IGDA

Game of Code
2021-04-09 - 2021-04-11
The hackathon made in Luxembourg is back! Just like last year, Game of Code will be organized in a full digital mode, from April 9th to 11th. In total, the competition will last 36 hours, where teams of coders from all around the world are welcome: will they be able to solve the challenges cooked specifically by the events’ partners?
This year, participants from all over the world will be able to participate in Luxembourg’s biggest hackathon and will therefore represent their countries. This globalization of Game of Code was made possible thanks to the digitalization of the event, which started last year due to the health situation. “We first turned this landmark event into an online competition last year and are now more than happy to welcome international coders and tech-savvy experts. More than just representing their countries and raising their home flag, coders will be able to present their project to a jury of seasoned professionals, entrepreneurs and startuppers,” explains Anne-Lorraine Reinbolt, Project Manager. Moreover, participants will be able to meet professionals from all sectors and exchange with their peers, to eventually foster future innovative ideas and potential business models.
Game of Code in numbers
Last year, the 5th edition of Game of Code brought together more than 130 development experts divided in 30+ teams – as well as 450 internal attendees – which competed over three specific challenges cooked by the event’s partners. In 2021, international gifted coders will once again be able to express their creativity as they answer to the unique challenges created by the partners of Game of Code, during 36 hours! Participating to the competition will allow experts and companies to highlight their skills and help with the development of new tech. Moreover, 10,000€ of gifts will be distributed to the winning teams, after the deliberation of the jury composed of seasoned professionals.

More information and registration: www.gameofcode.eu

IGDA has a handful of free registrations! Email info@igda.org to find out how.

USIBC E-Sports Competition with JetSynthesys
2021-04-08 11:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York)
Thursday, April 8, 2021
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM (UTC-04:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada)

Register today!

IGDA Las Vegas Game Dev Meet Up
2021-04-06 18:00, 2021-03-02 18:00, 2021-02-02 18:00, 2021-01-05 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/

DeVry Webinar: Managing Projects with Ease
2021-04-06 12:00 - 12:30 (America/New_York)
April 6th – 12 – 12:30pm EST
Managing Projects with Ease: Guided Activity & Planning Tool
Tackle project management needs by outlining the steps of the process in this interactive workshop. Learn about the “Four Ps” as you identify how key stakeholders, goals, and action steps can factor into a project.
Register here.

Webinar: Working as a Nonresident in the US: A Guide on Tax Compliance, Filing a US Tax Return, and Acquiring Visa Advisory Letters
2021-04-01 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York)
1 April @ 1pm ET on twitch.tv/igda
In this live webinar, Sprintax is delighted to partner with the IGDA to explore everything you need to know both as an individual and an employer about filing a US nonresident tax return, including how to determine your residency status, knowing your federal and state filing obligations, how to file an amended return and much more!

Working as a Nonresident in the US: A Guide on Tax Compliance, Filing a US Tax Return, and Acquiring Visa Advisory Letters

In this webinar we will cover:

How to prepare your US Nonresident tax documents for your employer
Your US Federal and State tax filing obligations as a US Nonresident
How to file a US tax return from abroad
How to file an amended tax return if you previously made an error
Advise on acquiring your visa advisory letter
Ask your questions during the live Q&A session!
Best Practices for Companies Employing Nonresidents
Key Tax Documents Employers Must Provide Nonresidents

100 Ways Anything Could Be Different in the Future of Gaming
2021-03-31 18:00 - 19:00 (Europe/Stockholm) | Online
How can games affect our future? And what can we learn from them? Join us in this workshop to discover the synergies between the two worlds.

Game Design Challenge - Shipping Your Game!
2021-03-24 17:00 - 18:00 (America/New_York)
Join us on twitch.tv/igda at 5pm EST for Shipping Your Game! Tips for Students from Industry Insiders, Code in the Schools
Now that you’ve built your game, what are the next steps? Hear from game industry professionals about the steps needed to get your game ready to publish, considerations you should be aware of, and finally how to ship your game!
Featuring:

Moderator: Gretchen LeGrand, CEO, Code in the Schools
Whitney Tyner, Lead User Experience Designer, Firaxis
Emy Su, Lead Client-side Engineer, Big Huge Games
Ashley Guchhait: CEO & Game Designer, Boba Studios

Game Design Challenge - Successful Production Strategies
2021-03-16 16:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York)
Join us at 4pm ET at twitch.tv/igda for Successful Production Strategies with Legends of Learning.

Intersectional Ally Series
2021-03-11
Join us for a panel discussion on the impact and importance of community for women in the games industry. This will be a live conversation between creators and female leaders in APAC and EMEA, moderated by Sandhya Devanathan, Director of Gaming, APAC at Facebook. You can register here to attend and to learn more about our amazing panelists.

