What benefits can you gain from attending gaming industry meetups?

Just being in the vicinity of these experts kinda gives you the confidence to do something big, different, and unique - as their stories themselves are inspiring, the struggle they've been through and the hardships they've faced to see through a bunch of successes would help you see through your phase of low or no-confidence. It is the aura, it is something you'll definitely feel once you're there.

Gaming Industry meetups/events are the best way to get a chance to speak to industry professionals. A lot of them are there to give feedback, review portfolios, answer questions, etc. so it's the perfect time to approach them, compared to a cold approach on social media where they may never get the chance to look over their messages.

Gaming, like tech, is moving faster than a single person can follow. Sharing knowledge with experts is a great way to have access to synthesized knowledge.

He observado la labor de la compa?ía detrás de "Cyberchase: Duck Dash", y me ha impresionado profundamente. Este juego STEM, galardonado por Kidscreen, demuestra un compromiso excepcional con la educación inclusiva. Desarrollado por Bridge y WNET, en colaboración con PBS KIDS y Relish Studios, se ha dise?ado específicamente para ser accesible a ni?os con diversas discapacidades. La iniciativa de Bridge, apoyada por la Oficina de Programas de Educación Especial de EE.UU., resalta la importancia de los juegos como herramientas educativas efectivas y accesibles, beneficiando a millones de personas con discapacidades.

As new to the gaming industry some 3 years ago, the event was the best way to build a strong network, I have attended endless exhibitions, and by being curious people tend to want to share knowledge and great insights. I now have a very strong network due to gaming meetups. Build new networks, strengthen current relationships, and make friends.

I've been going to games industry events for years now. There are a few that are always circled in my calendar. I've been lucky enough to meet some amazing people at these events. From impressive industry leaders to brand-new up-and-comers, if you get to an industry event in person and put yourself out there, you'll meet loads of potential colleagues, contacts, and if you're lucky, friends.

As a video game expert, I recognize that the industry is not just about games; it's much more. The technology itself can sometimes be mundane for certain aspects, like shopping platforms, but these elements are being transformed into games. This gradual evolution has led to the emergence of the metaverse, which is essentially a gaming platform with a more mature label, signaling "this is for all of us". In the metaverse, we attend concerts or meet up with friends; gaming is the future of everything.

Though this isn't an exact science, the 7-38-55 Rule is a good indicator that networking in person holds a massive advantage over networking over social media. According to this rule, communication is 55% nonverbal, 38% vocal and only 7% words only! By that rule, 93% of communciation is lost when you're sending a message over LinkedIn (Think about the last time you received a message and thought the person was mad at you, when in fact, they weren't). Your personality can really shine through at these meetups and make a much bigger impression.

One thing that I've faced or been through is that Networking isn't easy - it isn't a cakewalk where you just walk up to a person at a conference and all goes as planned - most of the time, you're deferred to by being handed a visiting card, lol. Although, over time, when you understand what "clicks", you'll have fun expanding the network. I must say though, a much more casual environment and smaller crowd helps in better networking. The mixers are game-changers too in my opinion; unfortunately, not a lot of folks get invited to the mixers.

This is your chance to be authentic in a space with people who were once in your shoes. My advice is to let the eagerness go for the night and genuinely get to know people. I always enjoy meeting people who I admire and learning about their journey in the industry. More than connections but possibly future friends who can support you through your job hunt or career development. The hardest part of attending networking events is knowing what to do when you get there. Just remember you belong there just like everyone else! Chat about topics that excite you and let the recipient know more about you.

In my talks and events, I am excited to introduce the latest trends, and gaming in 2023 is a key topic. Virtual and augmented reality are revolutionizing gaming, offering immersive experiences and new forms of interaction for events. Cloud gaming removes the need for costly hardware, making advanced games more accessible. The rise of mobile gaming reflects its viability and diversity for both developers and players. The Metaverse, an interconnected virtual world, promises to revolutionize events, enabling deeper interactions. Finally, blockchain technology and P2E games are transforming the gaming economy, introducing new models of monetization and digital ownership

I find meeting new people and hearing new perspectives often leads to new ideas and opportunities that may not be available to me before the meetup.

Have you heard about "Pixel Ripped 1978"? This Atari and ARVORE masterpiece, released for PS VR2, Meta Quest 2, and Steam VR, excites me. Set in an alternate 1970s universe, the game revives the golden era of video games. The protagonist, Bug, an Atari programmer, travels inside her games to fix bugs. The real twist is when her game "Pixel Ripped" gets hacked. The blend of classic Atari characters with VR and an innovative storyline makes "Pixel Ripped 1978" a shining example of gaming evolution

One time at an event, I was introduced to a group of university students that had come all the way from Texas to this UK event. They had released a game on Steam, they had their own booth at this event where they were showing their game and networking. They were a big inspiration to myself, but, I imagine they were an even bigger inspiration to other students that you can make it! I'm sure they had a lot of individuals discussing potential opportunities with them as the event was filled with industry professionals. They definitely told me about a big opportunity that had presented itself at this event.

One of the things that a lot of people tend to forget is being considerate of the purpose of an industry event. Some are for networking, show casing work, or just to relax. How you hold yourself should be dependent on the event tone. Last thing some people want to do at an event design to allow for people to relax is to talk about work. If the vibe isn't right for it, exchange details and reach out outside of the event to organise a time to chat. Selling or pitching yourself, unless asked upon by others, should be one of the less things on your mind. Genuinely talk to the people around you, get to know what they like and dislike to build an authentic connection; but don't force it.

When going to events and meet-ups, make sure to look up if that event has any official welcome party, and also check if any of your networks is invited to any parties connected to the event, GDC, Gamescom, etc are great for this. You will have a lot higher network rate at those parties as there is more of a casual atmosphere and very easy to connect with industry professionals.

There are a lot of gaming industry events/meetups around and they can be really beneficial, however, do not feel pressured into attending them. There are a lot of people out there who potentially can't afford to make these trips, or, feel uncomfortable going to a big event with a lot of people around. If you're trying to get into the industry, the number 1 important thing is your ability/talent, not appearances at events. If you're already in the industry then it's just a matter of using your own experience/knowledge to decide whether it's worth it or not.