Category Archives: Latest News

This page covers recent news from the Irish games industry. You can submit news for this section by clicking here.

Archiving gd.ie

gamedevelopers.ie went live in March 2003 and was launched in April 2003 in the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin. It was prompted by the findings of a postdoctoral research project funded by the Irish Resaerch Council for Humanities and Social Sciences and conducted by Dr. Aphra Kerr in DCU (2001-2002). The[...]

FÍS Games Summit 2022 (online)

Our friends in the West have put together an amazing set of speakers for this year’s event. FÍS Games Summit 2022 is the second annual event hosted by Galway Film Centre in association with Screen Ireland, and with the support of Romero Games, Creative Europe Media Desk Galway, Northern Ireland[...]

speakers

State of Play (online) speakers announced

This year’s State of Play games conference and festival, organised by TU Dublin,  is a fully online event. They have a  diverse list of speakers representing local and international game start-ups, studios, content creators and technology providers covering areas such as retro gaming, game design, music production, narrative design and[...]

Game Workers Unite Ireland Survey results

  A report commissioned by the Financial Services Union (FSU) into the working conditions of game workers in Ireland raises serious questions for employers according to Gareth Murphy, head of industrial relations and campaigns with FSU. The report “What’s the Score?”, which was written by two academics Josh Moody and[...]

Introducing Game Assets Marketplace

  A few weeks ago gd.ie got an email from Game Assets Marketplace, a relatively new Irish start up. We were curious about what they do and what follows is our questions and their answers.   Q1- Who are the company founders and what are your backgrounds? The founder of[...]

IndieCade festival anywhere..

IndieCade is switching to online from anywhere with nine full days of 24-hour programming for the 2020 online festival celebrating independent games. It will take part this October 16-24 for #AnywhereAndEverywhere. See https://anywhere.indiecade.com/ The event will be filled with gameplay, exhibitions, discussions, connections and interactions, conference sessions, workshops, and more![...]

Two game companies win European funding

    Two game companies, Isometric Dreams (Spooky Doorway) and Gambrinous have received a total of €300,000 for the development of new Video Game projects in the latest round of Creative Europe MEDIA funding. The Creative Europe Media video game development scheme is for companies who have produced at least[...]

Entries open for Imirt Irish Game Awards (16th Aug)

  If you released a game in 2019 then you should consider entering the fourth Imirt Irish Game Awards. All entries for the game awards must have been released during the 2019 calendar year. Please submit your game or game dev tool in as many categories as you see fit.[...]

9th Impact working on Big Brother Game

During the lock down we learned that Galway based game development studio, 9th Impact, are partnering with Endemol Shine Group on the first Big Brother mobile game, to be released towards the end of 2020. 9th Impact have previously partnered with major TV rights owners including on Danger Mouse. For[...]

Vela Games Raises €3.1M in funding

April saw some good news on the games front in Ireland. Vela Games has announced significant new investment led by London Venture Partners and with investment from existing investor IIU.  Lvp partner Mack Growen will join the board of directors as part of the investment. The studio will use the[...]

Ourea wins two awards at Games Fleadh 2020

Rewrite Games, an indie development team in TU Dublin’s School of Media, has won two awards at Ireland’s Games Fleadh, which took place on the 4th March, in Thurles, Co. Tipperary.  Their game Ourea, a cinematic puzzle PC game, picked up two awards as the team of 5 came home with[...]

Network in Play Report 2020 published

For International Women’s Day 2020 the Network in Play project in Ireland has launched the ‘Decoding and Recoding Game-Making Events for Diversity, Inclusion and Innovation’ report and roadmap. The report and roadmap are written by Dr. Aphra Kerr (Maynooth University), Ms. Vicky Twomey-Lee (MADE, Coding Grace, PyLadies) and and Mr[...]

ShipItCon Paper Call – Failure!

