Left Arrow News

IGDA NYC Game Dev Digest – June 2024

New York – New York City

| 26 Jun 2024

Your monthly guide to NYC game dev news, jobs, and events.

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Monday, June 24th 2024
Editor: Mattia Sicuro
A monthly publication of the International Game Developers Association New York City Chapter for the NYC game community.
nyc@igda.org • igda.nyc

Hey, Gmail users! Click to see the full, unclipped version. Don’t miss the jobs and other good stuff at the end!

In this issue:

What’s on | Highlights of upcoming events.

Chapter Events | Meetups, talks, and other events we’re hosting.

#NYMakesGames News | Game launches and other updates from local creators.

Around Town | A community calendar of events from across the city.

Jobs & Opportunities | The latest posts from our notice boards.

IGDA Resources | Discounts and other benefits for IGDA members.

Chapter Resources | Where to go for more info.

What’s On This Month

Waffle Games 7.0

Sat, Jun 22nd, 2024, 11:00 AM – Mon, Jun 24th, 2024, 12:00 AM
City College of New York – NAC Building, New York, NYMissed any of the virtual talks? Check out the EGD Youtube Channel!

Register

Check out the full schedule here with multiple ticket options:

Buy Your Ticket
RSVP Here

Playcrafting’s Summer Mini Expo at the Microsoft Center is also happening the day after NYC Indie Dev Night! Want to join on June 28th? Grab your ticket Here or Sign Up To Exhibit

The NYU Game Center is hosting Playtest Thursdays over the summer for you to bring your work-in-progress game and get feedback from fellow game makers! Join bi-monthly through August for the in-house playtesting event on the following dates:

  • June 27th
  • July 11th
  • July 25th
  • August 8th
  • August 22nd

RSVP

On The Horizon

News and updates from the mothership.

the 2023 Developer Satisfaction summary report is out! Respondents expressed discontent regarding topics including Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) efforts, employment, crunch, and proper crediting.

Android Port Funding OpportunityIGDA & IGDA Foundation have a funding opportunity available for studios/teams who are considering (or in the process of) porting their game to Android. Up to two games will be selected to receive resources (of up to $20,000) needed to complete an Android port of their game by December 1, 2024. Apply Here!

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.

Join the Discord!

Taco Tuesday with Coexist!

*RSVP Required*
Coexist Gamehouse

Tue, June 25th @ 6:00pm

Join us at the Coexist Gamehouse for a casual social with Tacos, games, drinks and music!

RSVP required for free entry!

NY Makes Games!

Celebrating work by the NYC game dev community.

Share your NY game news here or tweet #NYMakesGames.
Section Editor: Mattia Sicuro

Making Waves

  • A final cut of Tim Rattray & IGDA NYC’s panel discussion featuring Sam Barlow, Sarah Doherty Granoff, and mental health expert Dr. Manoj Pardasani on teaching mental health through play is up on Youtube!

  • Enter to win one of 20 free 60-min 1:1 coaching sessions provided by Pavo in collaboration with the Game Devs of Color Expo. Apply here.

  • If you attended an event at the NYU Game Center this semester, you can fill out a feedback form here to let the team know your thoughts!

  • Wonderville has announced KungFu Kickball, the popular 2v2 arcade game by WhaleFood Games is now available to buy in cabinet form!

  • Skate Story by Sam Eng was recently featured in a hands-on coverage from Engadget!

  • Read about the recent city-wide Minecraft “Battle of the Boroughs” esports competition in this recent article from Chalkbeat!

Crowdfund

  • Nirvana Noir – A neo-noir adventure in two realities; one where the Big Bang was never fired, the other an explosion of color and crime.

  • Bitter Silver – An Indie Game Love Letter to Cowboy Bebop

Pre-Order/Wishlist

  • Project Tides by Fabraz – The first TRULY Expressive 3D Platformer set in an open world, by the minds behind Demon Turf & Slime-san

Early Access/Beta

  • ChipWits is a programming simulation game about robots, and is forming several beta testing cohorts! If you’re interested, fill out the beta testing survey here

  • Let Him Cook is a top-down action survivor roguelike where you play as a food industry professional fighting in the ultimate bullet hell arena.

Launched

  • Distopia: After The Flood is an Arcade Strategy game depicting volunteers helping provide aid and joy after Hurricane Maria makes landfall.

  • Pile Up Poker by Orta Therox & Zach Gage is Poker for Solitaire lovers (and Solitaire for Poker Lovers)

Ongoing Initiatives

  • 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.

  • In support of Wonderville, consider becoming a member on WithFriends to help to keep the arcades working and pay for parts and maintenance!

  • 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

  • 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!
  • 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.

  • Support GUMBO on Patreon for exclusive digital content, free event access, and more!

  • 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.

Explore #NYMakesGames on Twitter
Around Town

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.

 

Sunday, June 23rd

Animation Nights New York Virtual Events – Watch a curated program of animated short films from all around the world!

