Hubs = Local Activities
We roughly divide all our activities to be either national or local. IGDA Finland Hubs are self organised cells focused 100% on what makes the most sense to their local developers. Most of our activities now happen outside of the capital area thanks to the vibrant scenes all over Finland and collaborative special events are becoming more common. All hubs are committed to hold a number of meetups per year that are free to attend for everyone.
IGDA Finland is committed to keeping our community safe for everyone and has a zero-tolerance policy on harassment in any and all of its forms - please read our Code of Conduct.
Helsinki
Where it all began. Helsinki hosts the longest running game developer gatherings with frequent seminar series and sponsors. We average around 500 visitors per gathering. Actively looking for new volunteers! If you are interested in sponsoring an IGDA gathering in Helsinki, please contact helsinki [at] igda.fi
Lead: Iida Toimela
Anti-Harassment contact person(s):
Iida Toimela, Riikka Kilpeläinen & Joonas Häll
Upcoming Meetups
Turku
Gatherings in the Turku region started out in 2011 with the game development club LOAD arranging the first Turku Game Developers Gathering. Our gaming community is growing rapidly and we are excited about upcoming events, welcome aboard!
Lead: Oskari Tamminen
Anti-Harassment contact person(s):
Susanna “Tipi” Ilmonen & Anton Laaksonen
Upcoming Meetups
Tampere
Tampere Hub is built around an active game development community. We have a number of notable game development companies and a large pool of enthusiasts with great potential.
Lead: Lauri Komulainen
Anti-Harassment contact person(s):
Saara Korhonen & Pekka Nordlund
Upcoming Meetups
Jyväskylä
The Jyväskylä region has held game developers gatherings since 2012 with EXPA and in 2013 forces were joined with IGDA Finland Hubs to attract and help the local game dev scene even more. The Digi & Game Center was established 2020-01-01 www.digigamecenter.org
In any questions, contact
valtteri.lahti@expa.fi or
tuomas.roininen@expa.fi
Leads: Valtteri Lahti & Tuomas Roininen
Anti-Harassment contact person(s): Mira Oja
Upcoming Meetups
Kymenlaakso
Kymenlaakso Hub (former Kotka Hub) is home to more than 100 hundred game developers & students. Kotka Game Developers (KGD) have been arranging gatherings since 2012. IGDA hub status was reached in 2014.
Hub Leads can be contacted about volunteering and sponsorships via email kymenlaakso@igda.fi
Leads: Eero Särkiniemi & Pernilla Mickos
Anti-Harassment contact person(s): Eero Särkiniemi, Pernilla Nicky Mickos, Jenna Toivonen, Jesse Rinneranta
Upcoming Meetups
Pori
Pori Hub has gathered game enthusiasts together since October 2015, officially as IGDA Hub since May 2016. The network is young, active and evolving. We cooperate with local game studios, game-related companies and local academies. Welcome aboard to our monthly gatherings and other events!
In any questions, contact pori@igda.fi
Leads: Jani Gröhn & Violeta Ivanova
Anti-Harassment contact person(s): Mikko Lasonen, Karoliina Aho
Upcoming Meetups
Vaasa
We bring together game developers from all over Ostrobothnia. Our goal is to build viable network and promote vivid collaboration between game startups, individual developers and students. You are warmly welcome to join our gatherings!
Lead: Patrick Latvasalo
Anti-Harassment contact person:
Sebastian Laitila
Upcoming Meetups
Outokumpu-Joensuu
Joensuu hub promotes game development in Joensuu area, creates a hub for gaming startups and more importantly, organises awesome events together!
Leads: Lukki Virtanen (Joensuu) & Antti Piironen (Outokumpu)
Anti-Harassment contact person(s): Antti Piironen & Maria Maksimainen
Upcoming Meetups
Kajaani
Kajaani Hub has had an active community since 2011, supported by Finland’s first academic education with comprehensive game studies that keep up to date with the industry trends. Kajaani #gamecity keeps on growing! Feel welcome to drop by!
Lead: Kim Kupiainen
Co-Lead: Tuomas Vartiainen
Anti-Harassment contact person(s):
Kim Kupiainen, Johanna Puirava, Jyri Niskanen
Upcoming Meetups
Oulu
We are totally cool and awesome and indie. Our mission is to bring all the local game people together and help them to set up good networks and have the best parties. We are also trying to make the business environment better for the dozens of game-startups that are born here every year.
Contact us about volunteering and sponsorships via email: oulu@igda.fi
Lead: Aleksi Kariniemi
Anti-Harassment contact person(s):
Aleksi Kariniemi & Kristian Kallio
Upcoming Meetups
Rovaniemi
We have graphics/audio/storyteller students from Lapland University, Programmers from Lapin AMK, 3d-modellers from Lao and personnel from companies. Arctic IGDA Finland Hub near Santa Claus and reindeers. During dark winters there is plenty of time to create games and during midsummer nights it’s impossible to sleep, so we are making games.
Lead: Samuli Valkama
Anti-Harassment contact person(s): Samuli Valkama
Upcoming Meetups
Kuopio
Kuopio hub promotes game development in Kuopio area, creates a hub for gaming startups and more importantly, organises awesome events!
In any questions, contact kuopio@igda.fi
Events & Socials: linktr.ee/igdakuopiohub
Lead: Adam Al-Sawad & Janne Mikkola
Anti-Harassment contact person(s):
Jaakko Vesterinen
Upcoming Meetups
Lahti
Lahti hub, est. 2019, is based on the work done by GameChangers (ESF & LAMK), UnityTreenit (City of Lahti) and active game jam culture maintained by Tingleware in the area for the past few years. Lahti has talented student pool but no organized structure on how to network or develop student projects and other game ideas further. Aim of the hub in Lahti is to encourage and enable new success stories!
Events & Socials:
https://linktr.ee/igdalahti
Lead: Juulia Lidman
Deputy lead: Mika Savolainen
Anti-Harassment contact person(s):
Juulia Lidman & Mika Savolainen
Upcoming Meetups
Porvoo
Porvoo became an official hub in 2023! Our mission is to enhance the local game development scene with the help of local game development students, studios and developers. Not many companies in Porvoo, but a lot of people working in the field due to Porvoo being close to Helsinki and Kotka!
For collaboration & questions contact: Porvoo@igda.fi
Events & Socials: https://linktr.ee/igdaporvoo
Lead: Olli Juhola
Anti-Harassment contact person(s):
Olli Juhola & Maura Ruopsa
Upcoming Meetups
Ostrobothnia
Bothnia Game Devs is a vibrant community hub based in the regions of Jakobstad and Kokkola, dedicated to connecting game developers, educators, and enthusiasts. We host a variety of events, including game jams, networking lunches, and excursions, all designed to foster collaboration and knowledge exchange. Our community welcomes individuals at all levels of game development, offering support and resources to help you navigate the gaming industry.
Events & Social:
https://discord.gg/EcH4vZaKFD
Lead: Benjamin Vehling
Anti-Harassment contact person(s):
Benjamin Vehling
Upcoming Meetups
Digihub is a 2021-created online hub formed and powered by people around Finland. We help Finnish game hubs with streams, marketing, art and other projects that could be beneficial for a larger audience. Feel free to contact us if you have something you would like to share!
Lead: Ren
IGDA Future is a project that is the first of its kind in the world. Functioning under the same principles as IGDA, our goal is to support and encourage young bright minds to join the world of game development!
The program has activities and meetups with partners across Finland and we are aiming to spread the initiative to the global level. If you are interested to join us in this mission, please be in contact the lead coordinator Natasha Skult.