ShipItCon is a not-for-profit, community driven conference about Software Delivery. Attendees come from Technology, Agriculture, Fintech, Healthcare, Gaming, Human Capital Management and the Beauty Industry. This year’s theme is “Failure”. What happens when you “Ship It” and instead of high fives and profit you find yourself in a downward spiral[...]

FutureScope 2020 (Dublin)

Animation Skillnet, Immersive Technologies Skillnet and Screen Skills Ireland, in collaboration with Animation Ireland and Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, are proud to present this exciting programme at Ireland’s #1 innovation event; Futurescope 2020. On Wednesday 1st of April, some of the biggest names in the Irish and International industry will[...]

Irish Game Based Learning Conference (Cork)

The 10th Irish Conference on Game Based Learning (iGBL), will take place in the Clayton Hotel in Cork again, on the 25th and 26th of June 2020. Formerly the Irish Symposium on Game-Based Learning, it provides a forum for all stakeholders interested in exchanging ideas, projects, and best practice on[...]

Imirt Annual Survey – have your say

Imirt, the Irish game makers association, is running its annual survey and has asked us to share it. They have added a new section on game development related topics to get a better overview of the industry. Please take a moment to answer the survey and share with your dev[...]

History of Games Conf – Call for papers

History of Games International Conferences  In 2018 an international steering committee was formed to insure that History of games conferences occur every two years. Members were elected from 10 broad regions around the world and the committee will make sure that conferences alternate between different world regions. New members can[...]

Gambrinous releases Cardpocalypse

Make friends, play cards, twist the rules, become a Mega Mutant Power Pets master, and try to save the world in this single-player RPG about being a 90’s kid. On her first day at Dudsdale Elementary, 10-year old Jess accidentally gets everybody’s favorite collectible card game banned, forcing the kids[...]

Irish HCI Conf (Galway)

The 13th annual Irish Human Computer Interaction conference (iHCI 2019) will take place on Friday 15th of November 2019 at NUI Galway. Following on from last year’s memorable 12th anniversary conference in the University of Limerick, we are delighted to be able warmly welcome everyone to Galway – Ireland’s friendliest[...]

Graduate Traineeship Programme seeks applicants.

  Screen Skills Ireland and Animation Skillnet are currently seeking applicants for their next graduate Traineeship Programme for Animation, VFX and Games. In 2018-19, 15 trainees took part in the programme and were placed in a studio for 6 months.The studios that took part in the last programme included Piranha[...]

Game Workers Unite Ireland Survey

Game Workers Unite Ireland are a new organisation which aims to work with everyone employed in the sector to improve working terms and conditions. They are a branch of the Financial Services Union in Ireland. GWU are currently running a survey to establish what are the key issues workers face.[...]

Two game companies receive Creative Europe funding

  Two game companies were among the six Irish companies who have been successful in the latest round of Creative Europe MEDIA results. Both companies were first time MEDIA beneficiaries. Timeslip Softworks (And Prometheus Wept) Donegal based Timeslip Softworks run by Daithí McHugh has released two Video Games: Deadstone and Vigilantes. Psychic[...]

Imirt Annual Awards & Social event

  Imirt is holding its annual awards ceremony and a social gathering of the Irish game development community on Thursday 19th September from 7.30pm. The event will take place downstairs in The Well at Stephens Green, a very cool space with retro arcade games. – 130 Saint Stephen’s Green, Dublin[...]

European Games Week Cancelled

Last Friday it was announced that the European Games Conference event was cancelled. The event was to take place over five days this week in Croke Park in Dublin, and include workshops, keynotes, an expo and esports. A full refund for all ticket sales will be available through your point[...]

iGBL Programme Announced

The  programme for this year’s Irish Conference on Game Based Learning (iGBL), in Cork City, on the 27th and 28th of June, has been announced. Download or browse the programme at https://www.igbl-conference.com/programme/ Formerly Irish Symposium on Game-Based Learning, the IGBL conference, provides a forum for all stakeholders interested in exchanging ideas, projects, and[...]

