Video games are big business. . Estimated to be worth more than AU$300 billion globally by 2023, video games are bigger businesses than films, music and...

Vivid Sydney Games District: Video Games Industry Open Day

Location:

33 Mountain St
2007 NSW
Australia

Venue:
Academy of Interactive Entertainment (AIE)
VIVID Gaming District: Video Games Industry Open Day (2022)
VIVID Gaming District: Video Games Industry Open Day (2022)

Featuring

Kayla Panozzo

Kayla Panozzo is a Software Engineering Manager at Wargaming Sydney. Kayla moved to her first leadership role in 2020 and has stepped up as a lead for a critical project at Wargaming, developing the next generation of backend technology necessary to support the creation of AAA video games. She has been key to navigating the project through constant change, from challenging the budget restrictions to staffing the entire team with the diverse talent needed.

Ben Lee

Benjamin Lee has over 20 years’ experience in the computer software and 3D graphics industry. As co-founder and managing director of Blowfish Studios, Ben has grown the company into a globally competitive video game and virtual reality development house over the past nine years. In this time, he has built great relationships with numerous technology providers and manufacturers including Apple, Sony, Oculus, Valve, Microsoft, Nvidia, Google and Samsung.

Nico King

As co-founder and executive director of Sydney-based development studio Chaos Theory Games, Nico King has built a world-class company that delivers forward-thinking interactive, VR, and AR products for organisations such as Google, Samsung, and the Australian Government. He is a thought leader in the serious games industry and an activist championing the ways emerging tech can solve social problems.

Leigh Harris

Leigh Harris

Leigh Harris is a team head and senior game designer at Wargaming Sydney and teaches game design at the Academy of Interactive Entertainment. In 2011, he co-founded (and continues to run) Flat Earth Games with sister Elissa working on titles including TownCraft and Objects in Space. Leigh is also a games journalist, managed PR for Rockstar Games in ANZ and speaks at games events and expos around the world.

Ashley Ringrose

Founder of Sydney-based independent video game developer SMG Studio, Ashley Ringrose is dedicated to producing games with original and licensed intellectual property for mobiles, desktops and consoles. With an amazing team, Ash is responsible for the strategic planning, marketing and overall running of the studio’s slate of games, including the international hit Moving Out that won Game of the Year at the 2020 Australian Game Developer Awards.

Alex Carlyle

Alex Carlyle is a three-time BAFTA-nominated creative director with 20 years’ experience specialising in developing new intellectual property (IP) and taking multiple AAA video game titles from inception to launch. Alex worked with Sony London Studios to create The Getaway franchise, led the design of L.A. Noire with Rockstar Games, and worked with George Miller and Warner Bros to develop a new IP. He built and currently leads the creative team at Wargaming’s Sydney studios, covering game design, UI/UX design, art and animation.

Vicky Lord

Vicky is the Director of People & Operations at Riot Oceania. In her 20 year career in the games industry, she worked with some of the biggest names and IPs in the business, including PlayStation, Singstar, LA Noire, and Max Max.

Patrick Gilfillan

Patrick Gilfillan is a software engineer and team head at Wargaming Sydney, coming from a background in computer science and physics. He has experience in building server technology and backend features that power current titles and drive future AAA games for the Wargaming Studio. As part of his role, Patrick works with a range of engineers and designers where coordination is key to building great games.

Clarisse Tamayao

As marketing coordinator at Chaos Theory Games, Clarisse Tamayao’s goal is to tell the complete story of the incredible people and concepts behind the games. Clarisse has worked across marketing and communications agencies for high-profile fashion, local education and international not-for-profit clients. A passionate storyteller and advocate for change, she strives to showcase the positive impact video games have on our lives and the planet.

Inge Berman

Inge Berman is an artist, video game developer and Twitch streamer who combines her history in fine arts with her experience in 3D development to create interactive, experiential work. She has worked as a graphic designer with Ikonink and an art director with S1T2 across projects using VR, AR, 3D modelling and After Effects.

