Canberra iFEST 2011
Time |
Main Presentation |
Workshop |
| 10:30 AM | iFEST doors open | |
| 11:00 AM | From AAA to Indie Andrew James & Ed Orman, Uppercut Games |
|
| 12:00 PM | Advice for the Newbie Indie Developer: From Starting Out to Staying in Business Epona Schweer, AIE |
|
| 1:00 PM | Stop Production and Start Prototyping Luke Muscat, Half Brick Studios |
Procedurally-Generated Content for Indie Games Tony Oakden, AIE |
| 2:00 PM | Lunch | |
| 2:30 PM | Supporting the Growth of Digital Media in ACT and Region Monica Penders, ScreenACT |
Using BigWorld Technology for Indie Game Development Alistair Phillips, Micro Forté |
| 3:30 PM | Re-building Australia’s Game Development Industry John De Margheriti, BigWorld |
|
| 4:30 PM | Wrap-up & final announcements | |
| 5:00 PM | End of Sessions | |
| 6:00 PM | Networking & Drinks at Tilley’s | |
Session Information
From AAA to Indie
Andrew James & Ed Orman, Directors, Uppercut Games
Andrew and Ed from Uppercut Games will discuss the differences they have thus far discovered between their previous work at a large development studio and their new careers as independent game developers. The talk will cover production, art, design and the business side of getting a fledgling games studio up and running.
Advice for the Newbie Indie Developer: From Starting Out to Staying in Business
Epona Schweer, 3D Animation & Game Art Teacher, AIE
An indie game becomes a hit on the App Store or on Steam and we all get swept up in the romance of being Indie! A dashing adventurer with a big floppy hat, average office job by day and rushing off to create brave new worlds by night. But when we try it in reality the results are often bleak, full of stress and with very little game to show for it. So how did the “pros” do it? What did they do BEFORE they were famous?
Stop Production and Start Prototyping
Luke Muscat, Lead Designer, Halfbrick Studios
Drawing on personal and professional experience, Luke will talk through the process of prototyping game designs. With numerous real world examples, students will be given practical tips to improve their own processes in the early stages of game development, and how to make the most out of early prototyping.
Procedurally-Generated Content for Indie Games
Tony Oakden, Game Programming Teacher, AIE
One of the problems facing artistically challenged programmers is a dependence on other talent. Artists and level designers, you can’t live with them and you can’t cut them up into little bits and bury them under the patio, but with judicious use of procedurally generated content you can reduce your dependence on them just a little bit…
Supporting the Growth of Digital Media in ACT and Region
Monica Penders, Manager, ScreenACT
Monica Penders is the Manager of ScreenACT, the ACT Office of Film, Television and Digital Media, the organisation responsible for implementing industry development initiatives, providing location production support and working with other states on potential partnering projects. Monica will be speaking about opportunities for ACT indie game developers including the Development Fund, Screen Investment Fund as well as those offered at a national level by Screen Australia. For those who have never submitted an application funding before, Monica will also be covering some of the tips and tricks to ensure your application has the best chance of success.
Using BigWorld Technology for Indie Game Development
Alistair Phillips, Lead Programmer, Micro Forté
Learn how BigWorld indie can bring your game to life quickly and can scale as your user base grows. Alistair will give an overview of the BigWorld server technology, world building tools and art pipline for bringing your models to life in the game. Also covered will be how to use python scripts to quickly get your game code up and running.
Re-building Australia’s Game Development Industry
John De Margheriti, CEO, BigWorld, Micro Forté & AIE
Is there an entrepreneur lurking inside of you and bursting at the seams to get out? If you have aspirations to start your own company, then this could be the launching pad you need to get ahead of the game! John De Margheriti will be discussing some industry support mechanisms for independent developers that the Academy of Interactive Entertainment will be launching to help kick start the next generation of start-up businesses in Australia.