Game Design Challenge - What is Prototyping?
2021-03-10 19:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York)
Join us at 7pm EST on twitch.tv/igda for What Is Prototyping, presented by Roblox.

TW presents: Under the surface of entertainment - Women in Gaming
2021-03-04
Under the surface of entertainment – Women in Gaming
Presentation & Panel discussion with Martina Terlevic, Renee Gittins, Brie Wendt and Charlotte Oetken as host
ABOUT THE EVENT
Martina Terlevic explores the representation and treatment of women and minority populations in gaming as a culture, industry, and artform. Examining contemporary research into the popularity of interactive entertainment among said populations worldwide, testimonies from individuals who have faced ostracization, stereotyping, and harassment within online gaming communities, and her own experience as a player and livestreamer, Martina presents an overview of issues facing inclusion within the industry and its fancommunities and steps they have taken to address them.
Renee Gittins and Brie Wendt, both members of the International Game Developers Association (IGDA), will join the moderated panel round as experts and representatives of the gaming industry to engage in the discussion about the important topic of Women in Gaming, to answer questions and to share their thoughts.

More information or to register: https://www.meetup.com/de-DE/ThoughtWorks-Berlin/events/276308006/

DeVry Webinar: Working Together Apart
2021-03-03 14:30 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
March 3rd, 2:30 – 3pm EST
Working Together Apart: Guided Exercise & Team Strategies
Learn ways to set the groundwork for teamwork at a distance in this interactive workshop and brainstorm through the use of a simple tool to help support remote team management and performance.
Register here.

Game Design Challenge - Opening Ceremony
2021-03-01
Join us on twitch.tv/igda at 7pm EST with for our keynote, presented by Dell Technologies.

Call for Change Summit
2021-02-25 - 2021-02-26
This unique, virtual event from @devcom will provide practical approaches to diversity, inclusion and accessibility.

Leaders from a variety of backgrounds and experiences will speak and share their insights into some important topics facing the games industry today, including:

guidance on to how to hire and build a diverse team
ways to think about representation, from a creative and commercial standpoint
how developers can think holistically about inclusion, from game concepting to monetization methods

While this inaugural event will be 100% virtual, there will be plenty of opportunity to network with other gaming industry leaders. More info to follow shortly.

Attendance is FREE. Click here to register.

Breakpoint
2021-02-24 - 2021-02-25
Join us for a 2-day virtual gaming developer summit that will gather thought leaders in the gaming industry to share tools and best practices that programmers depend on to develop and ship games, with a focus on 3 major segment areas: Debugging, Performance, Quality Assurance & Testing.

Event Sessions:
Track 1: Debugging and Quality
A discussion on industry best practices to achieve better error management, quality, and stability.
Track 2: Testing Pipelines (manual and automated testing)
Effective testing tools and techniques that can be used for greater coverage and speed.
Track 3: Performance Issues
Exploring technology that can improve debugging and rooting cause of performance issues.
To learn more about the event visit the site.

Digital Entertainment World Expo
2021-02-08 - 2021-02-12
Join us online this February 8-12 for Digital Entertainment World 2021! This year, #DEW2021 will explore “Creativity and Innovation in a Changing World” – a theme resonating across digital entertainment and media landscapes. Learn more at dewexpo.com
This February, the 8th annual Digital Entertainment World Conference returns for 5 days of online programming! The #DEW2021 agenda covers cutting-edge topics on Television, Streaming, Advertising, Games, Esports, RightsTech, Music & Podcasts. Learn more at dewexpo.com

IGDA Members save 20% on tickets by visiting the Discounts page.

Pocket Gamer Connects Digital #5
2021-02-08 - 2021-02-12
The Global Games Industry Conference ONLINE
Monday, February 8th – Friday, February 12th, 2021
https://www.pgconnects.com/digital/
Following four fantastic digital events in 2020, Pocket Gamer Connects will return in 2021 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 1,300 games industry professionals, and over 200 speakers. We’ve run 26 Connects events now since 2014, and we’re excited to announce our 2021 plans.
The need to connect remains as strong as ever, even though many of us are still unable to travel. Despite hopes of an end to the pandemic, we’ve all accepted that early 2021 will still be an unusual time. Fortunately, running events digitally has enabled us to unite vast numbers of international guests – some 75 countries were represented at each of our online conferences in 2020!
As one of an expected 1,500 delegates, you will have access to an innovative online platform for five days in February 2021. You’ll be able to select from a programme of great live video content full of insight and practical advice across ten 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:

Careers Week [https://www.pgconnects.com/digital/careers-week/]
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/]

So book your tickets now and join us in February for Pocket Gamer Connects Digital #5. https://www.pgconnects.com/digital/
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 [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd-DCNcYQG5aWoV3qAIyKVj1O9vFeZ6X8dMU_4lzmY69JsjSw/viewform].
IGDA members can visit the IGDA Discount page to access a 20% off discount on tickets.

