IGDA

Webinar: Interaction Design & Prototyping for XR with Unity's Authorized Training Partner
2021-05-26 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York)
Presented by Circuit Stream and ThinkEDU
Join us Wednesday May 26 at 1pm ET on twitch.tv/igda
RSVP here!

IGDA Las Vegas Game Dev Meet Up
2021-06-01 18:00, 2021-07-06 18:00, 2021-08-03 18:00 (America/New_York)
Meet ups are the first Tuesday of the month.
Join the IGDA Las Vegas Discord community: https://discord.gg/igdalasvegas
For more information, visit: https://www.meetup.com/IGDA-Las-Vegas-Game-Development-Meetup/events/

Chinese in Games SIG Seminar
2021-06-05
Join us on Discord this Saturday (6/5) for Chinese in Games’ FIRST SEMINAR: We love playing games, so we ultimately get into the Gaming industry!!!
Register here

DeVry Webinar: Mapping Your Career Goals
2021-06-08 12:00 - 12:30 (America/New_York)
June 8th – 12 – 12:30pm EST
Mapping Your Career Goals: Guided Activity & Path Planning
Learn to drive your own professional development plan in this interactive workshop. Identify specific career goals to pursue an actual position at your company and discover your relevant interests, strengths and skills.

Register here.

Webinar: Cheaters’ Secrets Unveiled
2021-06-22 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York)
Cheaters’ Secrets Unveiled: How cheaters operate in video games and how to counteract them
No one likes playing against cheaters in competitive games. Unfortunately, more and more cheaters are targeting mobile games as they are the most popular platform lately. Studies show that 77% of gamers said that they would leave a competitive multiplayer game where there are cheaters.
Luckily there are ways to protect against many of cheats. Join Denuvo’s Mobile Protection product owner, Christian Koidl for this exclusive IGDA webinar session to find out more about:

Some of the threats Denuvo have encountered, how they work and affect the gamers’ experience
Why it’s important to implement countermeasures to protect your game against those threats
The security measures every mobile app game developer and publisher should take to protect their mobile game

Join us on Tuesday 22 June, 2021 at 12pm ET over at twitch.tv/igda!
RSVP

Serious Play Conference
2021-06-23 - 2021-06-25
The Serious Play Conference is a leadership conference for professionals who are exploring the use of game-based learning, sharing their experience and working together to shape the future of training and education. Speakers from all parts of the globe share their knowledge and experience creating or using games or simulations in the corporation, classroom, healthcare institution, government, military and many other industries, offering tips on how to move game-based education programs ahead. Attendees listen, share and participate actively in informal sessions and workshops. Those working on games get input from the community. Those going back to improve their own organizations take with them a network of professionals, allowing them to continue to discuss their own challenges and get input from peers.
Serious Play Conference has become the best place to learn about and then continue to keep current on the rapid changes and evolution of serious games, the industry that is shaping the future of training and education.

Join us June 23 – 25, 2021. IGDA Members save 25% on tickets to the main conference and DevCon – visit the Discount page for the code!

Inclusivity Game Jam by BackTrace
2021-06-25 - 2021-06-27
Backtrace is all about creating better game experiences. For this Game Jam, our goal is to celebrate inclusivity and encourage teams to create inspiring game projects in just 48 hours. The winner of the Game Jam will receive a Playstation 5 Console!

Join the Jam!

GamesIndustry.biz Best Places To Work Awards
2021-07-08
The GamesIndustry.biz Best Places To Work Awards is the only event to celebrate employer excellence specifically for the video games industry.
The awards event has taken place in London for the UK market for the past four years, and on July 8th, 2021 will be coming to the US with an all-digital event featuring talks and sessions on major HR issues, such as challenges around COVID-19, inclusion and diversity.
Participation in the awards is strictly confidential ( they will only reveal the winners), and those that don’t make the final cut (and even those that do) can receive their employee scores in order to identify any areas of improvements. The awards are free to take part.

Hobbyist to Professional Game Dev Panel
2021-07-08 18:00 - 19:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Eventbrite
For any game devs who are currently hobbyists or amateur this panel will be an opportunity to hear from people like you who have successfully transitioned into the professional space. Whether they’ve started a successful independent studio, a career at one of the big gaming companies, a successful freelance career—or a little of all the above—our panelists will be giving some insight into the steps they took to become professionals in gaming.
Register for free here.

