Category Archives: Edinburgh

IGDA Scotland Play Parties 2017

igda_playparty_fb_banner

All of us at IGDA Scotland want to give a huge thank you to everyone that came along to our play parties last week! Whether you exhibited or simply came along to play the exceptional range of games created at game jams throughout the year, we really hope you had as great a time as we did. We’d also like to thank everyone that made the play parties possible; We Throw Switches, Creative Scotland, our venues Hemma, Unit 6 at The Vision, and Drygate, and everyone that hosted a Global Game Jam site in Scotland.

This year we collaborated with our friends We Throw Switches who offered the opportunity for one game from each play party site to be exhibited at their upcoming event GamesAreForEveryone on the 21st of April in Edinburgh. So, we’d like to present to you, our winners!

Edinburgh: Frack The Planet

FrackThePlanet_image

“You are the driver of a Fractor-Driller. It’s your job to drive around the planet, scanning with your GeoSonar for valuable shale gas deposits underground. They’re worth money–the bigger the better! When you’ve found one, you stick your drill into it, and start fracking! You have to pump every last atom of the gas out of it if you want to get paid. And you have ninety seconds in which to frack as many gas deposits as possible. Oh, and try to avoid running over those pesky protesters–those lawsuits are expensive!”

Frack the Planet was created at the GCU Global Game Jam site by team “Muling Kittens”; consisting of Aaron Dron, Aidan Dodds, Andy Durdin, David Farrell, Gordon Brown and Luke Drummond.

Dundee: Ola de la Vida

OlaDeLaVida_image

“The game is called Ola De La Vida, it is a three player game where each player’s physical movements are used to manipulate on-screen gameplay.   To play, players must physically form the ‘Wave of Life’ by holding each others hands and our two maraca controllers whilst standing on Wii balance boards.  Once the wave is active, players must shift their weight from one side of their balance board to the other in order to tilt their part of the on-screen wave of life.  Together, the three players tilt to and fro on their balance boards, whilst holding one another’s hands to help luchador pinatas to make it from one side of the wave (the screen) to the other.  The winning team is the one which saves the most Pinatas before time runs out – but if the players let go of one another’s hands or the maracas at any point, the game is over.”

Ola De La Vida was created at the Abertay University Global Game Jam site by “Smash it Open and See What’s Inside”; consisting of Mona Bozdog, Danny Parker, Lynn Parker and Alex Pass.

Glasgow: Rootin’ Tootin’ Typin’ Tide

rootintootin

“Our game, Rootin’ Tootin’ Typin’ Tide, is a quick, competitive two-player game with literal hand-to-hand combat on a keyboard battlefield. Using only one hand, players must hit more keys than their opponent to keep their character, and pride, afloat as they coast down treacherous river rapids. ”

Rootin’ Tootin’ Typin’ Tide was created at the GCU Global Game Jam site by team “Multiflair Games”; consisting of Thomas McLuskie, Kevin Martin, Fionn Innes, Rhiain Flaherty, Connall Reid and Paul Hamilton.

Scottish Global Game Jam Sites!

It’s January, and that means that the Global Game Jam is upon us once again! Scotland plays host to a number of sites in a few different locations, so if you’re interested in taking part, be it to further your skills, develop new ones or just meet others interested in making games then do try get along to one.

IGDA Scotland will also be hosting our Play Parties in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee in association with We Throw Switches early in February, so please bring what you’ve made and have fun!

Here are some details about Global Game Jam sites this year:

Dundee

Abertay Game Lab – Abertay Uni

Abertay’s Game Lab will be hosting a GGJ site in celebration of their 20 years in games education.The site will have some equipment available to participants, but ask that jammers try to bring their own to avoid disappointment.

Tickets are currently available for students or invited non-students here.

Makerspace

The Dundee Makerspace will also be hosting a GGJ site. It is open to anyone who is 18+ years old. They are currently looking for sponsors to help pay for food for jammers, and encourages participants to bring their own equipment where possible. They also have on-site equipment such as 3D printers, laser and vinyl cutters and soldering tools for those looking to make a physical game.

Tickets are available here.

Edinburgh

Napier University

The Napier University Game Dev Society’s site is open to anyone over 18 years old, or over 16 if you are in college or university. They have some equipment available at the campus and will be providing food, but recommend people bring their own laptops to be safe. This site is also looking for some sponsorship.

More details here.

Napier are also hoping to livestream the site on Twitch here

Glasgow

Glasgow Caledonian Uni

Last but by no means least, Glasgow Caledonian Uni will be hosting their annual GGJ site in the Saltire Centre at the university.

