| He kōrero nā te kaihautu | Executive Director's Note |
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Kia ora,
Instead of a forward from our ED, Joy Keene, we have one for her.
As some of you know, Joy has been largely ‘out of office’ for the past four weeks after facing some tough challenges with her vision. Earlier this year, she experienced issues with one eye that severely restricted her overall vision. Then, at the start of April, the same issue appeared in the other eye, leaving her only able to see basic shapes and shadows - a bit like trying to find your way through heavy fog.
The good news however, is that Joy underwent surgery on one eye in mid-April and is already seeing really encouraging improvements. Her second surgery is scheduled for this week, and although full recovery will take a few more weeks, things are definitely heading in a positive direction.
Thanks to the amazing daily support from Gina and the Board, Joy has been able to stay across urgent work. And thank you for your patience as you wait to reconnect with Joy. She is very much looking forward to being back, recharged and ready to get stuck into the exciting months ahead.
Ngā mihi nui,
Carl Leducq, NZGDA Chair |
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We need to start with some housekeeping. Some memberships are overdue for renewal. If you think this might be you, please renew before your membership becomes inactive. We need your help and your voice in our community!
If you haven't received a reminder, or need an invoice, please get in touch info@nzgda.com; or click the link below and log in to the membership platform to renew now. |
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Behind the scenes, we've been working hard getting things underway for the NZ Game Developers Conference in September and here are some updates for you: |
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🔔 Speaker Submissions Due Tonight This is your last chance! If you would like to share your insights and expertise, speaker submissions are open until midnight tonight. Don't miss this opportunity to showcase your work and connect with industry peers!
🤝 Sponsorship Opportunities Available We are thrilled to announce that sponsorship opportunities for the conference are now available! If you're interested in becoming a sponsor and gaining exposure within the game development community, you can find more details here.
👥 Join Our Volunteer Team We're still looking to fill a few more spots in our volunteer team to help make this conference a success. If you're passionate about the gaming industry and want to lend a hand, please sign up here.
🛠️ Workshops on Thursday, 25 September We are excited to confirm that we'll be hosting workshops again this year on Thursday, 25 September. We're opening up submissions for these workshops in mid-May, so stay tuned for more information!
📅 Programme and Ticket Release Mark your calendars! The full programme and ticket sales will be available in early June, so keep your eyes peeled for announcements.
🔗 Stay Connected To stay up to date with the latest news and updates, follow us on our social media channels and visit the website regularly.
Don't miss your chance to be a part of the NZ Game Developers Conference – we can't wait to see you there! |
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As we look toward the future, it’s essential to have a clear roadmap to guide our efforts in the ever-evolving game dev landscape. The NZGDA Strategic Plan has been published and provides an in-depth overview of the strategic priorities that will shape our direction over the next few years; highlighting key objectives ad initiatives that are designed to drive growth and innovation. You can read it on our website here. |
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Recently, PikPok had the honour of hosting Labour leader Chris Hipkins along with members of Parliament Ginny Andersen, Greg O'Connor, Barbara Edmonds, and Reuben Davidson. The meeting was an opportunity to not only showcase PikPok's latest games but also to advocate for wider game development industry.
The discussions centred around the need for government support and policies that encourage growth within the game dev community.
As we look ahead, the takeaways from this visit serve as an encouraging reminder of the cooperation needed between the games industry and government to drive further advancements. |
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The next steps in the government’s re-reform of the vocational education system have been announced. This involves the establishment of Industry Standards Boards (ISBs) to replace the WDCs - including Toi Mai. Seven ISBs are proposed and you can read about the industries they are proposed to cover here. The creative and tech sectors are proposed to be “put back” into NZQA and will not have an ISB. The basis for allocating industries to ISB’s is not clear, however industries with existing work-based-learning are the Minister’s priority rather than looking to the sectors of the future, or new models of work-based-learning.
TEC is running webinars where you can learn more. Register via the following links:
Or read the proposal HERE
In conjunction with ITPNZ and TUANZ, WeCreate will be issuing a media statement regarding their concerns with the reforms. NZGDA will also be making a submission on these changes, and would love to hear the thoughts from our industry to include in the submission, which is due on the 20th May. Please let me know directly if you have any feedback you would like us to consider when making our submission. |
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It's NZ Games Fest week with lots of events to choose from and lots more to look forward to in May. |
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Super Bros Quiz Night is TONIGHT! It's not too late to gather your motley crew of video game scholars and join in a night of bad jokes, sustenance and most importantly video game trivia! As always, there will be bragging rights, fabulous prizes and your team’s dignity at stake. There's still time to register your team! |
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Level Up: Retromania (1-2 May) is a tribute to the golden era of arcades and a celebration of New Zealand’s vibrant and talented games community, which has flourished thanks to its influence. More than just a showcase, it aims to create a welcoming space where visitors can connect with the community and perhaps even discover their passion for games and play. Find out more about this free event here |
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Play by Play conference runs Thursday and Friday this week (1-2 May) and will include a diverse slate of talks centring around the theme ‘Joy Sparks’ with exciting opportunities to network with other ANZ game developers. |
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This Thursday!! Treat & Greet is a non-alcoholic networking event with a tasty twist. The goal is to provide Play by Play attendees with a fun, safe, and waffle-filled environment to make new friends and catch up with old ones. Tickets are included with Play by Play "all access" passes. |
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And it wouldn't be NZGF without The Pavs! A celebration of ANZ’s best and boldest game development achievements. From digital to tabletop, we aim to the put a spotlight on local games that have gone the extra mile to immerse, entertain and tantalise. The Pavs finalists go in the running for a coveted trophy and are featured in NZGF’s week-long games exhibition. |
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Oh, it's show and tell this month at Game Dev Palmy's meetup! ❤️ Come along, meet other game developers, talk about the projects you're working on, and of course play games! Thursday 8th May. Register here. |
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You're invited to Women in Games, an engaging event designed to bring together wahine in STEAM for a kōrero on how we can pave the way for girls and young women in the game and tech industries. With guest speakers Sam Ramlu (Mighty Eyes/Mad Carnival/Method) and Elena Villafana Sylvester, (Unicef NZ) at Rocketwerkz in Auckland on 14th May, you won't want to miss it! |
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Find more events including local meetups on the NZGDA events calendar www.nzgda.com/events/ |
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Don't forget - the NZGDA Jobs Board is free for members - whether you're a Studio member or Individual - looking for a job, or advertising one - the Jobs Board is a resource for you. |
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And one of the latest jobs advertised is a really unique opportunity! The Skin Cancer Symposiums has a vision to create an engaging and effective gamified simulation that leverages cutting-edge technology to enhance medical education and patient care and they need a developer who wants to help them, help others! Find out more and apply here. |
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If you aren't a member and would like to post a job on the NZGDA Jobs Board - you can! For a small fee, you will be able to advertise on the Jobs Board for as long as you need, have the role posted via our social media & slack channels, shared on the NZ game dev discord server and included in our monthly newsletter! Contact info@nzgda.com to find out more. |
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lots to look forward to and plenty of ways to get involved in our game dev community. Go on! We'd love to have you 🫶 |
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