The New York Game Awards return to SVA Theatre with hosts Reggie Fils-Aimé and the NYVGCC on January 21st!
Expect exclusive appearances from top industry creators, special guests, thrilling performances, and a night filled with surprises, laughter, and recognition of the creative minds shaping the future of gaming.
All proceeds from the New York Game Awards support the New York Videogame Critics Circle’s Playing With Purpose program, which provides underserved students with invaluable opportunities such as writing education, college scholarships, paid internships, mentorship, and more!
To learn more about NYVGCC and the great work we do, visit NYGameCritics.com!
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Join us at Sparrow’s Nest Studio on February 4th, 2025 for an evening of game demoes and connecting with Developers!
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| Global Game Jam is back for 2025! Prep Week begins January 13th, with the theme reveal on January 18th, and the official jam beginning January 20th!
Local Jam sites include the NYU Game Center, keep your eyes peeled for more to come!
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News and updates from the mothership.
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2024/25 IGDA NYC Chapter Board of Directors Elections!
Nominations are still open for this years’ Chapter BoD Elections!
One seat is up for election this year and two are up for appointment, with Mattia Sicuro, Olga Polukhina, Kevin Hoskin and Nicole Papadopoulos continuing their terms. The nomination period runs for 4 weeks, from December 17th to January 24th.
Serving on the chapter’s board of directors is an excellent way to give back to the chapter, make professional connections, and have a positive impact on the local game developer community and industry. Any IGDA member in good standing is eligible to run. Visit https://igda.org/membership/ before the close of nominations to join or renew your membership.
Full election details, including an election timeline and a description of director responsibilities and eligibility requirements, can be found on the IGDA NYC website at https://igda.nyc/elections.
Curious about what serving on the board is like? We’re happy to talk! Please reach out at nyc@igda.org if you’re on the fence about running or would like to know more.
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Nominations for the IGDA Global Board of Directors has opened! If you’re interested in helping the community on a global scale, consider throwing your hat in the ring!
We’re looking to fill one one elected Director-at-Large position for a three-year-term. In addition to being an IGDA member in good standing for at least two years, Board of Directors candidates must also agree to abide by the IGDA Bylaws (PDF), to adhere to the Board Expectations (PDF) if selected, and to adhere to the IGDA Code of Ethics.
The IGDA Board of Directors Elections Manual can be found here on the IGDA website.
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| Our friends at SAG-AFTRA have provided some resources for studios, including tiered budget agreements, information on the ongoing strike, and who to ask questions to! Check out the full page and bookmark it for when you inevitably need it in the future. |
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What we’re up to this month!
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| Join us for an exciting evening connecting local game developers and celebrating the games they’ve created! Whether you’re a hardcore gamer, a casual player, or just curious about what’s happening in the NYC Game Development scene, this event is for you!
What to Expect:
- Play Games: Check out playable demos of in-development and recently released games from NYC’s talented game devs.
- Meet the Creators: Chat with developers about their games, inspirations, and creative journeys.
- Fun for Everyone: Open to gamers, families, and anyone curious about the magic of gaming.
For Developers: Want to showcase your game? Apply for a spot—registration is $25 per exhibitor. Space is limited, so don’t wait! |
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Monday Afternoon Co-Working on Discord
IGDA NYC Discord
Every Monday, 1pm – 4pm
Come join us at our new regular co-working hours on our Discord channel!
We’ll be working camera optional/mic off on the Events Voice Channel. But our new Lounge Channel will be right next door for anyone who wants to show off what they’re working on, ask some questions, or just hang out. |
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Taco Tuesday with Coexist!
Taco Tuesday will be back soon, stay tuned!
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Celebrating work by the NYC game dev community.
Share your NY game news here or tweet #NYMakesGames.
Section Editor: Mattia Sicuro
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Launched
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ElevAte by Gray Knight Games (also available on Google Play) is a quizzical puzzle game that combines a mix of memory, sprinkling of strategy, and a smidgeon of smiles to get three stars across all levels and finally become the top chef in restaurant tower.
