Social gatherings, tech events, showcases and more from across Canada
This “8-day-long game jam aims to help grow the game development scene in London, Ontario and welcomes all who wish to take part, be they beginners, hobbyists, students, or professionals!”
Welcome, Vancouver Game devs to Town One 2023! Preparing you to game industry work with networking, mentorship and practical development.
The Game Design Club (GDC) will be hosting a GAME JAM for the kids at Inn From the Cold (The Inn), a Calgary-based shelter that is dedicated to helping find stability for families that are experiencing a housing crisis.
You can check out the full details on the Facebook Group - but there will be an only Women Game Jam hosted by a few people out in British Columbia.
The Women Game Jam is a game creation marathon that aims to promote the empowerment and growth of women* in the game industry! Women Game Jam Canada will be making games in parallel with participants in 8 countries across North and Latin America. Join us for this amazing online event from August 21 to 30!
An amazing opportunity for as many as 100 local designers, programmers and artists to come together and collaborate to build their very own video games from scratch!
LanWarX - The bi-annual LAN party hosted at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology will be at the end of this month. It will include some cash prizes as well, you can check out full details below but make sure to also check out the FaceBook page.
LAN WAR is a bi-annual LAN Party hosted by the student society of the same name from the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) in Oshawa, Ontario. It’s the largest conglomerate gaming event in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) dedicated to offering a wide array of competitive and casual gaming, vendors, prizes, cosplayers, trivia contests, raffles, and giveaways.
With over $3000 in prizing, LanwarX hosts many games including the main events:
-League of Legends
-Smash 4
-Hearthstone
-Counter Strike: Global Offensive (Brought to you by Swarmio)
-Overwatch
You can purchase tickets at the Eventbrite, or at the door. They've also set up a discord server if that's your groove. Remember to also check out Gamecon which is also at UoIT.
The International Game Developers Association will be hosting their Global Game Jam, which you can check out here. You can register at the Eventbrite for the free event.
The Global Game Jam® (GGJ) is the world's largest game jam event (game creation) taking place around the world at physical locations. Think of it as a hackathon focused on game development. It is the growth of an idea that in today’s heavily connected world, we could come together, be creative, share experiences and express ourselves in a multitude of ways using video games – it is very universal. The weekend stirs a global creative buzz in games, while at the same time exploring the process of development, be it programming, iterative design, narrative exploration or artistic expression. It is all condensed into a 48 hour development cycle. The GGJ encourages people with all kinds of backgrounds to participate and contribute to this global spread of game development and creativity.
Not sure which ticket to get?
- If you are a George Brown College student, we want to know! This will help our team keep track of our advertising efforts, and help us know how to better serve you!
Equipment Rentals
- If you need equipment (such as tablets), email me at igda.gbc@gmail.com and we will do our best to accomodate you. Computers and tablets are first come, first serve- so please reserve your equipment today!
Have a team?
We want to seat you with your team! Let us know your team members at IGDA.gbc@gmail.com
Sheridan College is having their own Global Game Jam, which you sign up for right here (there is 100 spots total), and check below for some details. You can follow signs to the Learning Common’s of the Trafalgar campus.
"The Global Game Jam® (GGJ) is the world's largest game jam event (game creation) taking place around the world at physical locations. This year, Sheridan College will be hosting a jam site of their own and strongly encourages game developers on the western side of GTA to join the event!
Meals will be provided Saturday and Sunday for registered participants. There will also be a random draw at the end with sponsored prizes from Unity and Ubisoft. Bring your own equipment and we look forward to seeing you there."
Interested in joining a Game Jam? Well if you'r elooking for an extra bit of prep, the Toronto Fill School is hosting a Prep Panel January 19th on their Steeles Campus in the Student Lounge. Details below, but you can email Taly at Taly.Hotimsky@torontofilmschool.ca for more information.
