9:00 am - 9:30 am

Enjoy life-affirming caffeine and snacks to kickstart your day with your fellow industry pros!

9:35 am - 10:00 am

Kristian Roberts, CEO of Nordicity, will reveal initial findings from the most recent profile of Canada’s interactive digital media industry. It is the first time that the entire IDM industry has been measured since 2012. How has the industry evolved over the last twelve years? What does the data show us about the industry in 2024? Join Kristian as he scratches the surface of this key industry information.

10:00 am - 11:00 am

It’s rough out there. Despite recent indie successes, it is harder than ever to get your IP funded. Publishers, investors, and platforms are shifting the burden of proof that success is possible to the developer. It seems developers need to presumptively self publish in order to build up initial momentum/hype/traction so they can demonstrate to the publishers that their game is worth publishing! On average, publishers sign below 1% of the games they are pitched. What’s a developer to do? Start the self publishing process! This lecture will cover the current state of indie funding and publishing deals, and make the case that all studios need to start their marketing and community efforts asap. Further, that such efforts are what open the door to more funding and support options.

11:00 am - 12:00 pm

1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

(20 min. Sessions)

1:00 pm - 2:30 pm

Learn how you can collaborate with local, union Voice talent on a budget, with UBCP/ACTRA's New Low Budget Video Game Agreement

1:00 pm - 1:30 pm

Learn how to fund your game with in-depth insights and strategies from fellow indie devs, the CMF, and game studio accountants from Insert Coin Accounting. Registering VIA the MeetToMatch platform is the ONLY way to guarantee your spot at the table.

1:00 pm - 1:30 pm

Have you been pondering an interesting legal question but haven’t had the opportunity to ask? In that case, please join us for an AMA with experienced (and very friendly!) in-house and external lawyers where you’ll have a chance to ask and discuss legal questions regarding game development. Note it's recommended to register for a session via MeetToMatch to guarantee a spot.

1:30 pm - 2:00 pm

Deep dive into strategies around designing Twitch integrations and campaigns around audience engagement to lengthen tail of game coverage on Twitch. Reference Cult of the Lamb's Twitch integration success as well as other indies.

1:30 pm - 2:00 pm

Learn how to fund your game with in-depth insights and strategies from fellow indie devs, the CMF, and game studio accountants from Insert Coin Accounting. Registering VIA the MeetToMatch platform is the ONLY way to guarantee your spot at the table.

1:30 pm - 2:00 pm

Have you been pondering an interesting legal question but haven’t had the opportunity to ask? In that case, please join us for an AMA with experienced (and very friendly!) in-house and external lawyers where you’ll have a chance to ask and discuss legal questions regarding game development. Note it's recommended to register for a session via MeetToMatch to guarantee a spot.

2:00 pm - 2:30 pm

Don’t leave your marketing until the end of development! Starting marketing early supports game design decisions, strengthens your announcement and launch, organizes timelines, and reduces stress. Marketing Director Tia Young discusses how to build your marketing plan and materials throughout your game’s development using her proven marketing template with examples from RimWorld - Anomaly and RimWorld - Biotech. By the end of the talk, developers will be equipped with powerful tools to create their own plans covering platforms, PR, social media, and more.

2:00 pm - 2:30 pm

Learn how to fund your game with in-depth insights and strategies from fellow indie devs, the CMF, and game studio accountants from Insert Coin Accounting. Registering VIA the MeetToMatch platform is the ONLY way to guarantee your spot at the table.

2:00 pm - 2:30 pm

Have you been pondering an interesting legal question but haven’t had the opportunity to ask? In that case, please join us for an AMA with experienced (and very friendly!) in-house and external lawyers where you’ll have a chance to ask and discuss legal questions regarding game development. Note it's recommended to register for a session via MeetToMatch to guarantee a spot.

2:30 pm - 3:30 pm

2:30 pm - 3:00 pm

With the gaming industry’s current economic conditions affecting developer/publisher relations, the decline of traditional platform exclusivity, and a growing shift towards direct-to-consumer models, self-publishing has become a viable alternative for many game developers. Join us for a candid roundtable discussion with industry experts and fellow developers as we delve into the potential of self-publishing as the future of video game marketing.

2:30 pm - 4:00 pm

Gaming is what unites us and we all want to try each other’s work. Bring your laptop to share your work and try others. Super casual - drop in and out as you like.

3:00 pm - 3:30 pm

With the gaming industry’s current economic conditions affecting developer/publisher relations, the decline of traditional platform exclusivity, and a growing shift towards direct-to-consumer models, self-publishing has become a viable alternative for many game developers. Join us for a candid roundtable discussion with industry experts and fellow developers as we delve into the potential of self-publishing as the future of video game marketing.

3:30 pm - 4:00 pm

Crafting marketing and community strategies that turn curious players into zealous fans has never been more challenging and expensive — and more necessary! In this presentation, Steven Messner, PR & Communications Lead of Blackbird Interactive, details campaigns he led for Warframe and Devolver Digital that blurred the lines between reality and fiction, immersing players in these vivid worlds long before they hit play. Through Steven’s insights and learnings, attendees will understand how to leverage their own games’ world, story, and characters to build scalable, more evocative marketing and stronger communities.

3:30 pm - 4:00 pm

With the gaming industry’s current economic conditions affecting developer/publisher relations, the decline of traditional platform exclusivity, and a growing shift towards direct-to-consumer models, self-publishing has become a viable alternative for many game developers. Join us for a candid roundtable discussion with industry experts and fellow developers as we delve into the potential of self-publishing as the future of video game marketing.

4:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Join us to wrap up an eventful day with a drink and great company!

