What is GMX?
Games are made in California right? Or maybe in Europe or Australia? Guess again! Games are made everywhere, even right here in Ohio. If that surprises you, maybe you should stop by the inaugural GAME.minder Expo and take a look at what's been happening right in your backyard!
Starting right around lunch time, and ending late in the evening, think of GMX as one part Penny Arcade Expo mixed with one part Game Developers Conference, thrown in a pot with a splash of IndieCade and some midwestern charm.
If you like what you see below - REGISTER NOW!
Schedule:
Doors open at 11:30AM, Events start right at noon!
There will be 3 main areas at GMX, the Main Stage, The Work Shop and the Expo. There will be things happening in all 3 places at any given time so make sure to find what suits you best! (Schedule below subject to change before the event),
Keynote - Shut up and make games! (12:00-1:00)
Ian Schreiber
'I love playing games, but some day I'd also love to make them.' This is the thought of many gamers who would like to try their hand at game development. But where do you start? What if your games aren't any good? How can you make something as complicated as a game if you aren't a professional developer already? What if you just haven't taken the right classes in school yet, and you just need to wait? What if you don't know how to write code, isn't that necessary but really hard to learn? The uncertainty and fear stops many would-be developers from ever trying. In this call to action, keynote speaker Ian Schreiber provides a path for overcoming the obstacles that prevent you from making games, giving you the tools and confidence you need to get out there and make something.
(Welcome and Introduction by Jeremy Handel)
Main Stage:
The Work Shop:
How to make it as an Indie (1:00-2:00)
Steve Castro
So you've started making "the next great Indie game". How do you keep your expectations in check so that you actually finish and ship? And then what comes next? Steve will tell you how he's done just that with Click Shake Games.
Down to Business (2:00-3:00)
Tom Donelan and Jeremy Handel
Making a game is one thing, but what about selling it? We're putting together a panel of folks who have done just that who can share the triumphs, failures and pitfalls of building, marketing and selling your own game.
Keeping it Legal (3:00-4:00)
Suzann Moskowitz
You've built a great game. What do you need to know about copyright? Trademark? Privacy (especially in this day and age of mobile location-based games)? What if your game is made for kids? We'll have a top legal mind on site to introduce you to these topics and take your questions.
The Art of the Game (4:00-5:00)
Ian Faleer and Stepahnie Frankiewicz
The visual and auditory style of your game can be just as important as the controls. Ian will tickle the ivories while Stephanie paints you a picture as they explore the importance of the art of the game.
Live Podcast (5:00-6:00)
The GAME.minder Report and Hashtag nerd
Ever wondered what goes into the recording of a podcast? We're going to do a "live" recording of the GAME.minder Report on stage, right in front of your very eyes. Our friends from over at Hashtag Nerd will be joining us to discus whatever the "hot topic" in gaming is the day of GMX.
Game Design Improv (1:00-2:30)
You like playing games, but how about making games? Want to make some games right now? From San Francisco to Atlanta, this fast-paced hands-on workshop finally comes to Ohio to stretch your mind and your game design skills. Participants take on a variety of game design challenges and will leave the room with a handful of playable games. Game Design Improv offers practical advice and plenty of practice, showing participants how the value of a game designer lies in their ability to work within a set of impossible constraints to create a viable and fun game. No experience and no computers necessary!
Game Maker (3:00-3:30)
But I can't even write code, can I build a video game? YES! Game Maker can get you started without knowing anything about code and let's you grow into it as you go. Learn how.
Construct 2 (3:30-4:00)
HTML 5 is all the buzz these days. How can you use Construct 2 to deploy to multiple platforms? Why would you choose Construct over Unity or Game Maker? Plus, Scirra has given us a Personal License ($119) AND a Business License ($399) to give away to lucky attendees! How will we decide who gets them? Stay tuned!
Unity and 3D Technologies (4:00-5:00)
Rapidly assemble scenes, models and lighting and deploy to multiple platforms - what's not to like? When should you choose Unity and why go 3D at all? We'll have a couple folks working in Unity to get you started and answer your questions. Plus, participate in in a drawing for a FREE Unity Pro License (that's a $1500 giveaway people!)
Show and Tell Dinner (6:00-7:30)
Have you built a game? Would you like to show it off? Get some feedback? Or maybe you just want to see what others have been working on and play some interesting games. This totally informal chunk of time is set aside to grab some food from local food truck Umami Moto and commiserate with your peers while checking out what everyone's been working on.
Evening Entertainment:
Minecraft: The Story of Mojang (7:30)
In 2009, indie game designer Markus "Notch" Persson released an early build of Minecraft. As it ascended from hobbyist project to worldwide phenomenon, 2 Player Productions was there to document the formation of Mojang, the studio built upon Minecraft's stunning success.
We'll be showing the 104 minute film starting at 7:30 to cap the day.