WN Hub
2021-02-08 - 2021-02-12
The WN Hub is back! From February 8-12, the WN Winter conference will stream lectures with live Q&A sessions by speakers EA, SEGA, Saber Interactive, Wargaming, Facebook, Nutaku, Snap, MyTracker, SayGames and others to share knowledge and help people level up their skills and stay current with trends.
The conference also has a developer exhibition where indies and studios can show off their games, get feedback and meet with publishers. Teams that demo will also get one free business pass to access the conference’s networking system. When signing up on the form, be sure to enter IGDA Finland under “How did you find out about the WN Hub.” The developer exhibition is free, but there some promotional options for additional fees.
Basic tickets to the event are FREE for game developers and gives access to the lectures and the developer exhibition, while business tickets are required to use the networking system. IGDA members who are game developers can get a 10% discount off business passes using promocode: IGDAsecretcode. NOTE: WN will cancel basic tickets or discounted business tickets that are registered for non-game developers. Sign up here. Networking is already open for anyone who wants to get an early start.

Hyper Games Conference 2021
2021-02-04 - 2021-02-05
We are pleased to announce the Hyper Games Conference 2021!
A conference dedicated to hyper-casual games will be held on February 4-5, 2021 in an online format! The purpose of the event is to unite game developers companies with publishers and advertising platforms. The conference will be held for 2 days, with speaking slots and panel discussions with industry leaders on various specialized topics.
More detailed topics:

Development. Hyper-casual game development basics and methods
Games publishing
Games marketing (ad networks)
Success cases
Panel discussions on game development and publishing.

The main theme of the conference will be developers and their games, success stories, mistakes, and interesting cases. That’s why participation in the conference for development companies is absolutely free — tickets, speeches, activities. The conference plans to bring together about 1000 participants from more than 20 countries, about 100 gaming brands, and about 30 speakers. The activities will be both in Russian and in English, so the format will be interesting.
Everyone who is involved in hyper-casual games: game studios, publishers, ad networks, and platforms — hurry up to participate in the main profile event. https://hgconf.com/

Global Game Jam 2021 – on Discord!
2021-01-29 18:00 - 2021-01-31 20:00 (America/New_York) | Virtual, Virtual
Join us on Discord for an all-virtual version of Global Game Jam!
The Global Game Jam® (GGJ) is the world’s largest game jam (game creation) event taking place around the world at physical locations. Think of it as a hackathon focused on game development. It is the growth of an idea that in today’s heavily connected world, we could come together, be creative, share experiences and express ourselves in a multitude of ways using video games– it is very universal. The weekend stirs a global creative buzz in games, while at the same time exploring the process of development, be it programming, iterative design, narrative exploration or artistic expression. It is all condensed into a 48 hour development cycle. The GGJ encourages people with all kinds of backgrounds to participate and contribute to this global spread of game development and creativity.
No programming knowledge is required to participate. You can contribute to a team in other ways such as by creating art, music, or story. Follow the instructions here to register or volunteer: https://bit.ly/albanyggj21

Elle Hacks 2021
2021-01-15 - 2021-01-17
Calling all female identified hackers!
Ellehacks is one of the largest all-female hackathons in Canada. It is open to all programs with challenges related to Artificial Intelligence, Coding, Business, Design and many more.
It offers a safe space for females to participate in creative and problem solving activities while connecting with employers from different fields.
On January 15st – January 17st, be part of 600 other hackers at ElleHacks, the largest 36 hours, all female hackathon virtually this year! We welcome female and non-binary individuals of all experience levels!
Ready to be part of an unforgettable experience? Apply down below!

Apply at: https://ellehacks.com/
Questions? Reach us at: info@ellehacks.com
#ElleHacks2021 #WomenEmpowerment

IGDA Philly Annual Town Hall
2021-01-12 19:30 - 21:30 (America/New_York)
Join us on Tuesday, January 12th as we ring in the new year with our annual Town Hall! We’ll begin with an overview of 2020 and what we have accomplished along with our plans for 2021, followed by a Q+A and roundtable discussion with our community. We want to hear from you what you’d like to see from us in the next year, so be sure to pre-register at the link below and join in on the discussion! https://t.co/QB3Q5HNDnC?amp=1

REUTERS NEXT
2021-01-11 - 2021-01-14
REUTERS NEXT (Jan 11-14) kicks off 2021 by gathering global leaders and forward thinkers to reimagine solutions to the challenges the new year brings.
No country, company or community can tackle the future alone. To build a better world, thinkers and doers must come together to share ideas, collaborate and act.
REUTERS NEXT draws on Reuters global reach to host diverse voices from around the world who will examine topics from different perspectives, bringing their passion, experience and expertise to find new ways forward.
Register now!