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Hyper Light Breaker by Heart Machine is an action rogue-lite adventure in the Hyper Light franchise, with a unique story fully realized in 3D for the first time.
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Ongoing Initiatives
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Applications to join GUMBO are open! GUMBO is a non-profit collective of indie game creators located in Dumbo, Brooklyn formed to inspire and motivate each other, stay current in the indie game makers community, and expand an already amazing skill-sharing network.
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In support of Wonderville, consider becoming a member on WithFriends to help to keep the arcades working and pay for parts and maintenance!
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ANNY Exchange is a Talent Connect Initiative for Animation Nights New York. Want to participate and be added to the database of Animation Talent from all around the world? More info here
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Animation Nights New York (ANNY) is always accepting submissions for Animated Short Films, AR Animation Experiences, VR animation Experiences, and Interactive Media (including Video Games). More info here
- Coexist Gaming is a subscription-based gaming lifestyle company that provides an inclusive ecosystem for community, culture, connection and opportunity. Including a gaming lounge, optimized networking experiences and accessible resources for Devs, find out more and become a member here!
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Support the Game Devs of Color Expo’s mission to uplift marginalized voices in game development by signing up for their monthly Ko-fi subscription! Your support ensures ongoing grants, events, and community programs.
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Support GUMBO on Patreon for exclusive digital content, free event access, and more!
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The New York State Digital Game Development Program is designed to accelerate and attract economic development by offsetting some production costs associated with producing digital games in New York State.
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Urban Arts teaches digital game design as a pathway to college and career by offering after-school programs, career prep, school partnerships and more. Learn about their various programs for students and teachers here!
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The City of New York Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment “Made in NY” Logo Program provides qualified digital gaming companies with the ability to use the City’s “Made in NY” logo in their game’s packaging, title screen and/or game website.
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Happenings in the NYC game dev community and beyond.
Unless otherwise noted, events are (probably!) free to attend. Follow @GameDevNYC for event alerts. Contact nyc@igda.org to add your org’s events.
Thursday, January 16th
Monthly Thursdays Hosted by Zack Wheeler with Hacker Hours – Free office hours for coding help—any programming language, all levels of experience.
NYVR Special Event at Eclipso Entertainment – Breaking away from the usual format for an exclusive private event at Eclipso Entertainment’s newly launched VR immersive expedition center!
Saturday, January 18th
Build a Board Game in under 2 hours! – Learn the art of rapid prototyping and hone your game design skills with the workshop group!
TheBlerdSpot Party & Connect at Wonderville – TheBlerdSpot is hosting a gaming and mingling event including a comic/manga swap, video games/tabletop games, and more!
Tuesday, January 21st
The 14th Annual New York Game Awards – Hosted by former Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aimé and the New York Videogame Critics Circle, this prestigious event honors the very best in video games and gaming journalism.
Animation Nights New York (ANNY) at The Gutter Spare Room! – ANNY is a monthly screening event and annual festival showcasing the very best animated short films, virtual reality animation experiences, and interactive games from all around the world.
Wednesday, January 22nd
3DNY at Luckyjacks – 3DNY is a Networking community for the Architectural Visualization & Visual Effects industries, with speakers and time to chat, enjoy & have a drink!
Thursday, January 23rd
GUMBO Presents: Board Game Industry Happy Hour – Have a board game idea but not sure how to bring it to life? Come to this happy hour and meet other people in NYC in the board game space!
Brooklyn Experimental Electronic Music Group January Showcase – Join the local electronic music community for a showcase featuring an eclectic mix of New York City artists working in a variety of styles.
Friday, January 24th
Puff, Puff, Playtest Cannabis Themed Game Night – Part of a series of unique cannabis-themed Game Night events featuring Made-in-NYC indie games, in conjunction with locally licensed cannabis dispensaries.
Saturday, January 25th
GLOW X OSNYC Presents: Women in Gaming: Meet, Play, Connect – Join other Femme-Identifying, LGBTQIA+, Women Gamers, Streamers and Content Creators for an interactive and fun networking night!
Sunday, January 26th
Animation Nights New York Virtual Events – Watch a curated program of animated short films from all around the world!
