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.

A Quick Note From The New Editor

When I took over editing duties from Jess after last month’s newsletter went out, I couldn't envisage how much my opening statement would change, nor how different this month’s edition would have to be. 

Usually, our newsletter is full of live events and real-world connections. Right now, we are all getting used to the ubiquity of remote connection and missing that sense of the personal. We’re in a state of flux, and it will pass, but until then we have to make do with what we have, be sensible, and ride out the storm.

People have been affected healthwise, and so have many more with their livelihoods. Below, we have put together a list of resources: advice, emergency grants, funds, volunteer opportunities, and other information to help you get through this period. 

Things are still happening in our scene: games are being launched, events are switching to remote, and there’s plenty of positive news and things to get excited about. All of that is part of our regular programming and will continue to be. 

I’m happy to be your new editor and I look forward to the day when we can go outside again without fear, meet other game devs for drinks and demos, and return to a state of normality. Until then, let’s make use of the time we have to help each other in whatever way we can. 

Stay safe,

Matt Fisher

COVID-19 Resources

Tech:NYC put together a document which is being regularly updated to include the most time-relevant information about personal health practices, health information, NYC company updates, and a hefty list of external resources. You can also get involved in volunteer opportunities and other projects to support New York’s COVID-19 response plans by joining their Slack channel.  

New York Foundation for the Arts has listed many arts-related funds and emergency grants on their website.

Made In NY Media Center created a list of financial support and job opportunity resources for creatives. (Details)

The Freelancers Hub has information and links to resources for freelancers who have been affected by the crisis. Check this out here. 

Donate to the Freelancers Relief Fund, arranged by the Freelancers Union, for those affected by COVID-19. If you are one of those affected, the applications to receive funds are expected to open on April 2. (Details)

Scholly created a cash assistance relief fund for students. You can fill in the application here.

Wings Interactive spearheaded the GDC Relief Fund in partnership with a host of other organizations. The fund is designed to relieve some of the financial burden caused by the cancellation of GDC and would provide compensation for non-refundable flights, non-refundable accommodation, and visas. (Details)

Online Resources

With the cancellation of GDC, many speakers gave their presentations remotely. You can watch these presentations on GDC’s YouTube and Twitch channels, including one by former New Yorker, Jennifer Estaris. Click the link here (Jennifer’s presentation begins at 04:10:30). 

You can also subscribe to our IGDA NYC YouTube channel for many excellent New York presentations, as well as staying in the loop for future talks.

What's on this month

Playcrafting is hosting a weekly Global Game Night series every Wednesday to demo and spotlight games and creators from around the world. On April 1 it's New York’s turn. Submit your game here by 3/31 in order to be considered. (Eventbrite)

On the Horizon

IndieCade is launching a new series of game jams that will launch with an inaugural Climate Jam. Game creators from across the world are invited to explore solutions that can address a rapidly changing world. Project submissions are open from April 18–22. (itch.io)

Waffle Games 3.0 has been postponed until April 24 and will take place online. This year, the organizers will be collecting donations to help support CUNY campus food pantries and emergency funds for games community members affected by COVID-19.  (Details)

Unity Developer Day has been postponed until further notice. The event organizers are planning a virtual community event on April 25, so keep an eye out for more information.   (Details)

The first ever digital GamesBeat Summit will be held April 28–29. Enjoy the same great speakers, unique panels, groundbreaking content, and personalized networking experience in a remote setting. (Details) ($0-$400)

!!Con 2020 (pronounced “bang bang con”) is two days of ten-minute talks to celebrate the joyous, exciting, and surprising moments in computing. It will be held as a remote conference from May 9–10. (Details)

Narrascope 2020 will now be a free online event, held May 29–June 4. All talks will be streamed for unrestricted viewing. If you wish to donate to support streaming costs and speaker honoraria, you may do so through the registration page. (Details)

And finally...

New IGDA NYC satellite group Glass Robot have some big plans in the pipeline! As well as developing their own games, keep an eye out in the near future for their workshops and classes, game jams, and playtesting sessions to showcase your game to other devs!   

IGDA COVID-19 Resources

The IGDA has issued a list of resources and tips, including help in adjusting to working from home, links to health information, and financial support resources. (igda.org)
 

Share your NY game news here or tweet #NYMakesGames.
Section Editor: Matt Fisher

Making Waves

• After its recent launch The Longing, developed by Studio Seufz, was featured on The Washington Post’s website. You can buy the game on Steam by clicking here.   

• Kotaku recently published a fascinating long-form piece by NYU Game Center student Elizabeth Ballou on the world's largest wizarding school. (kotaku.com)

• Gumbo NYC have been adding more projects and studios to their collective! Check out what they’re up to here. 

• NYU Game Center students Alina Constantin and Brianna Shuttleworth were recently featured in CultureHub's ReFest with their collective urban legend cartography piece Old Jo's Story Map. (culturehub.org)

• NYU Game Center Department Chair Frank Lantz's latest game, Hey Robot, was recently featured on an episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Check out the YouTube link to see hilarity ensue! You can also pre-order Hey Robot here. 