Ally Skills Workshop 2 presented by the IGDA Allies SIG x IGDA Los Angeles
2021-07-10 12:00 - 15:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Eventbrite
Looking for practical, actionable diversity and inclusion training that people love? The Ally Skills Workshop teaches simple everyday techniques people can use to make their workplaces more inclusive. This highly interactive workshop helps people recognize when they have power and influence—when they can best act as an ally—and learn how to take effective action to make their workplace better.
Register here.

Pocket Gamer Connects Digital #7
2021-07-12 - 2021-07-16
The Global Games Industry Conference ONLINE
Monday, July 12th – Friday, July 16th 2021
Following six fantastic digital events over the course of 2020 and the first half of 2021, Pocket Gamer Connects will return in July with another world-welcoming online conference.
A Pocket Gamer Connects online conference is the perfect way to meet, learn from, and do business with over 1,500 games industry professionals, and over 250 speakers. We’ve run 28 Connects events now since 2014, and we’re excited to continue connecting the global games industry.
As one of the expected 1,500 attendees, you will have access to an innovative online platform for five days in July 2021. You’ll be able to select from a programme of great live video content full of insight and practical advice across 20+ themed conference tracks. You can watch the tracks live or catch up on the recorded videos within your own time, and if you’re online while the speakers are performing you’ll be able to interact with them and the other viewers with questions and comments.
Business goes on, and people need to make new connections! So in addition to the talks, you’ll also be able to search and connect with other attendees. You can find people, connect, discuss, do deals and make plans using the MeetToMatch online meeting platform. It enables you to search by a range of professional criteria and automatically schedules one-to-one video meetings.
Additionally, we’re running online versions of these fringe events so you can connect through multiple avenues:

Investor Connector [https://www.pgconnects.com/digital/investor-connector/]
Publisher SpeedMatch [https://www.pgconnects.com/digital/publisher-speedmatch/]
The Big Indie Pitch (Mobile Edition) [https://www.pgconnects.com/digital/the-big-indie-pitch-mobile-edition/]
The Big Indie Pitch (PC + Console Edition) [https://www.pgconnects.com/digital/the-big-indie-pitch-pc-console-edition/]
Journalist Bar [https://www.pgconnects.com/digital/journalist-bar/]
Discord server [https://www.pgconnects.com/digital/discord-server/]
Games Jobs Live [https://www.pgconnects.com/digital/games-jobs-live/]

So book your tickets now and join us in July for Pocket Gamer Connects Digital #7.
We’re also allocating a limited amount of free passes solely for small indie developers, enabling them to meet with investors and publishers, and learn from the industry’s biggest names. If you think you qualify, sign up here.

Game Developer Conference
2021-07-19 - 2021-07-23
IGDA Members save 10% on tickets (get the code from the Discounts page) – register today!

SketchClub Online
2021-08-06 11:30 - 14:30, 2021-08-20 11:30 - 14:30, 2021-09-03 11:30 - 14:30, 2021-09-17 11:30 - 14:30, 2021-10-01 11:30 - 14:30 (America/New_York)
The IGDA Game Art SIG warmly invites you to SketchClub Online—a FREE (roughly) bi-weekly event kindly sponsored by SAE Institute Zurich and hosted by author and designer Chris Solarski with the purpose of exploring traditional and contemporary approaches to figure sketching and character design. Attendees are encouraged to participate in artistic challenges prescribed for each each session, for which Chris is on hand to offer advice and support. Although the SketchClub can also be used as an informal online meet-up where participants are free to work on personal projects while discussing all character, art-design and career-related topics. All skill levels are welcome, from complete beginners to advanced, and there are no restrictions on which media is used (i.e. pencil/paper, Photoshop, Procreate, etc.). SketchClub has a “drop-in” format, so participants needn’t attend every session and can arrive late/leave early—ideally with minimum disturbance to the group.
The SketchClub occurs roughly every second Friday, and these are the confirmed dates so far (5:30 – 8:30 pm Central European Time). A Zoom link is published in the ‘upcoming_events’ channel of the IGDA Game Art SIG’s Discord server on the day of each event. We look forward to seeing you!

