FESTIVAL
IndieCade East: Day Two
IndieCade, the country's premier independent video game festival, makes its East Coast debut at the Museum, with a weekend of playable games, presentations, game jams, and more. View all ongoing programs and games in the showcase.
12:00–1:00 p.m.
Games as Commentary
Presented by Paolo Pedercini, Heather Chaplin, Richard Hofmeier, and Ian Bogost. Moderated by Simon Ferrari.
The aesthetics and mechanics of games offer developers a host of new tools for persuasive communication. Some game developers harness these unique properties to craft criticism and pointed political commentary. In this conversation, independent game designers Paolo Pedercini, Richard Hofmeister, and Ian Bogost discuss making games for the purpose of commentary, documentary, and persuasion. Paolo Pedercini teaches experimental game design and media production at Carnegie Melon Unversity. Ian Bogost holds a joint professorship in the School of Literature, Media, and Communication and in Interactive Computing in the College of Computing at the Georgia Institute of Technology. Simon Ferrari is a freelance game critic and PhD student in the Digital Media department at the Georgia Institute of Technology.
1:00–2:00 pm
Game Slam
Hosted by Ouya
Like a poetry slam, only with games. See the games on view in IndieCade's festival-long Show and Tell, or bring your own game and unveil it to a group of eager game developers and game lovers. Learn the ideas behind developers’ work, their process of development and their future plans. Keep presentations short and snappy and make sure to sign up early; there are many eager to show and tell. Sign-ups are open through the IndieCade Show and Tell, located in the Fox Amphitheater. The Game Slam is an informal affair and a good time for anyone who has made a game, wants to make a game, or appreciates that people make awesome games.
2:00–3:00 p.m.
Why We Make Games (Game U)
Presented by Rami Ismail
Vlambeer's Rami Ismail has been making video games since he was six years old and designing them professionally for two-and-a-half years. Ismail talks about the history of video games, the reach of the medium, the power of interactivity, and some games that should not be missed. Rami Ismail co-founded Vlambeer, the award-winning Dutch independent studio best known for Super Crate Box, GUN GODZ, Ridiculous Fishing, LUFTRAUSERS, and Yeti Hunter. (Suitable for ages 10+)
3:00–3:30 p.m.
Well Played, Session 1 (Thirty Flights of Loving)
Presented by Drew Davidson, Director of ETC-Pittsburgh, Founding Editor of ETC Press Hosted by the Entertainment Technology Center–Carnegie Mellon UniversityWhat makes a game good? or bad? or better? Building on the ETC Press Well Played book series and journal and the success of IndieCade 2012 sessions, Drew Davidson will play and speak about Thirty Flights of Loving, created by Brendon Chung. Thirty Flights of Loving approaches interactive storytelling from a radical departure point. Though moments and style may seem familiar, the economy of storytelling and unique interactions set Thirty Flights of Loving apart. The game’s compelling narrative is built from short vignettes that tease the story out while the player explores a contained but rich and unique world.Well Played Sessions are hosted by Carnegie Mellon's Entertainment Technology Center. (Suitable for ages 10+)
Well Played, Session 2 (Hokra)
Presented by Margaret Robertson and Kevin Cancienne
Hosted by the Entertainment Technology Center - Carnegie Mellon University
Margaret Robertson and Kevin Cancienne find out if they have what it takes to challenge some of the world's best players in Ramiro Corbetta's Hokra. In an interview with Corbetta, Robertson and Cancienne discuss the process of getting good at a particular game, the importance of doing so, and the challenges and benefits of gaming with a spouse. Hokra is a fast-paced, minimalist digital sports game for two teams. The game employs simple controls and minimal rules without losing the depth that makes multiplayer games exciting for advanced players. Like the sports from which it draws inspiration, Hokra is engaging for both players and spectators. Hokra’s music and sound design were created by Nathan Tompkins. (Suitable for ages 10+)
4:00–5:30 p.m.
Game Jam Live Feedback and Playtesting
Hosted by Sony Playstation
Join the IndieCade East game jammers as they put the finishing touches on their Sony Playstation Mobile games. In this workshop session, participants can offer crucial feedback, witness the game development process in real-time, and playtest groundbreaking games in their final hours of development.
5:00–6:00 p.m.
Iron Game Design Challenge (Parsons v. NYU)
Presented by Eric Zimmerman (NYU) and Colleen Macklin (Parsons)
Ohio State vs. Michigan. North Carolina vs. Duke. Harvard v. Yale. IndieCade East introduces the next great university rivalry, NYU Game Center vs. Parsons The New School for Design. These two New York universities compete on the most sacred of battlefields: game design! Whose design will reign supreme? Join team captains Eric Zimmerman (NYU) and Colleen Macklin (Parsons) as they lead teams of student designers in the challenge of real-time game design. Teams are given a theme, materials, and a secret ingredient, and tasked with designing a real-world game. As they wrack their brains for the right recipe, commentators Sam Roberts (IndieCade Game U Chair, USC) and Simon Ferrari (Georgia Institute of Technology) give play-by-play and color commentary on this epic battle.
6:00–7:00 p.m.
Kris Piotrowski Keynote: The Dark Days: A Harrowing Journey Through CAPY's Secret Gameography
The accomplished independent game studio CAPY is well known for their hits Critter Crunch, Clash of Heroes, Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP and most recently, Super Time Force. However, things weren't always so exciting for CAPY, which started out in the pre-iOS mobile space and spent its first five years making a veritable bucket-load of mobile games just to keep the lights on. For the first time, this keynote dissects CAPY's forgotten gameography and outlines how and why the studio transitioned—out of necessity—to independence. Kris Piotrowski is the co-founder and creative director of CAPY, based in Toronto, Canada. He is one of the creators of Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP, which received over 40 awards, including IndieCade 2011’s Best Visuals Award and Time magazine’s Top Ten of Everything 2011.
Tickets: $30 public / $20 students/seniors/Museum members. Order online or call 718 777 6800 to reserve tickets. Please note, entry to the special event Night Games on Saturday evening is not included in this day pass. A full festival pass, allowing the holder admission to all IndieCade events, is available for $80 / $60. Free admission for Silver Screen members and above. Children ages 13+ and students are eligible for student level passes with valid ID. IndieCade East access for children 3–12 included with regular Museum admission ($6).