVs reviewed by recruiters from Noice, Housemarque, Nitro Games, Varjo, Redhill Games, Games Jobs Finland, and more.

The art portfolio reviews will be done by Ivan Lugovoy, Senior Game Artist at Rovio and Juho Salila, Art Manager at Redhill Games.

As the queue for this onsite career-boosting day will work on a first come, first served basis, please ensure you arrive at the venue on time.

Unity and Sloyd Challenges
The Unity Programming Challenge and Code Review are back! Thomas Winkley will once again be joining the event. After the success of their Sloyd-in-a-Ball snow globe challenge at Games Job Fair Autumn 2023, Sloyd are also joining with a brand new Sloyd challenge and prizes. Be sure to keep an eye on the GFT website and socials for more information.

LinkedIn Live + Discord Combo
The online LinkedIn Live broadcast on the Games Factory Talents LinkedIn page will include a chat with studio representatives and speakers on the GFT Discord server, so join up and get your bearings. Be sure to also hit Attend on the LinkedIn event page and add the event to your calendars so you don’t miss out.

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

IGDA Finland Grant is here! 🎉

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We’ve been cooking this for a good while but it’s time to take it out and serve it while it’s hot! 🔥🔥
By starting smaller but offering a well rounded opportunity for small and fresh dev teams we think we can help lessen the threshold for people to get that game of theirs out.

This is the first iteration which we hope will become an annual event and can grow with your feedback.

Yet by focusing on a proper package of feedback from industry experts, visibility, a chance to take your game on our stages as well as marketing help from us, it’s more than just about money.

It’s the whole deal and we’re sure you’ll like it!

Yeah, we want to help you to release that game of yours! 🚀
So what are you waiting for? Check out: www.igda.fi/grant

IGDA Finland Grant is coming!

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IGDA Finland’s first and foremost goal is to support the developers within the Finnish game industry. It’s kind of in our name (International Game Developers Association), after all. The second is to help foster a community where these devs can thrive.

We do this in many different ways

  • 📆Monthly Meetups across Finland

  • 🤝Collaborating with other orgs within the industry

  • 🧠Help share knowledge and experience among the community

And now with the IGDA Finland Grant!

The idea is to go to the source and help indie devs working on their first games.

That’s right, we want to help you to finish that game of yours!

Full details will come out on www.igda.fi/grant in the beginning of March!


March Helsinki Meetup: Call for sponsor and speakers

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Hey IGDA Helsinki fam!

Due to a last-minute cancellation, there's a golden opportunity up for grabs for our March Helsinki Meetup! 🌟 One sponsor slot and a seminar slot are now available.

If you've been waiting for the perfect chance to shine or share your knowledge, this is it! Reach out to Iida Toimela, iida.toimela (at) igda.fi to seize the moment and be part of something unforgettable! ✨

Psst, speakers! This would be a great opportunity to practice your upcoming GDC (or other conference) talk.

Let's turn March into a month to remember!

PGC Returns to San Francisco March 18-19

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Pocket Gamer Connects, returns to San Francisco for the first time since 2018, taking place at the The Hibernia March 18-19.

The PGC crew will be running a whole host of side activities and curated matchmaking events to cater to everyone’s networking needs, like:

Investor Connector (application deadline: March 1)
Publisher SpeedMatch (application deadline: March 1)
The Global Connects Party
The Very Big Indie Pitch (Mobile Edition) (application deadline: March 8)
The Very Big Indie Pitch (PC + Console Edition) (application deadline: March 8)
The Big Indie Zone

Indie Developers can apply for a few complimentary Indie Expo Table in the Big Indie Zone by entering a competition.

They've partnered with MeetToMatch to ensure that a ticket to Pocket Gamer Connects San Francisco includes access to MeetToMatch: The San Francisco Edition beyond the conference. If you have a ticket to Pocket Gamer Connects, you can use the platform to make meetings all week at locations around the city. And with a Pocket Gamer Connects ticket, you will be able to use the Pocket Gamer Connects meeting zone at the lovely Hibernia Hotel to hold your meetings (even non-PGC users of MeetToMatch will be able to join you at our meeting tables).

The program has almost been finalized so if you’d like to submit a talk do it ASAP using the speaker submission form.

IGDA Finland members get 20% off their tickets when using promo code IGDAFinland20.

Get 15% Off Your Ticket to DevGAMM Gdansk

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On February 28-29 the heart of gaming will beat in Gdańsk as industry professionals gather for the next edition of DevGAMM.

DevGAMM is returning to Amber Expo in the magical city of Gdansk, Poland, for its second edition, after a great launch in March of last year with more than 550 professionals from 38 nations attending.

The full program, tickets and additional information is available on the conference website.

IGDA Members can use promo code DG_IGDA_15 for 15% off Business and Sessions tickets.

Catch the GDWC Awards in Tallinn

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The Game Development World Championship 2023 Winter Season has closed and the jury is deciding the winners across 18 categories. The winners will be announced on February 23rd, 2024 in an Awards Show in Tallinn, Estonia.

Join GDWC in celebrating the best indie games and the awesome developers behind the games! Event details and tickets here.

Categories and soon-to-be-announced Finalists can be found on the GDWC website.

The Awards Show will also be streamed in GDWC Youtube channel.

Last Call for Online Speakers for Games Gathering Lviv

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

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

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

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

Here is a list of IGDA Finland social media channels!

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

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

Design: Alise Hirvonen
Text: Vesna Grau

IGDA Finland Board of Directors 2023-2024

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

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

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

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

Graphics made by: Martijn Everling

Games Gathering Lviv Call for Speakers

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

We look forward to celebrating this exciting moment with you!

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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


Get -15% OFF - USE CODE: XMASLOVESIGDA

Get ticker https://www.xmasjkl.com


“Day Zero“at Digi & Game Center!

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

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

Sauna at the DGC 20:00-23.00

Read more about: Digi & Game Center

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

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

Give Your Career an Edge With Games Job Fair Autumn 2023

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

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

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

Event Highlights

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

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

Programming and Art Challenges

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

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

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

Animation and Creative Portfolio Reviews

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

New Workshops

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

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

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

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

More HypeHype’s Afterparty Goodness + Surprise Activity

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

How to Join

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

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

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

Catch the GDWC Award Show on Sept 21

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

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

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

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