IGDA Finland End of the Year Highlight

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This year we hosted over 250+  meetups from all over Finland!

These events involved regular meetups, tabletop game nights, game jams, game dev lunches, picnics, hub visits, collaborations between hubs and other organizations, and much more!

Grant

The first-ever IGDA Finland Grant was announced, and it went to the talented team at End-all Entertainment and their game Paradigm Island!

Finnish Game Awards 2024

At the Finnish Game Awards 2024, this year’s IGDA Volunteer of the Year 2023 went to  Nova Salmivaara.

#LastOnline

This year we were honored to take part in the Blood Donation Campaign #LastOnline, which have been shared at our hubs, and highlighted on our posts!

The Campaign will run until the end of the year so there is still time to save lives:

More things that happened this year:

  • We got a new hub: Ostrobothnia, a vibrant community led by Benjamin Vehling in the regions of Jakobstad and Kokkola. 

  • Leadership Day by IGDA Finland was part of Finnish Games Week together with PGC Helsinki and W <3 Games.

  • Kajaani Hub celebrated its first Kajaani Game Awards.

  • Lahti Hub celebrated its 5th anniversary

  • Peliosuuskunta Expa / Jyväskylä Hub, became the northmost Unreal Authorized Training Center.

  • Continue to support the art event Theme Park Finland.

  • This year you could find popular chat corner at events like PGC and W Love Games.

Find out when our next year’s events are by checking out the calendar or by following our hubs directly from our Linktree: https://linktr.ee/igdafinland 

We have also worked on improving things inside IGDA Finland, such as spicing up hubs leads meetings with useful workshops, improving our anti-harassment work, general communication, collaboration and onboarding. We will continue working on these next year as well.

Thank you to the current board members. Kristo Juurinen, Vesna Grau, Jami Andersson, Niko Pyrhönen and of course our beloved chairperson JJ Häll.

We will continue the work with IGDA Finland together with a new board that is filled with folk of high talent!

With the lead of our new chairperson Kim Kupiainen, we will also have Karoliina Kuutti, Jonne Taivassalo, Emma Varjo, Joeli Niva, Vesa Raudasoja, Aleksi Kariniemi and Emma Von Munthe Af Morgenstierne Vantaa.

As our advisors we will have, Christopher Hamilton, Natasha Skult, Teemu Haila, Jay Ranki, JJ Häll, Niko Pyrhönen and Jami Andersson. They will ensure that whatever we do, provides the highest value to the community.

This year has been challenging for many in our community, with significant hardships affecting individuals and companies across the game industry. We acknowledge the struggles that many of you have faced and emphasize that IGDA Finland remains committed to being a support network for you. Our hubs, events, and special interest programs will continue to be available to help connect, uplift, and inspire our community as we navigate these uncertain times together.

If you or your company want to support our work, please explore our JOIN US page or consider volunteering with one of our amazing HUBS

IGDA Finland Summer Meetups part 2

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Are you still wondering what to do this Summer? The IGDA Finland hubs are holding events all around Finland; from mini golfing to grilling and summer parties.

Kajaani

When: Tuesday, 25th of June at 18:00
What: Join us at Rantapuisto (or in case of bad weather, Rock House Kulma) for a get-together where we'll catch up with fellow community members and unwind after a long day. We'll bring our summer pal BBQ, you bring the snack to sizzle!
Where: Rantapuisto
More info: Event Page

Kymenlaakso (Kotka)

When: Thursday, 27th of June at 18:00
What: BBQ meetup at beautiful Jokipuisto in Kotka. Sausages and condiments are sponsored by the Finnish Game Jam and some non-alcoholic drinks are also provided! Feel free to also bring your own grillables as well! The afterparty is hosted by Kuura!
Where: Jokipuisto
More info: Event Page

Porvoo

When: Thursday, 18th of July at 18:00
What: Minigolf and Grilling! The event will be held as a private event in the Porvoo Minigolfkeskus. At the venue there will be minigolf, billiard, darts and a grill!
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 afterparty will be held at the Porvoo Game Club / IGDA Porvoo Club house!
Where: Porvoo Minigolfkeskus
More info: Event Page

Oulu

When: Friday, 19th of July
What: Teekkaritalo Summer Party
Where: Teekkaritalo
More info: Coming up on IGDA Finland Discord with the role “?Oulu”:
Discord

Lahti

When: Friday, 19th of July at 17:30
What: IGDA Lahti grill party, IGDA Lahti will provide grilled sausages to the event. You are also welcome to bring your own foods to grill.
Where: Pikku-Vesijärvi
More info: Link to event sign up

Helsinki

When: Tuesday, 13th of August at 17:00
What: Rovio Summer Party
Where: Maxine
More info: Coming soon

IGDA Finland has now a Linktree, find all our hubs in one place and special events like Leadership Day 2024!

IGDA Finland Summer Meetups Around Finland ☀️

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Many hubs will be having events during the summer, if you’re itching to meet new people or just curious to see what other hubs have to offer, now is a great time to do so!

 

Turku Hub

When: Tuesday, June 4 at 18.00
What: Fakefish is turning 10 years old this year and Turku gamedev community is organizing a “surprise” party (to which it is not much of a surprise now, is it? But FF team promised to be totally surprised as they arrive) with appreciation and celebration of their incredible journey!
Where: Aura riverside Saaristobaarin Kesäterassi (in case of rain the party will be moved to Saaristobaari at Aurakatu 14)
More info: Link

Kymenlaakso Hub in Kouvola

When: Thursday, June 6th at 18.00
What: Picnic
Where: Urheilupuisto in Kouvola
More info: Link

On the 27.6 Kotka will have a BBQ at 18:00 in Jokipuisto with afterparty at Kuura.

Lahti Hub

When: Friday, June 7th at 17.30
What: Picnic with a twist: Liha/Vihispiirakka Grill Party
Where: Pikku Vesijärvi
More info: Link

Oulu hub

When: Friday, 19.07.2024
What: Summer party
Where: Teekkaritalo
More info: Coming up on IGDA Finland Discord with the role “?Oulu”:
Discord

Kajaani Hub

Will be having events, which are most likely going to be a lot of outdoor activities.
Join their Discord Channel to know when the next upcoming event is:
Kajaani Discord



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!


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