Housemarque's Multiplayer Madness gave a kick start to IGDA fall season 2008

IGDA fall season 2008 got a kick start last Tuesday when Housemarque brought out the fruits of their labor. Housemarque released Golf: Tee it up! and SuperStardust HD Team Expansion in June. SSD HD is one of top ranked best-sellers at PSN and team expansion truly was something people were really in for.

Housemarque also introduced drink ticket mingle. IGDA visitors got two basic drink tickets and one cocktail ticket. With two types of drink tickets the idea was to encourage people to trade their tickets and chat with new people. Drink ticket mingle was a solid success and will be carried out in the future as well!

There was a constant flow of people throughout the night. The total number of visitors went up to 174. Even if the total number wasn't IGDA Finland's record the number of first timers certainly was impressive – there were 45 new visitors! Housemarque Multiplayer Madness was just a start. IGDA fall season 2008 will be full of novelties and interesting action. Check out igda.fi for news!

Housemarque would also like to thank you all for joining the party:

"Many thanks for all of you attending "Multiplayer Madness" evening on behalf of Housemarque. If you didn't attend, we are sorry we didn't notice that at all as we were all so busy having fun! Our first sponsored IGDA evening turned out to be a great success and people enjoyed playing round after round of our multiplayer games - "Super Stardust HD" and "Golf: Tee it Up!". The introduction of "happy-hour booze" drink tickets seemed to elevate the feeling even further.

As a company, we continue on developing new and exciting downloadable console games. We are in the process of adding new team members in the near future. If you think you are up to the task of working with some of the best developers in this industry and would like to create some of the coolest games on this planet, do let us know. Whether it's reinvigorating some of the most beloved genres, thinking of a new kind of puzzle game or creating head exploding action, we are on our way to do this and much, much more!

Best, Ilari - CEO of Housemarque"

Last but not least: IGDA would like to give special thanks to Samsung for smooth collaboration! Samsung screens were well on display together with the games.

September Gathering - Tuesday 16th

Greetings fellow developers! The next IGDA pub night will be already on 16th September. Join us to say farewell to System Rock and its great staff!

IGDA pub nights will move to Cuba starting October. Nope, not to the country but to the bar which is located at Erottaja. And who knows, we might also have some additional program for September gathering. We will keep you informed and hope to see you all at System Rock!

*IGDA FINLAND SEPTEMBER GATHERING* Place: System Rock, Keskuskatu 4, 00100 Helsinki (map: http://igda.fi/?page_id=5) Time: Tuesday 16th September, doors open at 19.00 See you there!

August Gathering - Tuesday 26th

Hello world! It’s time to go back to work. But don’t worry, IGDA Gatherings will smooth your return by offering hot topics for discussion, some kick-ass entertainment and good-old chat with fellow developers.

Housemarque themselves would like to invite you to the meeting:

Housemarque presents "Multiplayer Madness IGDA Evening". Housemarque's premium downloadable console games on PSN & XBLA offer enjoyable multiplayer gaming experience. You are welcomed to come and play intense four-player multiplayer matches of the "Team Expansion" pack of the PSN hit game "Super Stardust HD". Blasting your friend's spaceship into smithereens has never been so fun! If you prefer a bit slower pace, you can try a few holes of arcade golf. The first ever XBLA game developed by a Finnish game studio is also present and you are able to beat the competition and hit some birdies during a round multiplayer match of "Golf: Tee It Up!".

Hope to see you all there - Cheers, prost, kippis, skål!

*IGDA FINLAND AUGUST GATHERING* Place: System Rock, Keskuskatu 4, 00100 Helsinki (map: http://igda.fi/?page_id=5) Time: Tuesday 26th August, doors open at 19.00 Also just to remind you: here are the preliminary dates for IGDA Gatherings for season 2008-2009. Remember to add them to your calendar!

Fall 2008: August 26th September 16th October 7th November 11th December 9th

Spring 2009: January 6th February 10th March 10th April 7th May 5th June 9th

June Gathering: Playful interaction is the next trend in games!

Finnish casual game start-up Everyplay wanted to give a kick start to summer vacations on 10th of June when the last IGDA Gathering was held before the summer break.

IGDA June Gathering sponsored by Everyplay drew room full of developers to join the party. You could clearly notice the closeness of summer vacation because the chat went around summer plans more than work related stuff and industry news.

Jussi Laakkonen the CEO of Everyplay gave a short presentation of the company. For many Jussi was previously known as the Business Development Director of Bugbear. This time he talked convincingly about casual games and how the current games are just the tip of the iceberg. Everyplay believed tha games are for all and playful interaction is getting common outside game industry as well.

Everyplay is developing a platform which enables the creation of novel types of social games / web services. At the moment Everyplay is a team of five but they are looking for new talent to join the company. If you have what it takes and are willing to take the challenge, get in touch with Everyplay.

We will see you all again at the end of August with exciting news from the local game industry! IGDA team want to thank you all for a great season. Have a relaxing vacation and have fun!

June gathering - Tuesday 10th

Hello people! As the summer holiday season approaches fast and the temperature is on the rise, we offer you the last IGDA Finland Gathering before the holiday breaks!

Escape the hot summer sun at System Rock. Welcome drinks and conversation topics by Everyplay!

*IGDA FINLAND JUNE GATHERING* Place: System Rock, Keskuskatu 4, 00100 Helsinki (map: http://igda.fi/?page_id=5) Time: Tuesday 10th June, doors open at 19.00

So come and party with us!