ALT: GAMES – presenting a new and alternative festival for Australian gamers
Ordinarily, we wouldn’t run with a product or event’s name in uppercase as it seems like a practise in favourtism but we’ll let that rule slide with ALT: GAMES because this event is huge, especially for lovers of gaming.
ALT: GAMES, which returns to Sydney from 18-19 April, is an annual gaming festival hosted by the Powerhouse Museum, celebrating independent game design and interactive media. The event brings together game developers, artists, and players to explore the creative and cultural impact of games.
This year’s program will feature digital showcases of new Australian titles, hands-on play sessions, industry talks, workshops, and large-scale interactive installations. It’ll highlight emerging and established creators and will encourage experimentation across video games, tabletop games, and art-driven interactive projects.
Designed to support the local games community, the festival provides networking opportunities and public engagement through accessible events, many of which are free. ALT: GAMES aims to position games as an important contemporary storytelling and cultural medium while showcasing Australia’s growing independent game development scene.
Festival guests this year include former President of Worldwide Studios at Sony Interactive Entertainment Shuhei Yoshida (Japan), Shared Memory Games Founder and the creator of the widely acclaimed game Animal Well, Billy Basso (US), and US-based Australian content creator and games thought leader Alanah Pearce (US).
Software Developer and former President of Sony Shuhei Yoshida said, ‘As a huge fan of independent games, I can’t wait to travel to Sydney to discover and experience games from some of Australia and New Zealand’s most exciting new game makers. I’m looking forward to meeting the community and hope to help independent Australian gamers turn their ideas into innovative interactive experiences.’
See below for a summary of various segments of the festival.
ALT: GAMES PROGRAM
ALT: Play is an all-ages games expo featuring 35 in-development and newly released video and tabletop games from independent Australian and New Zealand game makers. Presented works have been selected as part of a call-out inviting game developers to show work that showcases unique stories, design and practice. Highlights include Management in Space, a sci-fi space strategy game that the team at Silver Stitch pitched during last year’s ALT: GAMES festival.
ALT: Ex is a showcase of experimental games developed by Western Sydney emerging writers, filmmakers and creatives. Presented in collaboration with Parramatta’s Arts & Cultural Exchange (ACE) as part of their Beyond the Script program. The games will be developed across three weekends prior to the festival, where emerging creatives will gather for ‘game jam’ sessions to create the code, art and sound for their games with limited time.
ALT: Sessions connects game enthusiasts and emerging developers with industry leaders through a series of talks and workshops. Presenters will provide career guidance and share industry knowledge from game making and adjacent practices. Highlights include a crash course in building worlds through music soundtracks with composers Patrik Jarlestam and Carla Dobbie, insights into what makes an indie game successful from renowned Tokyo-based software developer Shuhei Yoshida and a session on getting in, staying in and making a career with award-winning global studio Riot Games.
ALT: Features will connect game makers with international leaders through a series of talks. Games veteran Shuhei Yoshida will share his experiences overseeing the development of many global, best-selling franchises such as God of War®, Gran Turismo® and The Last of Us®. Alanah Pearce will delve into her journey building a multifaceted career in the industry; and in an Australian first, Billy Basso presents a talk on the making of critically acclaimed game, Animal Well.
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