Holiday Cheer Hackathon Closing Ceremony
2021-01-03 15:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York)
Join us for the closing ceremony of the the International Game Developers Association (IGDA) Holiday Cheer Hackathon.
The Holiday Cheer Hackathon is a two week hackathon that provides support and community to all developers who may be unable to see their friends and family during this holiday season.
This hackathon will also celebrate the diverse backgrounds, locations, and traditions of the IGDA membership, and it is currently supported by Teradici, Dell, PlayEveryWare, HIVE – Turku Game Hub, Lucien Parsons, The GameHERs, Unity, Odin Law and Media, and Leyline.
The closing ceremony will start at 3:00pm EST and discuss the hackathon, share submissions from game developers around the world, and recap the highlights of the event.
Where: http://twitch.tv/igda
When: 3 January 2021, 3:00pm EST / 8:00pm GMT
Who: The IGDA, IGDA members, and all of the wonderful companies coming together to make this event possible
If you would like to contribute to the Holiday Cheer Hackathon by giving a talk, organizing an event, or sharing your own holiday traditions, please let us know!
RSVP here for the closing ceremony.

IGDA Foundation Holiday Chat
2020-12-23 15:00 - 15:30 (America/New_York) | IGDA Discord and IGDA Twitch
Join Nika Nour, Sarah Spiers, Wyn Rush, and Brie Wendt from the IGDA Foundation at 3pm EST on December 23rd on IGDA’s Twitch to hear how they have supported game developers and their dreams through their programs in 2020.
The Holiday Cheer Hackathon is a two week event that provides support and community to all developers who may be unable to see their friends and family during this holiday season. This panel is one of multiple social and educational events during this period, while everyone is encouraged to work together on projects that will span from holiday cards and songs to stories and, of course, games!

"Gaming as a Force for Good: Philanthropy in the Gaming World" Panel
2020-12-22 15:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | IGDA Discord and IGDA Twitch
Video games have been regarded poorly by the public in the past, but the ways they empower change, community, and positive growth in the world is becoming more recognized. Join the IGDA and Leyline on IGDA’s Twitch to hear about how games are a force for good as part of the Holiday Cheer Hackathon.
Panelists:
Jeremy Dela Rosa
Justin “Boogy” Smith
Cody Urban
Yugina Yun
Moderator:
Marc Dion
The Holiday Cheer Hackathon is a two week event that provides support and community to all developers who may be unable to see their friends and family during this holiday season. This panel is one of multiple social and educational events during this period, while everyone is encouraged to work together on projects that will span from holiday cards and songs to stories and, of course, games!

Holiday Cheer Hackathon Opening Ceremony
2020-12-18 15:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York)
Join us for the launch of the Holiday Cheer Hackathon by the International Game Developers Association (IGDA), which will be held December 18th – January 3rd to share our well wishes and traditions from all around the world.
The Holiday Cheer Hackathon is a two week hackathon that will provide support and community to all developers who may be unable to see their friends and family during this holiday season. We will host multiple social and educational events during this period, while everyone will be encouraged to work together on projects that will span from holiday cards and songs to stories and, of course, games!
This hackathon will also celebrate the diverse backgrounds, locations, and traditions of the IGDA membership, and it is currently supported by Teradici, Dell, PlayEveryWare, HIVE – Turku Game Hub, Lucien Parsons, The GameHERs, Unity, Odin Law and Media, and Leyline.
The opening ceremony will start at 3:00pm EST and discuss the hackathon, including the themes, share messages from IGDA members around the world, and a keynote presentation from Teradici!
Where: http://twitch.tv/igda
When: 18 December 2020, 3:00pm EST / 8:00pm GMT
Who: The IGDA, IGDA members, and all of the wonderful companies coming together to make this event possible
Sponsorships for this event starts at only $500 to encourage community support and participation, please review this deck if you are interested in providing your support to game developers during this challenging holiday season.
If you would like to contribute to the Holiday Cheer Hackathon by giving a talk, organizing an event, or sharing your own holiday traditions, please let us know! Stay tuned for more updates as we schedule the events of the hackathon.
RSVP here for the Opening Ceremony.
RSVP here for the closing Ceremony on January 3rd.
