Access expert games Design talent.

  • Keynote speakers
  • Masterclasses
  • Roundtable seminars
  • 1 -on- 1 Portfolio Reviews
  • Dedicated Discord
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A free digital event connecting students with games industry professionals. Register now for access.

Schedule:

All times in BST

Talks/Masterclasses/Special Guests

  1. 10:00
    You: The Brand - with Brenda Romero
    Speaker: Brenda Romero (Co-founder, Romero Games) “You: The Brand”, legendary game developer Brenda Romero will give advice to games developers about how to enjoy a successful career in games, starting with how best to sell yourself in interviews and get that job. Brenda will also join the Livestream Chat Discord channel to answer any questions.
  2. 11:00
    How to create fantastic 3D character art - a Creative Assembly masterclass
    Speakers: Jas Dhatt (Lead Character Artist, Creative Assembly) & Danny Sweeney (Senior Character Artist, Creative Assembly) In an in-depth art masterclass from Creative Assembly, Jas Dhatt & Danny Sweeney discuss how to create fantastic 3D character art.
  3. 15:00
    Special Guest: Writing and Journalism
    Speakers: TBA! Videogame legends will discuss their careers and answer your questions. On Monday, a world-famous games writer will join the Writing and Journalism Discord channel at 3pm.

Roundtables

Roundtables take place in 5 Roundtable Rooms from 12-midday - 3pm every day. To see the latest session and join a roundtable go to roundtable-readme. Room limit is 23 people - thanks!

  1. 12:00
    Design and Production Roundtables Room 1: Allan Suleman (Designer, Creative Assembly) Room 2: Ed Perkins (Director of Mobile Publishing, Square Enix) Room 3: Sandy Lockie (Level Designer, FuturLab) Room 4: Ziz Simoens (Freelance Game Designer/Producer) Room 5: Shaun Wall (UX Design, Unit 2 Games)
  2. 13:00
    BAFTA Crew Roundtables Room 1: Jarran Hobson (Freelance 3D Artist) Room 2: Alanna Butchart (Environmental Artist, No Code) Room 3: Nida Ahmad (UX Designer/User Researcher, Netspeak Games) Room 4: Kilian Lenaerts (Programming, Unit 2 Games) Room 5: Anna Ljungberg (Senior Programmer, Rebellion)
  3. 14:00
    Get that Job! Soft Skills and How to Make a Good Impression Roundtables Room 1: Luke Johnson (Lead Recruitment Resourcer, Creative Assembly) Room 2: Nat Griffith (Brand and Marketing Director, Unit 2 Games) Room 3: Meg Daintith (Recruitment Manager, Codemasters) Room 4: Quang Nguyen (Founder, Asobitech) Room 5: Stuart De Ville (Co-founder, Game Dev London)

Portfolio Reviews

These happen in the 3 Portfolio Review rooms from 10am - 4pm every day - go to portfolioreview-readme for more information. You need to get in the queue and wait to see an industry person 1-1. You can show links or share your screen with your portfolio/CV. Each session will be approximately 10 minutes - please be patient when waiting to be seen. Thanks!

  1. Portfolio Room 1
    10:00 - 12:00: Kevin McDowell (Art Director, Creative Assembly) 12:00 - 14:00: Emmeline Dobson (3D Animator, Revolution Software) 14:00 - 15:00: Jason Tzaidas (Programmer, Splash Damage)
  2. Portfolio Room 2
    10:00 - 12:00: Creative Assembly TBC & Leonard Mah, Design, Creative Assembly 12:00 - 14:00: Nele Steenput (Character Artist & Head of Art, Cooperative Innovations) 14:00 - 16:00: Guy Mills (Art Director, Hangar 13)
  3. Portfolio Room 3
    10:00 - 12:00: Thom Armer (Environment Art, Creative Assembly) 12:00 - 14:00: Matthew Syrett (Lead Artist, Table Flip Games) 14:00 - 16:00: Mikael Hellberg (Art Craft Manager, EA DICE)

Talks/Masterclasses/Special Guests

  1. 10:00
    What I wished I knew when I started - with Mike Bithell
    Speaker: Mike Bithell (Founder, Bithell Games) Founder of Bithell Games and creator of Thomas Was Alone, John Wick Hex and The Solitaire Conspiracy, Mike Bithell presents about his games career, how to run a successful games company and what he wish he knew when he started.
  2. 11:00
    Finding your place in the games industry - understand your personal brand
    Speaker: Natalie Griffith (Brand and Marketing Director, Unit 2 Games) Natalie Griffith from Unit 2 Games presents a marketing masterclass on understanding your personal brand and where you fit in the games industry.
  3. 13:00
    My big break and journey in the games industry - Adam Campbell
    Speaker: Adam Campbell (Director of Product, Azoomee) Adam Campbell from Azoomee presents an honest talk about his journey in the games industry, how he got his break and what it’s like creating games and TV shows for a younger audience.
  4. 15:00
    Special Guest: Music and Sound Design
    Speaker: TBA! Videogame legends will discuss their careers and answer your questions. On Tuesday, a world-famous musician and sound designer will join the Sound and Music Discord channel at 3pm.

Roundtables

Roundtables take place in 5 Roundtable Rooms from 12-midday - 3pm every day. To see the latest session and join a roundtable go to roundtable-readme. Room limit is 23 people - thanks!