Digit Games acquired

Digit Game Studios has been acquired by Los Angeles-based Scopely in May 2019 for an undisclosed sum. Digit, which employes around 70 people in Dublin, was founded in 2012 and specialises in mobile games. The companies recently collaborated on the Star Trek franchise, which reportedly generated $50m in revenue in[...]

CFP: 9th Irish Conference on Game Based Learning (iGBL 2019)

Call for Participation: 9th Irish Conference on Game-Based Learning* The Irish Conference on Game Based Learning (iGBL), formerly the Irish Symposium on Game-Based Learning, now in its 9th year, will be hosted in Cork (Ireland) on 26th, 27th and 28th June 2019. This conference provides a forum for all stakeholders[...]

Ireland Votes PS1 Best Gaming Console

Christmas is prime time for nostalgic memories to warm the hearts of the world-weary adults of Ireland; and little would bring more excitement on Christmas morning than opening the sitting room door to see that Santa, the legend, had left the newest games console under the tree. With games consoles[...]

MCV Awards 2019: Deadline Extended

The 17th Annual MCV Awards have extended their application deadline to 5pm on 21 December 2018. Apply now at: https://www.futureevents.uk/mcvawards2019/begin. From the MVC Website: Now in their 17th year, the MCV Awards are the UK’s only computer and video games awards that recognise games publishing, retail, distribution, marketing, PR, events and media[...]

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Gaming For Peace (GAP) Showcase

The Gaming for Peach (GAP) project is looking for game developers to showcase their games at their upcoming conference on 10th and 11th of January 2019 which will be held at Trinity College Dublin. GAP is looking to showcase ‘serious games’, games for education, and games with peacekeeping and similar[...]

Creative Europe Media 2019 Calls

Upcoming Deadlines for Creative Europe MEDIA

2019 Calls for all Creative Europe MEDIA Support Schemes have now been published. E-Forms are availble for some Calls and will be available for all schemes shortly. Please note that the deadline for all Support Schemes is 11am Irish time on the relevant date. CREATIVE EUROPE MEDIA DEADLINES SINGLE PROJECT DEVELOPMENT 18 December 2018 & 24 April 2019[...]

Animation Skillnet Events

Upcoming Courses with Animation Skillnet

Check out our upcoming November/December evening courses, workshops and events in Dublin. See below for more info and on how to book. Workshops and Events: Schoolism Live – Dublin 2018 Animation Returners Course: Digital Skills (2 Saturdays & Sundays) Evening Classes: Advanced 3D Modelling, Scultping and Rendering in Maya and ZBrush[...]

Animation Skillnet September/October Workshops & Classes (Dublin)

Animation Skillnet have a number of courses and workshops running in the months of September/October.   Workshops and Events: 1) One day workshop in Character Design for Animation with Ernie Gilbert with support from Screen Training Ireland (Sat 15th September). 2) Character Performance, Acting, and Storytelling for Animation with Myrna[...]

GamerFest 2018 October 28th – 29th (Galway)

GamerFest 2018 takes place on October 28-29 at the Galmont Hotel (previously Radisson Blu) in Galway City. The gamer and YouTuber festival is one of Ireland’s largest, this years event contains a Player Zone where gamers can play the newest releases, a Live Stage with interviews and VR challenges, a[...]

Schoolism Dublin Workshop 20th – 21st of October

        Schoolism – Dublin are running a workshop in association with Animation Skillnet and Screen Training Ireland on October 20th – 21st at the Morrison Hotel, Dublin 1.   The workshop program is as follows:   Day 1: October 20th Creating and Art Directing Compelling and Unique[...]

IMIRT Board Elections – call for nominees

The 2018 Board elections for Imirt will happen in September. There will be three seats available for nominees to fill (it was four last year). Being on the board of Imirt means you steer the agenda and implement the goals of the organisation. As a volunteer-run organisation we look forward[...]

