Why and how you should go to more game events

Why and How you should

go to more game events

@brendengibbons

3rd year Design and Production student visited a lot of events in 2014

is usually not so polygonal

I AM AN IDIOT

Dealing with

Impostor Syndrome

Yes, you ARE a video games developer.

Why.

Not going out until someone turns down that

point light in the sky.

Why you should go to more game events

Why you should go to more game events

● Parties

Why you should go to more game events

● Parties

● Meet cool game devs

Why you should go to more game events

● Parties

● Meet cool game devs

● Make new friends

Why you should go to more game events

● Parties

● Meet cool game devs

● Make new friends

● Create business network

Why you should go to more game events

● Parties

● Meet cool game devs

● Make new friends

● Create business network

● Build support network

Why you should go to more game events

● Parties

● Meet cool game devs

● Make new friends

● Create business network

● Build support network

● Context and Perspective

INSPIRATIONAL

QUOTE HERE

How.

How have you even done this without

bankrupting yourself.

Easy Way

● Have Money

Actual Useful Advice

1. Look out for opportunities and catch it

Digital Stories

3 days - Kortrijk, Belgium

7 days - Lille, France

Fully funded by VIVID

(now defunct)

Lyst Summit and Game Jam on Love, Sex and

Relationships in Video Games

Scholarship for event ticket and food for 3 days.

(Accommodation - Sleep on

the venue)

Actual Useful Advice

1. Look out for opportunities and catch it

2. People want free labour

GDC Europe & gamescom

Volunteered for All Access Pass (worth 850 euros)

Actual Useful Advice

1. Look out for opportunities and catch it

2. People want free labour

3. Game events want games/speakers

Go Short - International Short Film Festival

Free tickets/food for showing my Oculus Rift film Dyskinetic

A MAZE / BERLIN

Video Game Festival, with a contest.

Finalists receive 2 VIP passes, top prize is 3000 euros.

Actual Useful Advice

1. Look out for opportunities and catch it

2. People want free labour

3. Game events want games/speakers

4. Travel cheaply

A MAZE / BERLIN

Travelled with group of 8, using local trains only.

Less than 50 euros each to go to Berlin.

Sleep at venues (only applicable to game jams)

Use hostels or airbnb

Money

Luck

Effort

Money

Luck

Effort

A Quick Side Rant

To All You Dutch Students

Your Privileges

● Your OV-Kaart

INDIGO - Utrecht

30 euros for Breda - Utrecht return without OV Kaart

Free to Play (now ScreenShake) - Antwerp, Belgium

With OV Kaart, 19 euros return

Your Privileges

● Your OV-Kaart

● Your Nationality

Your Privileges

● Your OV-Kaart

● Your Nationality

● Your Language

Your Privileges

● Your OV-Kaart

● Your Nationality

● Your Language

● Your Student-ness

Cheat Sheets

This is a lot of information

Finding Opportunities

Game event aggregators:

Gameconfs.com

Eventsforgamers.com

Compohub.net

Promoterapp.com/calendar

Follow on Twitter:

@tha_rami - Rami Ismail

@zoewi - Zuraida Buter

@dutchgamegarden

@gameconfs

any events you’re visiting

any game devs you like

Travel and Accommodation

Travel Aggregators:

Rome2Rio.com

Hipmunk.com

GoEuro.com

Cheap Accommodation:

Couchsurfing.org

Hostelbookers.com

Airbnb.com

(Airbnb referral code:

bgibbons1)

Events

NL:

INDIGO

Casual Connect

Indievelopment

Playful Arts Festival

Indie Pendant Games Gathering

www.screenshake.be www.renkovandenhout.com/bgb

Thanks for listening!