Solo indie dev expert and longtime friend-of-the-site Devon Wiersma joins us to talk their latest release Centauri Dark, working across AAA, mid-sized and solo indie dev and how to fix this goshdarn industry.
David B joins us from the west coast best coast to talk about the upcoming Quiver Games Incubator!
Bizdev extraordinaire Eric Beer joins us to give his Hades II impressions and chat v-bucks subsidized game preservation.
We break down Baldur Gate 3's unprecedented success & the knock-on effects it'll have on the industry and how we make games moving forward. We also speak to Ontario-based indie game devs Twinolli about their upcoming action-puzzler Highlighters which just got a (Dad Deck-verified) Steam demo!
We speak to Québécois game dev Dragon Slumber, creator of Tech Support, Aethernaut and many more!
We reveal the winners of our ‘23 Community Awards poll and discuss Drinkbox’s latest teaser for their next project- and more!
This week thousands more game developers join Stephan in the "terminated by evil, stupid people" camp as layoffs hit tons of studios all over Canada and the world. We discuss Sonic as well. Sonic supports Unionizing your Workplace!
Stephan got terminated but that’s okay he just has more time to cover Canadian games now.
The Rec Room will be having a Dance Dance Revolution showdown for New Years Eve, and you save a bit of money by getting tickets early. You can check out the full details on the official FaceBook page right here.
Your first New Year's resolution? Dance Dance the night away!
Ring in the new year with The Rec Room and DJ Mensa! Light up our dance floor, show off your moves in our DDR Showdown, and countdown to the new year with amidnight toast. We've got music, games, and giveaways throughout the night! Get ready! 2018 is going to be a whole new game.
You can buy tickets (10 dollars in advance, 15 at the door) right here - see you at The Rec Room!
Registration for the the third Peterborough Game Jam is on right now. You can head to the official site to check out all the details on it - or head over the Eventbrite to register for the event.
Register for #PTBOGameJam03 Aug 4th-5th and make a game in 32hrs!https://t.co/oMlcP3Cx0l#PTBO #Local #Toronto #gamedev #indiedev #gamejam pic.twitter.com/v5l3iSsWiB
— PTBO Game Jam (@ptbogamejam) June 16, 2017
Below are the results of PTBO Jam #2
PTBO Game Jam 02, held February 17 to 19 at Fleming College’s Kawartha Trades and Technology Centre, was a resounding success, drawing more than 150 participants – more than half of those game developers – and resulting in a very impressive 33 games created.
The 12th Annual Toronto Game Jam is in the planning stages right now, and will take place between May 5th and May 7th. Registration will take place March 22nd. All details can be seen on Twitter, or their website.
Roses are red
— Toronto Game Jam (@torontogamejam) February 17, 2017
Violets are blue
TOJam: What Twelves Below is coming May 5-7
and Registration opens March 22!
<3 https://t.co/qK21W1KoHL pic.twitter.com/rivqfDCSfJ
Friend of the site Stephen Chin, Education Consultant at triOS college let me know that triOS is having a Toronto Gaming Arcade. They'll have their current students, and some graduates showcasing playable versions of their games.
It's a free event but space is limited, so make sure to check meetup.com to register and find all the details. It also gives you an opportunity to find out more about their program.
Video game design programs at triOS College. Start your process today. Discover. Improve. Achieve.
Chivalry 2, the hotly anticipated sequel which is coming to PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S has gone gold ahead of its June 8th release date. The game, which will feature crossplay across the board, is also currently having an open Beta from May 27th to June 1st, the Beta is also cross-play enabled.
Triversal, the puzzle game from Toronto developer Phantom Compass has a release date, and thankfully we won’t have to wait that long. The game comes out on July 13th, and you can wishlist it on Steam here.
Toronto-based developer Snowman will be releasing their currently Apple-Arcade-only Skate City to Steam, Epic Game Store, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4/5, and Xbox on May 6th.