Immersive VR Education Launch BBC-Commissioned ‘1943:Berlin Blitz’

Immersive VR Education have released their teaser trailer for the ‘1943: Berlin Blitz’ VR experience. The Waterford based company, and its founders Sandra and David Whelan successfully won a commission from the BBC Northern Ireland’s ‘Rewind’ archive innovation team, in conjunction with the BBC’s central VR Hub, to work on a Lancaster Bomber[...]

Imirt welcomes recommendations to develop Irish games sector

Report on Economic Impact of the Irish Screen Sectors highlights need for extending section 481 to games and improving access to finance, markets and co-working spaces.   Imirt has welcomed the recommendations made in the Audiovisual Action Plan to develop the Irish games industry and further audiovisual sub-sectors. The Audiovisual[...]

Story and Macro Design Masterclass July 7th (Galway)

The Galway Film Centre are organising a Story and Macro Design Masterclass (1 day) with Brian Allgeier and Screen Training Ireland in the Galway Film Centre on July 7th. This course is open to, game writers, game designers and narrative designers from gaming industry, as well as writers/storyliners from film[...]

Gaming for Peace Conference January 10 – 11, 2019 (Call for Papers)

Gaming for Peace (GAP) is an EU H2020 funded project which is developing a curriculum of soft skills derived from interviews with experienced military, police and civilian peacekeeping personnel, and the state of the art in peacekeeping relevant soft skills and serious games. GAP is embedding a selection of peacekeeping[...]

Creative Gaming Award 2018

Initiative Creative Gaming have opened the call for submissions for the Creative Gaming Festival – PLAY 2018 which will take place in Hamburg from November 1st – 4th. The festival accepts game submissions from developers throughout Europe and enters them into the Creative Gaming Awards under three categories – Most[...]

Reddit AMA with Game Developers and Producers

The creators of the video game documentary Moleman 4 – Longplay have organised a ‘ask me anything’ series on Reddit.com with renowned game developers and producers. The AMA is intended for developers and fans and the line-up of guests consists of: ****Chris Taylor, Founder of Gas Powered Games and Lead[...]

New Head at Screen Training Ireland

Bord Scannán na hÉireann/the Irish Film Board announced recently that they had appointed Gareth Lee to the role of Manager of Screen Training Ireland.  Gareth will be responsible for the roll out of a new plan of action for the development of skills across the whole screen sector being Film,[...]

8th Irish Conference on Game-Based Learning 28th – 29th June (Cork)

The 8th Irish Conference on Game-Based Learning (iGBL) will take place at the Clayton hotel in Cork City from June 28th – 29th. iGBL provides a forum for all stakeholders interested in exchanging ideas, projects, and best practice on the use of games and game-based approaches to support motivation, learning,[...]

Irish Interfirms Gaming League Community

The Irish Interfirms Gaming League (IIGL) is an Irish video-gaming community and league where companies can compete in various different eSports games. The community is run by volunteers and aims to promote gaming. The initiative is in the early stages of development and organisers are actively looking for interested parties[...]

Animation Skillnet Toon Boom Harmony Bootcamp June 18th-22nd

Animation Skillnet, in association with Boulder Media, are running an animation bootcamp (using Toon Boom Harmony) from Monday 18th of June to Friday 22nd of June. The week-long bootcamp will take place from 9:00am – 5:00pm and will be delivered by Graham Tormey, Animation Supervisor at Boulder Media. The bootcamp[...]

Futurescope 2018 May 31st (Dublin)

Futurescope 2018 will take place at the Convention Centre in Dublin on Thursday May 31st. The event is designed around four themed stages – Insights, Collaboration, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship, breakout sessions, and a creativity meets tech session. Animation Ireland and Animation Skillnet have organised the creativity meets tech programme which[...]

Writers Game 2018 November 17-18 (Dublin)

Writers Game is an event aiming to bring writers together to collaborate from gaming, film, publishing, and virtual reality. The event will take place at ODEON Point Village on November 17th and 18th. The two day conference will be organised around a series of masterclasses by successful writers and storytellers[...]