November '09 Presentation: Demo Techniques and Game Jamming

Word from another event in the series of IGDA Finland Presentations was well received and altogether 112 people visited the Kino K-13 and listened to Remedy Entertainmen's Jay Ranki and Sam Lake, followed by Gorm Lai from Nordic Game Jam. The atmosphere was anxious in the lobby of Kino K-13 when people were waiting to get in the auditorium. First up was Remedy and their presentation about techniques they use in their demo presentations. They started with a short playthrough demo of Alan Wake where Jay was playing and Sam explaining different techniques used in the presentation along the way.

The main point binding together a demo presentation is control. You need to keep the reigns on the show from the get-go and all the way up to people leaving the room. Below is a list of the key points in the presentation by Remedy Entertainment:

Prepare well, spend several weeks at minimum for preparations

• Write everything down beforehand and practice it until it feels natural and spontaneous
• Keep everything relatively short and to the point
• Highlight key features - show less, polish more
• Play for 15 minutes
• Plan jokes and funny moments beforehand to engage the audience

You're not only showing a game - you're giving a 15min entertainment rollercoaster

• Don't change the routine for any reason
• No questions during the demo
• Minimize randomness, do not improvise
• Place staff at the door getting instant feedback from audience and to spot VIPs

About the content to present the audience with

• Prepare the audience with a short introductions of people, characters and the setting
• Avoid spoilers. You can lie and show different content than what is really going to be in the game
• Try to finish with the biggest bang possible - you have to get at least two "holy shit" moments from the audience
• If necessary, modify existing content to achieve this
• After the demo, have a short QA session

Useful tips to keep in mind

• Bring-your-own: machines, cables - something always goes wrong, so you need backup equipment too
• Point out when to applaud - awkward applauses are very uncomfortable for the audience as well
• Business cards for demo team
• Give out extra swag, something physical to take home as a reminder

The second presentation was given by Gorm Lai from Nordic Game Jam which is a part of a global phenomenon called Global Game Jam. Game Jams are events where game industry people and people who like making games as a hobby gather to form random groups and create small yet innovative games in a short timeframe.

Game Jams are all about creativity. There are no 'real world' constraints like money or marketing audiences. Professionals, students and enthusiasts will all benefit from participating in the event. The exposure and new contacts gained during such a hectic event like this will surely be helpful for an aspiring game developer.

Nordic Game Jam 2009

This year there were once again a large number of excellent titles popping up from different Game Jam events around the world. A few of these were shown on the screen at the presentation, but the best way to familiarize oneself is to browse the archives on NGJ'09 site. At the end of each event, awards are handed out to best games of two categories.

• Bring From Home Games List - NGJ'09 Awarded BFH Games
• Global Game Jam Games List - NGJ'09 Awarded GGJ Games

November Gathering: Presentation Afterparty

Cuba Café was bustling once again with people from the game industry joining the afterparty of another IGDA Finland Presentation held earlier on June 17th. A total of 102 visitors attended the gathering and the main topic of discussion was hard to miss - many of the visitors had just seen the presentation about Global Game Jam brought to us by Gorm Lai, and what a thought-provoking concept it was! Both experienced senior developers and fresh interns alike showed plenty of interest in it. Another point of discussion was of course the presentation about presentation techniques given to us by Remedy Entertainment and hosted by Jay Ranki and Sam Lake. The example used in the presentation was conveniently close at hand, as Alan Wake made an appearance on the big screen with a new demo of the game.

A small gaming rig was put up on the higher platform in Cuba Café where people could try out some of the excellent titles created in Game Jams around the world. Especially the game 'Make My Head Grow' was popular. More games from Global Game Jams can be found from the GGJ Archives

We got some good feedback from the audience and visitors about IGDA Finland presentations held so far. People clearly want the audience more involved. We greatly appreciate all feedback from you and encourage posting your comments on IGDA Finland Chapter Forums, or to send it by email to webmaster@igda.fi.

Next up in early December, little Christmas party brought to you by IGDA Finland and sponsored by Futuremark. Read more from the announcement here.

October Gathering: More good times at Cuba Cafe

Cheerful group of game developers gathered once again to Cuba Café. In October 112 attendees joined the Gathering. Finnish game companies are doing nicely despite the slight economic downturn. Still bad news from Sulake, the company behind Habbo Hotel, definitely was the topic of the evening. There was a constant flow of people through the evening and besides Sulake discussions went around Nordic Game applications. Many have applied development funds from Nordic Game Program and hopefully more than few will get some. More about that in December! During last spring and this fall we have had an interesting trend in the attendance records. Every month we get new visitors, warmly welcome! We have also increasing number of anonymous visitors. Why is that? Don't people want to be informed (aka to be in the mailing list) or do they prefer other channels like Facebook to keep on track of what's up within Finnish Game Development scene? If anyone is willing to open up your reasoning for anonymity, I would be very interested to hear.

We have also got feedback that you like IGDA Finland Presentations sessions but there could also be more something to do and play at the bar. We hear you and have already done some improvements. IGDA Finland Game League is slowly starting and it is basically up to you what you would like it to be. If you have good ideas and suggestions talk to the main organized Kari Perho! Also we are inviting all game studios to present their games at the Gatherings. We can organize playing sessions, short presentations, surveys, discussions... again it is up to you what you would like IGDA events to be like! Please contribute :)

We have had very good start of the season. We hope to see many of you again at the Presentations and at Cuba Cafe on 17th of November. We will have kick-ass program for you!

Here are more good moments from October Gathering.