Having just released Mighty Fight Federation on PlayStation/Steam late last month, Komi Games is not done and have released their 3D brawler on Switch - and have included Cross-Play with all versions. you can pick up the game on Switch right here for $39.89.
Massive Damages Star Renegades, the rogue-lite RPG that is available on Xbox, and Steam, is out now on PlayStation. Currently going for $24.74 CAD with a PlayStation Plus discount, you can pick it up here.
Sokodice is a puzzle game where you must navigate dice through mind boggling levels to match the number of the dice with the number on a designated tile.
Toronto developer MegaPhemeral announced their upcoming Japanese inspired RPG Emergent Fates will be coming to iOS on July 7th. Offered as a “free-to-start”, and then a 5.99 USD price tag to unlock the game is currently up for preorder on the App Store.
P.A.M.E.L.A the Bioshock-inspired first-person shooter from Toronto based NVYVE Studios gets a full release on PC.
Dames Making Games is having their fifth annual noir-themed jam. You can check out all the details for the free event here (quick note: free for DMG members).
Come create a pulp game or four; something that darkly subverts political cynicism, breaks rules and destroys expectations; wields anxiety as power, disorients or shocks foundations. We’ll supply the space, snacks, transit funds and laptops.
WHAT: 48 hours to make a game on the theme of transgression.
WHO: DMG members. Work in a team or solo.
BONUS: VR headsets and computers available for use.
Jam participants will have an opportunity to showcase their games at our annual FEB FATALE party in the spring.
Solo indie dev expert and longtime friend-of-the-site Devon Wiersma joins us to talk their latest release Centauri Dark, working across AAA, mid-sized and solo indie dev and how to fix this goshdarn industry.
David B joins us from the west coast best coast to talk about the upcoming Quiver Games Incubator!
Bizdev extraordinaire Eric Beer joins us to give his Hades II impressions and chat v-bucks subsidized game preservation.
We break down Baldur Gate 3's unprecedented success & the knock-on effects it'll have on the industry and how we make games moving forward. We also speak to Ontario-based indie game devs Twinolli about their upcoming action-puzzler Highlighters which just got a (Dad Deck-verified) Steam demo!
We speak to Québécois game dev Dragon Slumber, creator of Tech Support, Aethernaut and many more!
We reveal the winners of our ‘23 Community Awards poll and discuss Drinkbox’s latest teaser for their next project- and more!
This week thousands more game developers join Stephan in the "terminated by evil, stupid people" camp as layoffs hit tons of studios all over Canada and the world. We discuss Sonic as well. Sonic supports Unionizing your Workplace!
Stephan got terminated but that’s okay he just has more time to cover Canadian games now.
Peterborough Game Jam # 2 is happening next month, and you can register for the free event here. You can also follow them on Twitter and FaceBook.
The PTBO Game Jam is a bi-annual not-for-profit event managed by industry professionals hosted in beautiful Peterborough Ontario, Canada. It is a gathering of people from all walks of life; from seasoned game developers and students just entering the industry, to hobbyists and enthusiasts all eager to engage and see what they can produce in a short timeframe.
Peterborough, Ontario – January 19, 2017 – One number speaks to the success. 11 games created. Sleep? Not a wink.
That was the bottom line in the wake of PTBO Game Jam 01, an inaugural August 2016 gathering which brought together seasoned game developers, students entering the gaming industry, hobbyists and gaming enthusiasts. Based on its overwhelming success, plans were quickly made to organize and present an even more exciting follow-up event.
Fast forward to Friday, February 17 and the staging of PTBO Game Jam 02 at Fleming College’s Kawartha Trades and Technology Centre at the college’s Peterborough campus – the theme of which will be revealed February 13 via social media.
Over the course of the three-day event, hosted by Peterborough-based game development studio dotBunny, game developers – programmers, designers, artists and others in game development-related fields – will plan, design and create games in a specified time frame with up to four cash prizes awarded for the top team and individual efforts.