Women Game Jam
2021-08-20 - 2021-08-22
Women Game Jam (WGJ) reaches its 5th edition and, after the success of 2020, which had more than 1000 participants and 100 games published, from 14 countries, the 2021 edition will be the first step towards the future – hybrid events. There will be some in-person sites in Australian cities (Sydney, Melbourne and Western Australia), and it will continue online in other countries. The event will take place from the 20 – 22 August, 2021, and will have cycles of lectures, panels, workshops entirely online.
A “game jam” is a game development marathon where the participants are challenged to plan and create a digital or analog game using the theme proposed in the first day of the event. All in a certain amount of time!
The difference is that Women Game Jam focuses on women cis, trans and non-binary people and is a non-competitive event. This creates a more comfortable and encouraging environment to learn, create a portfolio, exchange of experiences between beginners and experienced in the field, and more important, to fortify the local female development community.
Registration is offered in English, Portuguese, and Spanish – for more info, visit the website!

devcom Developer Conference
2021-08-23 - 2021-08-27
devcom Developer Conference #ddc2021 is gamescom’s official game developer conference and single business platform and takes place from 23 – 27 August. Europe’s biggest game developer conference once again offers a broad variety of events and content for game developers, publishers, and service providers from the global games industry.
📅 Information and schedule: https://www.devcom.global/ddc-2021/
🎫 Passes and pricing: https://www.devcom.global/tickets-2021/
IGDA members save 10% off using the discount code here.

2021 Epic MegaJam
2021-08-26 - 2021-09-02
Prepare for liftoff—the 2021 Epic MegaJam is now open for registration! In the seven-day game jam, put your creativity to the test, and go full throttle to create a brand-new game based on the event’s unique theme. The 2021 Epic GameJam is pushing the boundaries with even more prizes and modifiers.
Register now on the official 2021 Epic Megajam Itch.io page. Don’t forget to check out all the details, resources, rules, and prizes!

Global Industry Game Awards (GIGA)
2021-08-27 13:30 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
The IGDA is partnering with devcom to host the first Global Industry Game Awards (GIGA), peer- determined awards in celebration of the contributions of discipline teams and individuals. Game development is a cutting-edge industry of technology, art, and innovation that is of significant cultural importance, and the contributors in the fields within it will be celebrated through these awards.
These awards will be granted to the teams and individuals that are particularly outstanding in their fields for their work on titles released and other ongoing efforts in 2020. It will award specific teams from recent releases for their contributions.
The award show, to be hosted during the devcom Developer Conference on 27 August, 2021, will reveal the winners as selected by a diverse array of game industry professionals.
Watch us live at 1:30pm ET over on the IGDA Twitch Channel!

Point-and-Click Adventures: Past, Present and Future
2021-09-06 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York)
Date: 6 September, 2021, 6-7pm Central European Time
Platform: www.twitch.tv/igda
Overview
IGDA Switzerland’s Craft.Innovate.Connect webinar series continues, with kind support from the Swiss Arts Council, Pro Helvetia, with an in-depth look at the point-and-click adventure genre. We bring together a distinguished panel of speakers from Switzerland, Canada and the U.S to discuss the genre’s heritage, current creative landscape and prospective ideas for its future.
Panelists
Dave Gilbert (Wadjet Eye Games)
Jean Leggett (One More Story Games)
Joel Mayer (Purgatory)
Patricio Land (Sol705)
Tania and Stefano Maccarinelli (Stelex Software)
Hosted by Chris Solarski, Chair of IGDA Switzerland.

IGDA Chicago's End of Summer Picnic 2021
2021-09-12 12:00 - 15:00 (America/Chicago) | Montrose Beach, Chicago
The end of summer is upon us and that means it’s time for IGDA Chicago’s annual picnic! This year, the picnic will be held outside (rain or shine) at Montrose Beach, off of N Simonds Dr, on Sept 12th from 12 – 3 PM CST.
Take a break from the screen, enjoy the late-summer weather, and most importantly, hang out with folks from your local game development community.
Tickets
Food & Activities.
For safety, please bring your own brown bag lunch and drinks. Individual water bottles will be provided.
We’ll be playing board games and enjoying outdoor activities together. If you have a tabletop or card game you’d like to bring, please do!
Please bring a lawn chair or picnic blanket if possible.

Location Info
Our group will be set up in the grass to the south of the stone bridge near N. Simonds Dr.

COVID-19 Info
As this event is outside, masks are encouraged but not required. Hand sanitizer will be available onsite. If you feel unwell or have been exposed to anyone with COVID-19 within 2 weeks of this event, please refrain from attending this event for the safety of other participants.