 

Tuesday, June 25th

Unity x Urban Arts: Game Dev Mixer – Join Unity NYC, and representatives from Unity, for an exciting prelude to the Games for Change Festival with UnityNYC and Urban Arts!

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, June 27th

NYU Game Center Summer Playtest Thursday -If you’re making a game, you need to playtest! Bring your work-in-progress game and get feedback from fellow game makers!

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!

Brooklyn Experimental Electronic Music April Showcase – Join the local electronic music community for our showcase featuring an eclectic mix of New York City artists working in a variety of styles.

 

Friday, June 28th

Playcrafting Summer Mini Expo – Join Playcrafting for a productive evening of gaming at the Playcrafting Mini Expo!

GUMBO Craft Night: Pride Edition – Join GUMBO for a Pride themed craft night to make your own mocktails & cocktails, friendship bracelets, play trivia and more!

 

Tuesday, July 2nd

Tough Love Arena Cabinet Premiere & Tournament – Join Wonderville for the cabinet premiere plus tournament party. Have a couple drinks, play a few rounds, and chat with the devs of this popular indie game!

 

Wednesday, July 3rd

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.

 

Tuesday, July 9th

Bring Your Own Animation with NYC ACM SIGGRAPH – Here’s your chance to share what you’ve been working on, meet other animators, exchange tips and meet this month’s special guest; Dress Code.

 

Thursday, July 11th

NYVR – Details for this month’s NY VR meetup to be announced!

 

Saturday, July 13th

2 Hour Game Jam Club at Wonderville – Make short games using simple to use game engines! This month using Scratch.

3D Printing How-Not-To with Hack Manhattan – Learn the basics of 3D printing, its applications and best practices, including what you can’t and shouldn’t print.

 

Monday, July 15th

PaleyGX Gaming & VR MLB Home Run Derby Watch & Gaming Party – Watch the Home Run Derby on a massive screen, play Home Run Derby VR on Meta Quest and MLB The Show 24 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox

 

Wednesday, July 17th

Building and Using VR in Education – A meetup to connect educators and others in the VR space!

Long Island Game Dev Virtual Meetup – Network with other Game Devs based in and around Long Island!

 

Saturday, July 20th

Build a Board Game in Under 2 Hours – Learn the art of rapid prototyping and hone your game design skills with the workshop group!

 

Thursday, July 25th

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!

Recurring Weekly

Mondays

Tuesdays

Wednesdays

Thursdays

Sundays

View NYC Game Dev Calendar
Jobs and Opportunities

Recent jobs, internships, scholarships, grants, exhibitions, and other opportunities.

View or submit a listing for free.

Jobs

Exhibit/Speak/Publish

  • The 2024 Playful by Design conference at the University of Illinois will be held on November 7-9th. Proposals are still being accepted! Playful by Design is a local and global academic community of practice with shared and overlapping interests in game-relevant research, design, pedagogy, and technology. Submit proposals here

  • Registration is open for the Indie Game Business Conference, as well as submissions for speakers!

  • Want to bring your game to Playcrafting & BrookLAN’s NYC Indie Dev Night? Fill out this form! BrookLAN has PC’s for you to use, space for tabletop as well as space for you to bring your own set up if needed!

  • 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! Apply here

Volunteer

  • Want to contribute to the social impact gaming community and get exclusive behind-the-scenes access to Games for Change Festival 2024? Volunteer! Sign up here

  • 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!

Funding/Programs/Contests

  • The t*gh GameChangeHERs // Women’s Innovation Hub seeks not just to fund and support women-led gaming ventures but also to foster a community that champions diversity, innovation, and success in the gaming industry. By providing targeted resources and opportunities, the program aims to empower women entrepreneurs to turn their visions into thriving businesses that contribute to the richness and diversity of the gaming world.
  • The Diverse Voices, New Stories Challenge is presented by Games for Change in partnership with Google Play and HP. Game developers worldwide are invited to submit completed or beta versions of Android games to the Challenge. Submissions will be reviewed by panels of expert judges. Finalists will receive financial resources and capacity-building support, including funding, mentorship, and marketing and promotional opportunities.

View Jobs & Opportunities Board (Currently under construction)

Benefits for IGDA members.

Join here. Log in for all member discount codes and details.

  • Event discounts: IGDA Members save 10% on tickets to GI Live: Online – visit the Discounts page for details!

  • Education discounts: 10% off all General Assembly classes and workshops. Browse NYC classes.

  • Software discounts: 20% off Buildbox. Details.

  • IGDA Career Center: Job listings open to all; early access for members. Careers.igda.org

  • IGDA Crowdfunding Collection: Member projects featured on Kickstarter. Submit.

Browse IGDA member benefits
Chapter Resources

Visit our site: igda.nyc

Follow us for updates:

• @IGDANYC on Twitter
• Facebook page

Connect with the community:

Discord server
• Facebook group
• Meetup group
• LinkedIn group

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.

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Say hello!
nyc@igda.org

IGDA NYC Facebook Page

@IGDANYC on Twitter

IGDA NYC LinkedIn group

IGDA NYC website

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Copyright © 2024 IGDA NYC

 

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