Creative Collab at SF Game Development Cinevva & Digital Bandidos

"I need a break from all these A.I. events," I thought to myself after attending so many, it became routine & I hadn’t realized how much I missed attending something new with raw creativity, that is game development. Something was inspiring about seeing game projects still in their early stages each with a unique vision. I stumbled upon the SF Game Development Meetup. Stepping out of my usual networking routine was exactly what I needed... As many of you know, karaoke is one of my favorite pastimes but what most of you probably don't know is that my second favorite is playing video games. It's therapeutic, relaxing, and lets me unwind after a long day. So, you can imagine my excitement when I came across an event for SF Game Development, I signed up on the spot.

I threw on my casual attire and headed to the Mission District where the event was being held. Once the Uber dropped me off I made my way to the DNA Lounge, a well-known spot in the SF nightlife scene. At first, I wasn’t sure if I was in the right place. The open area of the establishment was empty, so I checked the entrance again. Sure enough, there was a sign that read “Game Developers Meetup” with an arrow leading me toward the lounge. I asked one of the workers "Hey, is there a game dev meetup around here?" he replied, "Yeah, just around the corner." I thanked him and followed the sound of people chatting, oddly I couldn’t hear anything until I got closer most likely due to the thickness of the walls.

When I finally stepped inside the meetup area, the energy hit me immediately. It felt almost like walking into a nightclub. The space was dark and vibrant with colorful lights. A huge projector showcased the evening’s guest speakers. The atmosphere buzzed with creativity; I could feel the excitement in the air as indie developers showcased their passion projects. Right by the entrance were two desks with laptops for signing in. I registered and proceeded further in, feeling a mix of excitement & anxiety. Why you might ask? Well, this wasn’t my first rodeo attending a large gathering but I wasn’t quite sure what to expect in this new atmosphere.

The first booth I visited featured a developer commentating as a guest played his indie card game on his laptop. The game instantly reminded me of Magic: The Gathering, though it had a twist, rather than playing against another person, you battled monsters. I turned to the developer and said, "This reminds me of Magic: The Gathering." It turns out he was a big fan of Magic and his game was heavily inspired by it. He told me that he, his brother and another developer they hired worked on the game throughout the pandemic. I gave him a nod of respect and we continued chatting for a few more minutes.

At the next booth, someone was already demoing a game while a group of four were deep in conversation nearby. Normally, I’d jump in and introduce myself but this time I just stood bac, taking in their conversation. They were throwing around terms like “Unity” and “Unreal Engine 4,” which I recognized from my dabbling in college but most of it flew over my head. After standing around for about five minutes, I made my way to the bar at the back of the room. From there, I had a clear view of the stage, where a banner projected the words “San Francisco Game Development: Featuring Cinevva and Digital Bandidos."

I wandered over to another booth, where a game demo featured a Lara Croft lookalike from Tomb Raider. Upon closer inspection, I realized there were some differences no weapons and no enemies. It turned out to be an Egyptian exploration simulator, so there wouldn't be any combat in this game. The guy playing the demo was wearing a light blue hoodie with glasses and seemed focused. I walked up & asked, "Is this supposed to be Tomb Raider?" He glanced at the screen, smiling. "I was wondering the same thing". We both shared a quick laugh before he turned to me asking, "So what brings you here?" I gave him my usual, "I'm a drone operator currently looking to expand my skillset into cybersecurity” and he mentioned a friend of his who was also into drone technology. I’m always happy to hear drones getting more recognition, despite the negative stigma sometimes attached to them. While my background is rooted in drones & soon cybersecurity, it’s exciting to see how game developers are using similar technology to push the boundaries of what’s possible in gaming.

After our chat, we connected on LinkedIn and I made my way through the last couple of booths before the speakers took the stage. One was a developer, the other a publisher honestly it was interesting to hear about the business side of gaming. One key insight that resonated with me was the shift toward minimalist design in indie game developers where they prioritize gameplay and what truly resonates with players, rather than aiming for the flashy, blockbuster-style action you’d see in Triple-A games. All in all, it was a great event I met some awesome people, played a few indie games & got the break I needed from the A.I. scene. If you're in SF and looking to connect with like-minded people in the gaming community, I highly recommend checking out SF Game Development: Featuring Cinevva and Digital Bandidos on Luma.