Adam Single

Adam Single is a Brisbane-based Field Engineer for Unity Technologies. He has been using Unity to build experiences across many industries for over a decade and loves to enable others to leverage Unity's flexibility and power to realise their own real time 3D creations.

Ellen Jurik

Ellen is a Game Director, Writer, Designer, and Producer. She has spent over a decade creating games for a variety of genres and platforms, exploring new and existing IPs in both original projects and games for clients. Working with companies including Fox/BlueSky Studios, Scholastic Inc., New Holland Publishing, Valiant Entertainment, EA Respawn, Gameloft, and Blowfish Studios, Ellen’s diverse achievements in the pitching, production, development, design, and writing of video games earned her recognition in the 2019 Gender Equality InGames List. She is passionate about storytelling across media, having studied theatre, multimedia design, and script assessment; she has written commissioned short-form comedy and promotional films, and is currently working on her novel manuscripts in her spare time.

Kelsey Gamble

Kelsey is a community management veteran of the industry, having spent more than a decade across Asia Pacific working on communities at Bethesda, EB Games, and now as the Head of Community on the game Gods Unchained with Sydney based studio Immutable. She has won numerous awards for her work, including MCV 30 under 30, Women in Games award, and mentors new entrants to the industry through the IGEA Mentorship program. She's particularly curious about the evolution of player behaviour through the lens of how we operate within communities

Access and Inclusion

  • Wheelchair Accessible - Access to the venue is suitable for wheelchairs (toilets, ramps/lifts etc.) and designated wheelchair spaces are available.

Event Details

Video games are big business. . Estimated to be worth more than AU$300 billion globally by 2023, video games are bigger businesses than films, music and books – and some of them are made in Sydney. You will get a chance to meet the people behind these titles, play their games and listen to a range of industry talks. 

With many games made right here in Sydney, this is your chance to meet the people behind top titles, play their games and hear the latest at a range of industry talks.

Discover pathways into rewarding careers. Learn how games can change the world for good. Even pitch your game idea to a panel of experts. You’ll also hear from industry veterans on the evolution of games in Sydney – and even get to make your own.

Visit the Made in Sydney Games Exhibition at Game Plus to go hands-on with locally created games and chat with the developers who made them! Game Plus is Australia's national network of co-working spaces for game developers (with locations in Sydney, Canberra and Adelaide). This exhibit will feature games from Game Plus members and the broader NSW game development industry.

Catch a rare glimpse behind the scenes of Wargaming, makers of some of the most successful free-to-play games in the world. Titles such as World of Tanks or World of Warships attract players in the millions and engage them in captivating online battles. Wargaming operates globally and employs over 5,000 people worldwide. In Sydney, they run one of the largest studios in Australia. Hear about their history, their current projects, and talk to their experts to better understand the mechanics of game making.

Take part in workshops with Unity. The world’s leading platform for creating and operating interactive, real-time 3D content, provides the tools to make amazing games and publish them to a wide range of devices. Unity powers AAA blockbusters and indie games alike.

These workshops will guide you through the journey to becoming a game developer and empower you to start creating your first game project.

Games Industry Open Day: Made in Sydney (Morning Session) - 9am BOOK NOW

Games Industry Open Day: Made in Sydney (Afternoon Session) - 2pm BOOK NOW

Games Industry Open Day: Start Your Game Development Journey with Unity (Morning Session) - 10am BOOK NOW

Games Industry Open Day: Start Your Game Development Journey with Unity (Afternoon Session) - 2pm BOOK NOW

Games Industry Open Day: The History and Future of Sydney-based Game Making - 8pm BOOK NOW

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Access and Inclusion

  • Wheelchair Accessible - Access to the venue is suitable for wheelchairs (toilets, ramps/lifts etc.) and designated wheelchair spaces are available.

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