• Last month’s featured company VoxPop Games will be discussing their upcoming platform launch on the Gamerdelphia podcast on April 1. Tune in to find out what they are planning! (soundcloud.com) 

• Check out the trailer for the alpha build of Clear Circuits, a puzzle game for mobile devices, created by Glass Robots. (YouTube).

• Razbury Games have updated the dev blog for their game From Rust in anticipation of their upcoming alpha. (Details)   

• Lance Weiler recently wrote a piece describing the making of Where There’s Smoke, his immersive storytelling experience at the Tribeca film festival. (medium.com) 

• Check out this recap video of the Black Excellence in Gaming event organized by Decoy Games back in February. The event was designed to celebrate and create more opportunities for people of color in gaming. (YouTube) 

• No Proscenium have created a list of regularly updated immersive experiences accessible from home. Check out the link to see what remote experiences are still happening. (Details)

   

Awards

• Congratulations to former NYU Game Center student Atlas Chen of thatgamecompany on winning the 2020 Game Developers Audience Choice Award with Sky: Children of the Light. You can vote for Sky: Children of the Light in the upcoming International Mobile Gaming Awards. (imgawards.com)

   

Launched

• In Damaged in Transit by Wyatt Yeong, Diego Garcia, and Greg Heffernan, help two robots deliver packages in a mind-bending action-puzzler. Juggle the drones over 125 levels and help them deliver their precious cargo. (Steam)

• In Quest by The Adventure Guild go on a thrilling journey in a fantastic world of your shared imagination. The rules of the game help you tell a story that’s totally unique — no two games are the same, and the possibilities are endless. (Details)

• Namedoors, and Other Poems by Lucas Molina is a game featuring a collection of 20 of Lucas’s poems about personal life experiences. (itch.io) 

• In Hidden Tunes by 3 Head Monkey you play an archaeologist searching for a great treasure of immense value: a Mythical Music Instrument. This puzzle game currently has three levels with more planned in the future. (itch.io) 

• Play as a lonely Shade in The Longing by Studio Seufz (and our very own Jess Haskins), the last servant of a king who once ruled an underground kingdom. The king's powers have faded and he falls asleep for 400 days to regain his might. It is your duty to stay in the earthen palace until he awakens. (Steam)

• Treachery in Beatdown City developed by Nuchallenger and HurakanWorks is a dark comedy action street fighting thriller that gives players the freedom to fight how they want against an increasingly ridiculous cast of enemies. (Details)
   

Preorder/Wishlist

• We should talk by Insatiable Cycle is a short-form narrative game that will make you think carefully about the words you choose. Using a unique narrative choice mechanic, you'll craft sentences in response to the in-game characters. (Steam)

• No Body Home by The Sheep’s Meow is a cute and dark cooperative platformer about two little ghosts searching for delicious cake in a house that’s haunted … with humans! (Steam)

• NYU Game Center Faculty Mitu Khandaker's studio Glow Up Games is releasing a new game to coincide with HBO's Insecure Season 4! The Come Up Game is coming soon to the App Store and Google Play. (Details)

Playtesting

• Kinetic Games are looking for playtesters for their game Close Call. You can find more information by visiting their website here. 

Crowdfunding

• Due to the COVID-19 crisis, Wonderville has been closed since March 14 and many of the staff are out of work. Donate to the staff’s wage fund by clicking on the following link. (gofundme.com)
   

Unless otherwise noted, events are (probably!) free to attend. Follow @GameDevNYC for event alerts. Contact nyc@igda.org to add your org's events.
Section Editor: Matt Fisher

 

Due to the current pandemic, and in the consideration of public safety, all events listed are remote. 
 

Wednesday, April 1

 Playcrafting: GLOBAL GAME NIGHT: Made in NYC – A remote demoing and spotlight of games made by creators in New York. 

Wonderville: {REMOTE} Playtest Night Via Discord – Have a game you’re working on? Want to get some testing and feedback? Join this remote playtest to see what NYC game developers are up to.

Brooklyn Freelancers Union SPARK: Website/Social Media Critiques – Meet online for roundtable community feedback on your website and social media, and be ready to offer critiques as well.

Thursday, April 2

 NYU Game Center Book Launch: Achievement Relocked with Geoff Engelstein – Adjunct Faculty, game designer, and author Geoff Engelstein talk about his latest book release Achievement Relocked. The book explores how game designers can use the psychological phenomenon of loss aversion to shape player experience. 

Friday, April 3

Astoria Creatives: Happy Hour (at home) – A live video chat with your favorite soft drink or adult beverage. Share what you’re working on or just something that’s helping you get through the quarantine. 

Saturday, April 4

Stone Soup - Experience Design Camp: Open Mic - Virtual Experiences – This is your chance to test out virtual activities and experiences in a fun and supportive atmosphere.