  1. 12:00
    Art and Animation Roundtables Room 1: Kevin McDowell (Art Director, Creative Assembly) Room 2: Stuart De Ville (Co-founder, Game Dev London) Room 3: Adam Olsson (Art Manager, Playground Games) Room 4: Jessica Simard (Animator, Playground Games) Room 5: Charlotte Creber (Concept Artist, Playground Games)
  2. 13:00
    Ukie Games Business Roundtables Room 1: Oliver Pope (Project Manager, Shotgun Mango) Room 2: Phi Dinh (Co-Founder/Lead Developer, Phi Games) Room 3: Caroline Clark (DIY Indie Dev, Scribblescape) Room 4: Nareice Wint (Associate Producer, Lucid Games) Room 5: Riki Casal (Co-Founder/Lead Developer, Playtra Games)
  3. 14:00
    Quality Assurance (Games Testing) Roundtables Room 1: Octavia Vasilescu (QA Manager, Team17) Room 2: Jessica Gordon (QA Manager, Creative Assembly) Room 3: Nick McCarthy (QA Tester, FuturLab) Room 4: Arwyn Brock (QA Tester, No More Robots) Room 5: Zayaan Ahmad (QA Tester, No More Robots)

Portfolio Reviews

These happen in the 3 Portfolio Review rooms from 10am - 4pm every day - go to portfolioreview-readme for more information. You need to get in the queue and wait to see an industry person 1-1. You can show links or share your screen with your portfolio/CV. Each session will be approximately 10 minutes - please be patient when waiting to be seen. Thanks!

  1. Portfolio Room 1
    10:00 - 12:00: Kevin McDowell (Art Director, Creative Assembly) 12:00 - 14:00: John Griffiths (Lead Artist, Fabrik Games) 14:00 - 15:00: Jason Tzaidas (Programmer, Splash Damage)
  2. Portfolio Room 2
    10:00 - 12:00: Joy Dey (Design, Creative Assembly) 12:00 - 14:00: Joe Neeves (UX/UI Designer, Sprung Studios) 14:00 - 15:00: Valentin Galea (Tech Director, Hangar 13)
  3. Portfolio Room 3
    10:00 - 12:00: Tjalle Keus (Environment Art, Creative Assembly) 12:00 - 14:00: Rory Jobson (Concept Artist/2D Environment Artist, Dlala Studios) 14:00 - 16:00: James Brooksby (CEO, Absolutely Games)

Talks/Masterclasses/Special Guests

  1. 10:00
    Breaking into the games industry - Dan Bernardo
    Speaker: Dan Bernardo Founder of Playtra Games, Dan Bernardo will discuss how he broke into the games industry, advice for aspiring game developers and what inspires him in the games industry.
  2. 11:00
    Videogame Art Leadership - a Creative Assembly masterclass
    Speaker: Kevin Mcdowell Kevin McDowell, Art Director for Creative Assembly’s Total War series, gives a masterclass on art leadership.
  3. 15:00
    Special Guest: Game Design
    Speaker: TBA! Videogame legends will discuss their careers and answer your questions. On Wednesday a world-famous game designer will join the Game Design Discord channel at 3pm.

Roundtables

Roundtables take place in 5 Roundtable Rooms from 12-midday - 3pm every day. To see the latest session and join a roundtable go to roundtable-readme. Room limit is 23 people - thanks!

  1. 12:00
    Games Journalism Roundtables Room 1: Matt Handrahan (Editor in Chief, GamesIndustry.biz) Room 2: Alice Bell (Deputy Editor, Rock Paper Shotgun) Room 3: Marie Dealessandri (Academy Writer, GamesIndustry,biz) Room 4: Andy Robinson (Editor in Chief, VGC) Room 5: Emma Kent (Reporter, Eurogamer)
  2. 13:00
    Programming Roundtables Room 1: Barni Makkay (Programmer, FuturLab) Room 2: Dan Foster (Programmer, No More Robots) Room 3: Dan Brodie (Programmer, No More Robots) Room 4: Aaron Smith (Engineer, Playground Games) Room 5: Jason Tzaidas (Programmer, Splash Damage)
  3. 14:00
    Games Marketing/PR Roundtables Room 1: Natalie Griffith (Brand and Marketing Director, Unit 2 Games) Room 2: Mike Rose (Founder, No More Robots) Room 3: Pip Hoskins (Marketing Lead, No More Robots) Room 4: Nicolas Pirot (Technical Artist, Rocksteady)

Portfolio Reviews

These happen in the 3 Portfolio Review rooms from 10am - 4pm every day - go to portfolioreview-readme for more information. You need to get in the queue and wait to see an industry person 1-1. You can show links or share your screen with your portfolio/CV. Each session will be approximately 10 minutes - please be patient when waiting to be seen. Thanks!

  1. Portfolio Room 1
    10:00 - 12:00: Baj Singh (Art, Creative Assembly) 12:00 - 14:00: Edd Coates (Senior UI Artist, Double Eleven) 14:00 - 15:00: Jason Tzaidas (Programmer, Splash Damage)
  2. Portfolio Room 2
    10:00 - 12:00: Leonard Mah (Design, Creative Assembly) 12:00 - 14:00: Adam Boyne (Senior Programmer, BetaJester Ltd) 14:00 - 15:00: Francisco Alcalde (Hard Surface Modeller, Hangar 13)
  3. Portfolio Room 3
    10:00 - 12:00: Creative Assembly TBA 12:00 - 14:00: Jarran Hobson (Freelance 3D Artist) 14:00 - 15:00: Fung Sia (Associate Art Editor, Playground Games)

Keynote Talks

  • Brenda Romero avatar

    Brenda Romero

    CEO, Romero Games

  • Mike Bithell avatar

    Mike Bithell

    Founder of Bithell Games and creator of Thomas Was Alone, John Wick Hex and The Solitaire Conspiracy, Mike Bithell presents about his games career, how to run a successful games company and what he wish he knew when he started.

  • Dan Bernardo avatar

    Dan Bernardo

    Founder of Playtra Games, Dan Bernardo will discuss how he broke into the games industry, advice for aspiring game developers and what inspires him in the games industry.

GI Live: Academy is Live

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