Virtual Sundays Hosted by Guillermo – Free office hours for coding help—any programming language, all levels of experience.
Tuesday, January 28th
Wonderville’s last Tuesday of the month PLAYTEST – Come to Wonderville to playtest in production games! If you’re a developer, bring your game! No signups required.
Thursday, January 30th
NYC Indie Dev Night with Playcrafting – Indie devs, gamers, publishers, industry vets and students – this is the place to come meet others in the community, network and talk shop – and check out what games NYC is cookin’ up!
Tuesday, February 4th
IGDA NYC Game-A-Palooza!! – Join us for a chill evening of getting to know NYC’s game community through the creative minds of Developers, and most importantly, play their games!
Wednesday, February 5th
NYC Indie Games Social – The NYC Indie Games social is a monthly gathering for indie game devs of all stripes to mix and mingle in a casual, relaxed setting.
Thursday, February 6th
SeeToAct.org Yearly Fundraiser – SeeToAct.org is a non-profit organization that teaches storytelling and filmmaking vocations to incarcerated teenagers. Various artists will be donating their time for the annual fundraiser including performances, film presentations, and more!
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Recurring Weekly
Mondays
Tuesdays
Wednesdays
Thursdays
Sundays
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| Recent jobs, internships, scholarships, grants, exhibitions, and other opportunities.
View or submit a listing for free.
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Exhibit/Speak/Publish
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The Conference on BIPOC Game Studies Accepting submissions for papers, presentations, panels and games – C-BIPOC is a platform dedicated to exploring the intersection of gaming culture, technology, and the experiences of BIPOC communities worldwide. [Deadline: January 15th & 18th, 2025]
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The Game Design Future Lab Accepting applications from individuals and teams – New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) and NYU Tandon School of Engineering, has officially launched New York City’s new digital game design incubator within NYU Tandon Future Labs. [Deadline: January 20th]
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Crossword Con Accepting proposals for talks – Crossword Con 2025 is a Puzzmo event that will be held in Manhattan on Friday, April 4th, 2025. [Deadline January 24th]
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Wondercab Arcade Cabinet Accepting arcade game submissions – This is for the 3 month Wondercab residency that will begin on March 1st. [Deadline January 31st]
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Museum of the Moving Image’s Marvels of Media Festival Accepting project submissions – Part of the Marvels of Media initiative, which showcases, celebrates, and supports autistic media makers of all ages and skill sets. [Deadline January 31st]
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The Games for Change Awards Accepting game submissions – Celebrate the year’s best games and immersive experiences! Following an expert-led evaluation process, 3 titles will emerge as finalists in each of the 12 award categories. [Deadline January 31st]
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NarraScope Accepting talk submissions – A conference celebrating narrative games! NarraScope 2025 will take place on June 20-22, 2025. [Deadline February 7th]
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The Games for Change Festival Accepting talk proposals – Seeking visionary speakers and games for this year’s theme, Designing for Tomorrow!
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BXStart is a platform dedicated to fostering the intersection of game development and entrepreneurship in the Bronx community. Sign up to showcase your game at their Indie Game Night held every third Friday of the month!
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Funding/Programs/Contests
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Volunteer
- If you’re interested in helping make Black In Gaming a supportive and inclusive community for black game creators to thrive, consider joining the Community Team to help drive online engagement and initiatives!
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Benefits for IGDA members.
Join here. Log in for all member discount codes and details.
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Event discounts: IGDA Members save 10% on tickets to GI Live: Online – visit the Discounts page for details!
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Education discounts: 10% off all General Assembly classes and workshops. Browse NYC classes.
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Software discounts: 20% off Buildbox. Details.
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IGDA Career Center: Job listings open to all; early access for members. Careers.igda.org
- IGDA Crowdfunding Collection: Member projects featured on Kickstarter. Submit.
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| Looking for work? Hiring?
Visit our Jobs and Opportunities board to view or post listings for free.
Want to help us do things?
Learn about volunteering with the chapter.
Did a friend forward you this newsletter?
Subscribe here! |
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News