IGDA Chicago is dedicated to providing an inclusive, welcoming, and harassment-free
experience for everyone. Our Anti-Harassment policy can be found at:http://igdachicago.com/code-of-conduct/

GATO 2021
2021-09-15 00:00 - 06:45 (America/New_York)
The Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) and Games 24X7 bring to you GATO 2021, the annual conference on Digital Gaming. The theme of this year’s conference is ‘Digital Gaming: The Next Leap’ and is scheduled for 15 September, 2021.
The virtual conference aims to discuss the latest trends & insights in Digital Gaming, how to monetize games and strategies, the best practices one needs to follow, and how to create an enabling gaming ecosystem by engaging with all the stakeholders.
Save your spot and Register Here to enter the world of digital gaming!

GDEX Game Jam
2021-09-17 - 2021-09-26
GDEX GAME JAM IS BACK FOR ROUND 2!
SEPT 17TH-SEPT 26TH!
Organize a team or join as a solo jammer for our 2nd ever 9-day GDEX Game Jam free online event. Teams and individuals from any city, state, and region are all welcomed to sign-up. We can’t wait to see what games you all create! No game development experience is required. Theme will be announced during the event starting on September 17th.
Jammers will work remotely while being encouraged to capture screenshots and content of your process throughout the event. Expert Peer Reviewers to support jammers during the event to be announced soon. Come join us!

Register Now!: https://itch.io/jam/gdex-2021

Pocket Gamer Connects Digital #8
2021-09-27 - 2021-10-01
The Global Games Industry Conference ONLINE
Monday, 27th September – Friday, 1st October, 2021
Following six fantastic digital events over the course of 2020 and the first half of 2021, Pocket Gamer Connects will return in September with another world-welcoming online conference.
A Pocket Gamer Connects online conference is the perfect way to meet, learn from, and do business with over 1,500 games industry professionals, and over 250 speakers. We’ve run 29 Connects events now since 2014, and we’re excited to continue connecting the global games industry.
As one of the expected 1,500 attendees, you will have access to an innovative online platform for five days in September 2021. You’ll be able to select from a programme of great live video content full of insight and practical advice across 20+ themed conference tracks. You can watch the tracks live or catch up on the recorded videos within your own time, and if you’re online while the speakers are performing you’ll be able to interact with them and the other viewers with questions and comments.
Business goes on, and people need to make new connections! So in addition to the talks, you’ll also be able to search and connect with other attendees. You can find people, connect, discuss, do deals and make plans using the MeetToMatch online meeting platform. It enables you to search by a range of professional criteria and automatically schedules one-to-one video meetings..
Additionally, we’re running online versions of these fringe events so you can connect through multiple avenues:

Additionally, we’re running online versions of these fringe events so you can connect through multiple avenues:

Investor Connector
MoneyMaker
Publisher SpeedMatch
Careers Week
The Big Hypercasual Pitch
The Big Indie Pitch (PC + Console Edition)
Journalist Bar
Discord server

So book your tickets now and join us in September for Pocket Gamer Connects Digital #8.
We’re also allocating a limited amount of free passes solely for small indie developers, enabling them to meet with investors and publishers, and learn from the industry’s biggest names. If you think you qualify, sign up here.

IGDA AGM 2021
2021-09-27 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York)
The International Game Developers Association’s Annual General Meeting will be held September 27 at 12 p.m. ET / 9 a.m. PDT / 4 p.m. GMT on the IGDA Twitch channel. Join the IGDA Board of Directors and Executive Director for a summary of the association’s progress over the past year, and an overview of what’s in store for the rest of 2021. There will also be a feedback and questions session at the end to receive insight and input from the community.
This is a great opportunity to help shape the future of the IGDA and our industry as whole.

Don’t miss this critical membership meeting and overview of the organization’s past year and its future!

IGDA Toronto Panel: The COVID Game Changer
2021-10-06 18:30 - 21:00 (America/New_York)
A Panel on the Impacts of the Pandemic on Toronto’s Game Developers
Wednesday, October 6, 2021 @ 6:30pm
Price: FREE
Register here!

With the pandemic shutting down in person events and meetups, we knew we needed another way to meet, connect, and network with other local developers- that’s why we started the IGDA Toronto Discord server! Join up and be part of our general meetings, ask the chapter executives questions, post some of your passion projects, and kick back with your industry peers. Click the image below to join now!