9:00 am - 9:30 am

Enjoy life-affirming caffeine and snacks to kickstart your day with your fellow industry pros!

9:35 am - 10:00 am

Kristian Roberts, CEO of Nordicity, will reveal initial findings from the most recent profile of Canada’s interactive digital media industry. It is the first time that the entire IDM industry has been measured since 2012. How has the industry evolved over the last twelve years? What does the data show us about the industry in 2024? Join Kristian as he scratches the surface of this key industry information.

10:00 am - 11:00 am

It’s rough out there. Despite recent indie successes, it is harder than ever to get your IP funded. Publishers, investors, and platforms are shifting the burden of proof that success is possible to the developer. It seems developers need to presumptively self publish in order to build up initial momentum/hype/traction so they can demonstrate to the publishers that their game is worth publishing! On average, publishers sign below 1% of the games they are pitched. What’s a developer to do? Start the self publishing process! This lecture will cover the current state of indie funding and publishing deals, and make the case that all studios need to start their marketing and community efforts asap. Further, that such efforts are what open the door to more funding and support options.

11:00 am - 12:00 pm

1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

(20 min. Sessions)

4:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Join us to wrap up an eventful day with a drink and great company!

1:00 pm - 2:30 pm

Learn how you can collaborate with local, union Voice talent on a budget, with UBCP/ACTRA's New Low Budget Video Game Agreement

1:30 pm - 2:00 pm

Deep dive into strategies around designing Twitch integrations and campaigns around audience engagement to lengthen tail of game coverage on Twitch. Reference Cult of the Lamb's Twitch integration success as well as other indies.

2:00 pm - 2:30 pm

Don’t leave your marketing until the end of development! Starting marketing early supports game design decisions, strengthens your announcement and launch, organizes timelines, and reduces stress. Marketing Director Tia Young discusses how to build your marketing plan and materials throughout your game’s development using her proven marketing template with examples from RimWorld - Anomaly and RimWorld - Biotech. By the end of the talk, developers will be equipped with powerful tools to create their own plans covering platforms, PR, social media, and more.

2:30 pm - 3:30 pm

3:30 pm - 4:00 pm

Crafting marketing and community strategies that turn curious players into zealous fans has never been more challenging and expensive — and more necessary! In this presentation, Steven Messner, PR & Communications Lead of Blackbird Interactive, details campaigns he led for Warframe and Devolver Digital that blurred the lines between reality and fiction, immersing players in these vivid worlds long before they hit play. Through Steven’s insights and learnings, attendees will understand how to leverage their own games’ world, story, and characters to build scalable, more evocative marketing and stronger communities.

1:00 pm - 1:30 pm

Learn how to fund your game with in-depth insights and strategies from fellow indie devs, the CMF, and game studio accountants from Insert Coin Accounting. Registering VIA the MeetToMatch platform is the ONLY way to guarantee your spot at the table.

1:30 pm - 2:00 pm

Learn how to fund your game with in-depth insights and strategies from fellow indie devs, the CMF, and game studio accountants from Insert Coin Accounting. Registering VIA the MeetToMatch platform is the ONLY way to guarantee your spot at the table.

2:00 pm - 2:30 pm

Learn how to fund your game with in-depth insights and strategies from fellow indie devs, the CMF, and game studio accountants from Insert Coin Accounting. Registering VIA the MeetToMatch platform is the ONLY way to guarantee your spot at the table.

2:30 pm - 3:00 pm

With the gaming industry’s current economic conditions affecting developer/publisher relations, the decline of traditional platform exclusivity, and a growing shift towards direct-to-consumer models, self-publishing has become a viable alternative for many game developers. Join us for a candid roundtable discussion with industry experts and fellow developers as we delve into the potential of self-publishing as the future of video game marketing.

3:00 pm - 3:30 pm

With the gaming industry’s current economic conditions affecting developer/publisher relations, the decline of traditional platform exclusivity, and a growing shift towards direct-to-consumer models, self-publishing has become a viable alternative for many game developers. Join us for a candid roundtable discussion with industry experts and fellow developers as we delve into the potential of self-publishing as the future of video game marketing.

3:30 pm - 4:00 pm

With the gaming industry’s current economic conditions affecting developer/publisher relations, the decline of traditional platform exclusivity, and a growing shift towards direct-to-consumer models, self-publishing has become a viable alternative for many game developers. Join us for a candid roundtable discussion with industry experts and fellow developers as we delve into the potential of self-publishing as the future of video game marketing.

1:00 pm - 1:30 pm

Have you been pondering an interesting legal question but haven’t had the opportunity to ask? In that case, please join us for an AMA with experienced (and very friendly!) in-house and external lawyers where you’ll have a chance to ask and discuss legal questions regarding game development. Note it's recommended to register for a session via MeetToMatch to guarantee a spot.

1:30 pm - 2:00 pm

Have you been pondering an interesting legal question but haven’t had the opportunity to ask? In that case, please join us for an AMA with experienced (and very friendly!) in-house and external lawyers where you’ll have a chance to ask and discuss legal questions regarding game development. Note it's recommended to register for a session via MeetToMatch to guarantee a spot.

2:00 pm - 2:30 pm

Have you been pondering an interesting legal question but haven’t had the opportunity to ask? In that case, please join us for an AMA with experienced (and very friendly!) in-house and external lawyers where you’ll have a chance to ask and discuss legal questions regarding game development. Note it's recommended to register for a session via MeetToMatch to guarantee a spot.

2:30 pm - 4:00 pm

Gaming is what unites us and we all want to try each other’s work. Bring your laptop to share your work and try others. Super casual - drop in and out as you like.