We hosted our 5th Indie Games Showcase this month, and what a turn out!
This year we had 25 game development studios share and test the games they’ve been working on by providing a playable demo that people play. Over the years, this expo style event has been popular with students from our neighbors Media Design School. We connected with their gaming department in
2021, and this partnership has grown from strength to strength. Their tutors have been supportive over the years to bring together students from first years all the way to graduates and encourage them to get involved by either showcasing their games or coming to experience the event to get a feel for “the real world”.
While we’ve organised and hosted many events, the atmosphere at Indie Games Showcase is an experience like no other. While the game developers find it super valuable to get real world feedback about their game, it’s the participation from the public that makes the event feel so alive, and community centered with people of all ages and backgrounds and industries playing and connecting.
The family friendly element has been a great success, and we’re proud at Grid to be able to facilitate the experience for young gaming enthusiasts of seeing different career pathways. Being a free public event also means that the event is a little different than traditional gaming industry events, which can be more peer focused. At the same time, for the up-and-coming developers that want to showcase at these larger industry events, this has been a valuable space for them to prep before investing outward into those spaces.
That investment can be a challenge sometimes, as being ‘indie’ gaming developers often means that they don’t have a publisher. Without the support of a publisher, all the work to make, publish and market their games can be overwhelming, especially for students who are beginning their careers. As a tech startup hub, it’s an easy decision to support this part of the tech community as we have over ten years of identifying, understanding and supporting the challenges of startup companies. We’ve also witnessed and facilitated the power of founders coming together and the invaluable comradery that is built from the shared journey, and our Indie Games Showcase has allowed for developers to meet others who are on the same/similar journey to them.
While our Indie Games Showcase only happens once a year, we recommend that you stay in touch by following us on our socials or joining our database to be the first to hear any gaming related news. If you’re an aspiring gaming developer, be sure to connect with Media Design School as they regularly host engagement events for aspiring students to learn more about their education pathways.
Thank you to Media Design School, our gamer developers and the wider community of gaming enthusiasts that continue to make Indie Games Showcase a success and enjoyable experience for all.
Photography by David Fu / This One Media