They will be hosting about 200 jammers, a mix of students, industry professionals and keen amateurs. Alongside the jam, some documentarians will be making a short film to be shown at the end of the jam. Finally, a relaxation area with games will be provided by We Throw Switches.

Tickets are currently sold out, but a waiting list may be available. For more details head here.

July Audio Meetup Recap

In July we came to Codebase, Edinburgh to host a panel session on Audio in Games. We had three wonderful panellist sharing their insights and experience on the topic:
Will Morton of Solid Audioworks, Matthew Smith and Orfeas Boteas from Krotos and Dehumaniser.

We hope you enjoyed the discussion, but in case you missed it, you can catch the recording right here.

We look forward to seeing you at our next event!

Watch the recording of the Audio in Games panel session now.

Congratulations to our GDC Europe/Gamescom Scholar!

We are happy to announce that once again Scotland is being represented in the next crop of IGDA Scholarships!

This year sees Kirsty Keatch head out to Germany for both GDC Europe and Gamescom with an All-Access Pass, mentorship from an industry professional, and an unforgettable IGDA-organized itinerary.

kirstykeatch

Kirsty is a Scottish game developer, creative programmer and sound designer based in Edinburgh. She’s interested in the role of mobile dynamic audio and the design of new mechanics for touch screen devices. She graduated with a First Class Honours in Music Technology BMus at Edinburgh University and is currently in her final semester of a Masters by research in Sound Design, developing a portfolio of games, that raided the toy box for inspiration, to present Katakata – a kinetic sound sculpture, Freq and Hedra – one touch games with a twist!

Congratulations Kirsty!


To find out more about the IGDA Scholarships programme or see the full list of Scholars, visit the website.

IGDA Scotland July Meeting – Save the Date!

Thanks to all who came to our June meeting in Glasgow, we heard some great talks about exhibiting at events from Andrew Dyce and Craig Fairweather (We Throw Switches), Steven Taarland (Insert Imagination) and Tony Gowland (Ant Workshop), chaired by Jon McKellan (No Code). We really appreciate you coming along and sharing your advice with everyone and making it such an informative event.

If you weren’t able to come then you can listen to the talks here.

There is also an excellent write-up of the event by Stephen McCallum on Gamasutra here.

This month we will be heading back to Codebase in Edinburgh on 19th July for another one of our regular monthly meetups. And this month’s theme is Audio! We will be putting together a collection of audio-experts to share with you their experiences and advice. There will also be the usual open-floor for announcements before the talks if you have any news you’d like to share.

If you would like to give a talk or want get in touch with us about anything to do with the event you can do so on [email protected].

We will also be giving you another chance to get your hands on some free tickets to RESONATE – Glasgow’s upcoming eSports and gaming festival –  which we will be raffling off on the night.

Tickets for July’s meeting are free and available now!

Eventbrite - IGDA Scotland Annual General Meeting 2014

Please join us on Twitter and Facebook to keep up to date with any announcements.

Games Are For Everyone Vol. 3


gafe3
It’s time for another highly enjoyable 
Games Are For Everyone, which returns to The Mash House, Edinburgh on Wednesday 18th  November

Hosted by The Hit Point, Games Are For Everyone is a combination of incredible indie games in an amazing drinking space. Come and play a variety of different games from a host of local Scottish game dev and interactive media talent, such as:

Kirsty Keatch
Catbell Games
Powerhoof
Winnie Song
The Man Who Flew Away
Rope Rumble
VoxelStorm
Ruffian Games

Tickets are available here and as the title suggest anyone and everyone is welcome, whether game developer, hobbyist or player.

For more information please follow The Hit Point on Facebook or Twitter.

Games Are For Everyone by The Hit Point

Games are for Everyone Facebook Banner

IGDA Scotland is excited to support an evening of socialising and gaming courtesy of The Hit Point on Thursday 21st May at The Mash House in central Edinburgh, as they host an incredible indie games space showing off some awesome playable games, demos and installations by talented developers and artists from across Scotland, all played out on a host of big screens and HD projectors.

If you fancy playing a local multiplayer games or a colour-coded puzzle then please join us and – as the title suggests – absolutely everyone is welcome, developers and players alike. We’re also proud to see a range of Scottish indie developers joining in the festivities by showcasing their games; stay tuned for the full list!

Tickets are £7 on Eventbrite, so book now to avoid disappointment! We also encourage you to show you’re going by joining their Facebook event. If you have any comments or questions please contact: [email protected]

Eventbrite - Games are for Everyone by The Hit Point