Wonderville: {LIVESTREAM} I/O Chip Music NYC – New York's long-running electronic music showcase featuring a mix of new and international chip musicians and visual artists.

Sunday, April 5

Wonderville: {LIVESTREAM} Video Synthesis with Video Waaaves – Learn the fundamentals of video synthesis with feedback systems. Video Waaaves is an excellent introduction to modern video synthesis techniques for artists from any background and any experience level. ($30)

Monday, April 6

Playcrafting: Unity’s New Building Tools - Creating Worlds with ProBuilder & Polybrush – Learn more about these new features, and create beautiful 3D art while improving your design workflow. ($20)

Wednesday, April 8

Anyworld AR / VR Community: [Virtual Workshop] Meet XR enthusiasts and learn to create AR with Lens Studio – A discussion of the world of AR and VR, and a one-hour workshop of the basics of the Snapchat AR creator's program Lens Studio.

Babycastles: (ONLINE) Viewtiful Joe - Game of the Month Club – Viewtiful Joe is a love letter to 2d beat-em-up platformers. It's brutal difficulty, amazing graphics, and stylish charm reminds you just how fun video games can be.

Saturday, April 11

Stone Soup - Experience Design Camp: Open Mic - Virtual Experiences – This is your chance to test out virtual activities and experiences in a fun and supportive atmosphere.

Monday, April 13

Playcrafting: Game Writing Portfolio Workout (Online) – A seminar highlighting the skills needed and what types of samples are typically used or requested in a game writing portfolio or game writing test. ($20)

Saturday, April 18

Stone Soup - Experience Design Camp: Open Mic - Virtual Experiences – This is your chance to test out virtual activities and experiences in a fun and supportive atmosphere.

Monday, April 20

Playcrafting: Unity Basics - From Nothing to Flappy Bird in 2 Hours – Using Unity's built in physics engine and some simple coding, you can make your very own Flappy Bird clone. Set yourself up for a long and awesome career in game development by starting simple. ($20)

Friday, April 24

 Waffle Games 3.0 (Online) – The Waffle Games is a collaborative effort to redefine what it means to be involved in games and their communities.

Esports and Game Design Collective: Online Info Session – Learn more about the EGD Collective, meet people, and see student work.

Tuesday, April 28

AWE Nite NYC - Online meetup – A virtual meetup for AR enthusiasts. ($5)
 

Recurring Weekly

Mondays 

• Nyeek Games' Nyeek Cloud Monday

Wednesdays

• Volumetric Society of NYC Virtual Hardware Hack Lab

Thursdays

• NYU Game Center LIVE 

Saturdays

• NYC-Playtest Tribeca Remote Playtesting

Sundays

• Hacker Hours Virtual Sundays for programming help
   

View or submit a listing for free.
Section Editor: Matt Fisher
 

Jobs

• Senior Lighting Artist at Avalanche Studios

• Senior Vehicle/Hard Surface Artist at Avalanche Studios

• Senior Technical Artist at Avalanche Studios

• QA Engineer (contract) at Avalanche Studios

• Studio Manager at Avalanche Studios

• Freelance Senior Back End Developer/Architect at ustwo

• Senior Unity Developer at ustwo

• Senior Game Developer at ustwo

• Senior iOS Developer at ustwo

• Recruiting Assistant (Remote) at Filament Games

• Game Engineer (Remote Contract) at Filament Games

• UI UX Designer (Remote Contract) at Filament Games

• Game Designer (Remote Contract) at Filament Games

• 2D Game Artist (Remote Contract) at Filament Games

• Game Programmer at The Aristocrats

• Story Writer at The Aristocrats

• VFX Artist at The Aristocrats

• Concept Artist at The Aristocrats

• 3D Animator at the Aristocrats

• Development Director of Esports at Varsity Esports Foundation
   

Education

• General Assembly: 3D Modelling & Animation Bootcamp (4/10)

• General Assembly: Intro to Agile and Scrum (4/14)

• General Assembly: Programming for the Non-Programmer – Basics (4/25)

Exhibit/Speak/Publish

• Global Games Pitch: Call for Applications (DL: 3/31)

• Playcrafting: Global Game Nights – Call for Game Showcases (DL: 3/31)

• Waffle Games 3.0: Speakers & Exhibitors Application Deadline Extended (4/9)

• Babycastles: Call for Exhibitions

• WordHack 2020 Presenter Open Call
   

Funding/Programs/Contests

• NYC Media Lab & ASCAP: Music & Design Challenge (DL: 4/3)

• VR for Change Alcove Challenge (DL: 4/13)

• ADL: Center for Technology and Society Belfer Fellowship (DL: 4/20)

• ITP Camp 2020: 6/1-6/26 (DL: 5/29)
   

Benefits for IGDA members.

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

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

• Software discounts: 10% off Unity Pro or 25% off Unity Plus. Details.

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

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