May 2022 Update
Hello Indies!
We’re getting closer and closer to summer months! Seattle is still being cloudy today, but hope you’re getting your sunscreen ready…
Upcoming Events
The Game Devs of Color Expo is happening online again this year, save the dates: September 15-18, 2022. Follow them on Twitter or visit their website for the latest information. “Our mission is to amplify the creative power held by people of color in games. We do this by organizing revolutionary events, uniting our vibrant community, and building access to knowledge, funding, and opportunities.”
PocketGamer Connects is coming back to Seattle, this May 9 to 10! The leading mobile gaming industry conference has expanded to cover PC and Consoles, and will feature a multitude of talks, exhibits, networking opportunities, and the Very Big Indie Pitch event where you can showcase your game to publishers and investors. We might have some free tickets for Seattle Indie members, so check our Discord for more info on that!
Disclaimer: PGC is promoting talks about Blockchain/NFT gaming that we will not be taking part in nor endorsing. Seattle Indies is not receiving compensation for our involvement in PGC nor are we paying for the privilege of being involved.
Climate Jam 2022 wrapped up on Sunday May 1 with 26 games submitted! We teamed up with IndieCade, the University of Washington, and the IGDA Climate SIG to make games around the theme of Empath and Equilibrium with the lenses of Media, Storytelling and Misinformation, Nature and Health, Green Energy, Food and Food Systems and Climate Justice. Watch the awards presentation on May 14th on twitch.tv/IndieCade
We are excited to announce the return of the Puddle Jump Games and Play Festival on Saturday June 18th at the Ballard Homestead! We are teaming up with PlaytestNW to exhibit tabletop and digital games to the general public. Sign up to attend the event here: https://www.meetup.com/SeattleIndies/events/285508104/
DreamHack is coming to Dallas on Jun 3 – Jun 5, and Indie Playground applications are due May 5th. DreamHack is an immersive gaming experience where the community comes to life. It focuses on professional esports tournaments, amateur and varsity gaming tournaments, world-famous bring-your-own-computer (BYOC) LAN party, cosplay championship, art, activities, expo, screenings, live music and more.
Speaking of Japan, Tokyo Game Show is also coming up on September 15 – September 18 (ignore the dates in image above, that was for last year). The applications do not seem to be open yet with full info. The event tends to be a bit more pricey, but keep an eye on the Sense of Wonder Night – it’s an opportunity for indies to showcase games which are “experimental and creative, and that cannot be called conventional or traditional.” So if you’re working on something out-of-the-box, add it to your calendar!
Monthly Events
Indie Coffee Break Once a week, take a Coffee Break with our Discord community, and chat with your local game devs! Meet new folks. Talk about games. Share your work. Ask for help / feedback. Commiserate over problems. Collaborate on solutions. Give high-fives. We’re a weekly social work group for game devs of all levels and disciplines. Join us on Discord every Saturday from 1pm to 7pm! Drop by anytime; folks usually drop in and out throughout the day.
Indies Discord Social is happening on May 4th, 7pm to 10pm, right on our discord. Can’t make it to the in-person socials, or want to hang out? Come join us every first Wednesday of every month!
The Game Club this month will take place on May 18 at 7pm and focus on Outer Wilds, here is the event link. What a book club is to a discussion of literature, this event is to a discussion of game design. Every month, we agree to play a game, then meet to discuss and analyze its design and presentation.
The Feedback Circle will take place June 8th from 7pm to 9pm virtually. Join us on Discord in the EVENTS section and look for the Feedback Circle voice and text channels. Each presenter will get at least 15 minutes to share their screen, show us the game or part of the game you want feedback. If you have a game you want to show and receive feedback on please fill out this sign-up sheet. It will be on a first come first served basis.
Indie Co-working Support Group in-person will take place Saturday, May 7, from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM PST, at the Academy of Interactive Entertainment. Masks will be enforced and vax cards will be checked at the door. Seattle Center wifi will be available for use. Please bring everything you need to be productive. The online Coffee Break session will still be available to anyone who isn’t ready for in person events yet or doesn’t have the ability to attend the in person event. We will be meeting every other Saturday at AIE going forward.
The Eastside Meet & Drink is back in person at the Eastside Beer Works on the first Tuesday of every month at 7pm with our awesome new hosts Susana and Jose. It’s time to get together and swap stories. Put down your keyboards and brave the outdoors. Let’s meet for a drink, a bite to eat, and some good conversation!
Seattle Indies Social IRL will take place on May 17, 7-10:30pm at Optimism as always! Join us in Capitol Hill for some well-deserved mingling, drinks, and socialization! Make some new friends, catch up with old ones, and find out what the community’s up to.
Writer’s Room will take place on May 26, 6:30 to 9:30pm online. Bring your scripts, flowcharts, character bibles or whatever you’re working on to share and get feedback on your storytelling.
Local Dev News
slimomo and their team and just released a new game which they originally made for a 1 week jam. A cute and spooky 2d Platformer! Check it out here.
Seth just announced Spirit & Stone! Check out the announcement video And the Steam Page!
Sarah just launched Early Access for Bone’s Cafe – play as a necromancer who has decided to change career paths and open a cafe. Here’s the Steam Page.
Ian launched Duple Dragon, a two-finger runner game for Android and iOS. Fly two spirit dragons through vibrant and mystical locations. Here’s the website with all the info!
Harassment Policy, AAPI, Black Lives Matter, and Resources
Seattle Indies stands with the AAPI community. We are here for our members who have been affected by the rise in anti-Asian hate crimes both locally and nationally. For further resources to educate yourself on the issue and how to take action, here is a useful link: https://anti-asianviolenceresources.carrd.co/
Seattle Indies is starting to have in person meetups again and we need everyone to get vaccinated and boosted against the COVID-19 virus as soon as you are able. The Washington State Department of Health has this website for information on where you can get vaccinated in your area.
Seattle Indies believes the stories of the victims of sexual harassment and assault in the games industry that have been shared. We strongly condemn the actions by people in power preying on the dreams of vulnerable people trying to make their way in the industry and strive to build an inclusive community that welcomes all minorities to provide a safe environment and a better vision for the game industry.
While our code of conduct states a zero-tolerance policy for harassment of any kind we are especially sensitive to the daily challenges faced by womxn due to the ingrained sexism that has existed in the structure of the games industry for far too long. We are actively working to build a better community of game developers and we all need to do better.
Additionally, Board Member August Belhumeur has offered to be a personal resource for anyone who needs help, someone to talk to or some guidance on next steps if you have experienced harassment in the industry either at our events or elsewhere. She can be reached at august@seattleindies.org.
Our friends at Take This Org have compiled valuable resources for anyone in immediate need of professional help for their situation.
Lastly, Seattle Indies and Diversity Collective+ support Black Lives Matter. Here are some resources compiled by Diversity Collective+ for how you can offer support, whether this is financial, contributing to petitions, preparing for protests, or getting informed. If you have additional resources, comment below and we will add them.
As always, keep an eye on our Discord for any last-minute news and discussion, and let us know about any projects you’re working on that you’d like shared on our Steam or Itch collections or tweeted about from @SeattleIndies!
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