A City of Peterborough proclamation declaring February 17 to 19, 2017 as PTBO Game Jam Weekend points to the wide demographic-spanning appeal of the PTBO Game Jam, the likes of which has never been presented in the city.
It’s also indicative of the huge, and growing popularity of gaming – more than 19 million Canadians identify themselves as “gamers,” participating, at some level, in an industry which is expected to grow to a startling $100 billion market value come 2019.
But PTBO Game Jam 02 isn’t all fun and games – an event-opening Educational Block will be featured Friday, February 17, starting at 6 p.m.
Featured will be Robert French, who will lead a seminar on the steps and process involved in making Pac-Man – his talk will be of interest to those motivated to create their first game – and Angela Hopewell of IBM Canada, who will speak to the role IBM can play in the game development process for developers, both new and seasoned. But Angela won’t be alone. Joining her will be a Watson powered robot Connie, presenting the first of a number of terrific weekend-long opportunities for media photographers and videographers.
Admission to the event is free but pre-registration is required. Visit http://ptbogamejam.com/event/ and click the Register Now button. Youths, with adult accompaniment, are encouraged to register for just the Friday night Educational Block.
PTBO Game Jam History
With the goal of fostering a local game development community and benefiting future generations of game developers, Matthew Davey, the founder of Peterborough-based game development studio dotBunny, organized and hosted the inaugural not-for-profit PTBO Game Jam 01 in August 2016 at the Holiday Inn Peterborough-Waterfront.
Based on the overwhelming response to, and success of, that initial foray, plans were made to host a follow-up event in early 2017. To that end, Davey has assembled a stellar team of industry professionals working together towards the continued success of the PTBO Game Jam to the benefit of the industry as a whole as well as participants. With close to 20 sponsors backing PTBO Game Jam 02, it’s clear their efforts continue to pay a huge dividend as it eyes the hosting of future events.
Contact Information
Matthew Davey
matthew.davey@dotbunny.com
+1 (888) 632-1993 x700
#MakeGamesWithFriends, our open studio night for everyone, returns Monday, August 8! https://t.co/QKoMk8upBp pic.twitter.com/Fghbkb6d7s
— Gamma Space (@GammaSpaceTO) August 2, 2016
Make Games With Friends is Gamma Space’s monthly, inclusive, free and open to the public game development event! All levels of experience and interest are welcome. Come share your projects, tips, tricks and knowledge with developers of all levels, in disciplines ranging from coding to graphics, sound design to level crafting. Each event offers micro talks, presentations and informal opportunities for show-and-tell before participants settle in for some open studio time. It’s a great way for community members and the public to get a feel for what Gamma Space members do every day!
Check out all the details here!
The 11th annual Toronto Game Jam will be happening the first weekend of May. You can check out all the details on the official site here.
The Toronto Game Jam (TOJam) is a FREE, annual, open-to-the-public event where the craziest game makers in the world gather for a 3 day, game making binge. Webster, Kupferman, Creighton, and Woo explain things best.
"TOJam: Don't Stop bELEVEN" takes place May 6 to 8, 2016 at George Brown College. Registration is closed! TOJam attracts a mix of hobbyists, students, and professionals. For some, it's an opportunity to try new ideas, for others it's a chance to focus. For everyone, it's a grand old time. After the event, we showcase all the games at the public TOJam Arcade.
Make sure to check out the official Twitter, and the friends of TOJam.
PytyvoGaming and Techsdale are colloborating to bring Diversity Jam in March.
Diversity Game Jam focuses on themes of diversity such as, but are not limited to, ethnic representation and intersectionality. It will be a 2-day paper jam with workshops on the first day and jamming on the second day. Diversity Game Jam is open to people of all ages and different skill levels.
You can check out all the details for the event on FaceBook, or Twitter. Any questions can be addressed to diversitygamejam@gmail.com as well. See you there!
