Learn about funding opportunities from Vækstfonden & Innovationsfonden

UPDATE: Here are the presentations from Vækstfonden and Innovationsfonden, if you wish to downloads them:

Innovationsfonden presentation

Vækstfonden presentation

Want to know more about the funding opportunities from Vækstfonden and Innovationsfonden. On October 23rd, 15:30 – 17:00, Vækstfonden and Innovationsfonden will present the different funding and investment opportunities they represent, with a specific focus on the games industry.

Get in insight into the different options, learn about the application process, how cases are evaluated, and get your questions answered.

Program:
15:40 – 16:00: Steen M. Asgreen, Network Manager at Vækstfonden
16:00 – 16:20: Q&A, Steen M. Asgreen
16:20 – 16:40: Johan Lervang, Specialist Consultant at Innovation Fund Denmark
16:40 – 17:00: Q&A, Johan Lervang

About Vækstfonden:
Vækstfonden is the Danish state’s investment fund. We strive to improve access to risk capital to enable Danish businesses to innovate, and to generate growth and new jobs. In close collaboration with banks and domestic and international private investors, we finance companies from all sectors nation-wide. We can accompany you for the entire journey – from your company’s infancy through growth phases to expansion abroad and even to an initial public offering.

About Innovationsfonden:
We invest in entrepreneurs, researchers and businesses that create value for Denmark and new solutions to society’s challenge. We invest in sustainable solutions Innovation Fund Denmark creates a framework for entrepreneurs, researchers and businesses so they can develop innovative and viable solutions to society’s challenges.

The event takes place at IO-Interactive’s Copenhagen Office. Participation is free – no signup required.

Please use following link to share the event: https://interactivedenmark.dk/events/financing-information-meeting/

Please use this link for sharing the event: https://interactivedenmark.dk/events/spilbar-43-whos-responsible/

Games occupy an ever growing part of our lives. The latest research from the Danish Broadcasting Corporation shows, that the average Danish citizen today spends more time on digital games, than on printed media, and The Global Games Market is expected to grow to $152.1 Billion in 2019.

But games are also the subject to increasing criticism over loot boxes, Free2Play business models and even addiction to games. In this edition of SpilBar we take a closer look at the responsibilities of the games industry. How is our games affecting the people who play them? Should we feel responsible for the effects they have? And what can be done to protect both our players and the planet we all live on?

Program:

16:30: Mathias Gredahl Nørvig, CEO at SYBO Games (awaiting final confirmation)
A few weeks ago, SYBO Games launched the Playing for the Planet initiative, together with some of the biggest game companies in the World. In this talk, Mathias Nørvig will talk about, how SYBO Games are working to make sure, that making and playing their games isn’t affecting the planet in a negative way, and what you can do to participate as well.

16:55: Vernon Jones, Head of Safety at MovieStarPlanet
Working with kids and minors entails some special responsibilities. In this talk Vernon Jones from MovieStarPlanet will talk about some of the special things you have to look out for, when working with kids & minors, and why now might be a good idea to think about, if you are doing enough.

17:20: Break

17:35: Johan Eklund, psychologist at Center for Ludomani
What kind of psychological responses does gambling and gambling-like game mechanics provoke? What does skin betting, loot boxes, gacha-mechanics, and FUT-packs have in common? Based on his work at Center for Ludomani, psychologist Johan Eklund will talk about, how gambling and gambling-like game mechanics work.

18:00: Anne-Mette Thorhauge, Associate Professor at University of Copenhagen
Unpacking the notion of game addiction. Is ‘addiction’ a correct label for the problems and conflicts that arise in relation to excessive gaming or do alternative explanations yield more insight and better problem solving strategies? The presentation will focus on the emergent and somewhat intransparent business models in online gaming as an alternative approach.

18:30: Drinks, mingling & Goodbye

*** Event is sold out! ***

Nordisk Film Games and Interactive Denmark would like to invite you to a Xmas meet-and-greet event for executives in the Danish games industry. Join us at Nordisk Film in Valby on November 27, for an afternoon of great speakers and networking around the theme of leadership.

We have invited Pim Holfve, CEO at Avalanche Studios, Steve Filby Digital Marketing & User Acquisition Manager at Motion Twin and Hakan Abrak, CEO of IO Interactive who will share their perspectives on leadership and tell some of their (war)stories of leadership challenges and triumphs.

After the individual talks, the speakers will join a panel session, where you can bring up your own questions or leadership challenges and get advice, moderated by Interactive Denmark’s Jesper Krogh Kristiansen.

Use this link, to share the event: https://interactivedenmark.dk/events/markets_marketing/

**** SIGN-UP CLOSED – VENUE AT MAX CAPACITY ****

The subtle art of finding your target group and getting them to notice your game

Making your game is just the first step. Getting someone to notice your game and buy it is the next. But how do you find your target group? How do you reach them? And what makes them wishlist or buy your game?

For this workshop we have invited marketing expert, Thomas Reisenegger from FutureFriends. Three time GDC-speaker and with experience from more than 30 titles including League of Legends and indie hits like Northgard, Blackwood Crossing and WHAT THE GOLF?

Joining us will also be Emil Kjæhr from Funday Factory, who will be sharing his experiences from performing market research for their recent title, Bullet League, as well his many years of experience in business.

With input from out two experts and using a number of exercises, at the end of the workshop, you will have a much better understanding of both your games place in the market place, as well as tool for creating the best suitable marketing strategy.

The workshop is kindly hosted by KOGAMA, and takes place at their office in Copenhagen on Dec. 10th from 12:30 – 16:00.

Participation is free, but seats are limited. Sign-up here

Final program TBA

Catch a glimpse of future Danish game releases.

Come and catch a preview of some of the most interesting upcoming Danish game Productions at the “Spil på Vej” (Upcoming Games) event, held at Bio Asta at the Danish Film Institute in Copenhagen. Six exciting new games will be presented in an intimate setting, hosted by Troldspejlet’s game editor Troels Møller. Each game will be presented with trailer, gameplay clips, and key members of the development teams will be present their games and be interviewed by our host.

At the event, the latest numbers for the industry will also be presented by Interactive Denmark’s Jesper Krogh Kristiansen.

After the main session select titles will be available for testing.

Lineup:

Welcome to ELK (Triple Topping Games)
Deep Rock Galactic (Ghost Ship Games)
First Class Trouble (Invisible Walls)
Håbløs (Niila Games)
Lightmatter (Tunnel Vision Games)
Vokabulantis (Kong Orange & Wiredfly)
Wonder Woolies (Fuzzy House)

This event is currently invitation only. If you wish to attend, and have not been invited yet, please contact Jesper Krogh Kristiansen at jkk@interactivedenmark.dk

Please use this link to share the event: https://interactivedenmark.dk/events/spil-pa-vej-upcoming-games/

Vision Denmark, Interactive Denmark and Filmby Århus is offering a pro-level pitching workshop in Århus

In preparation for Copenhagen MatchUp and GDC, Vision Denmark, Interactive Denmark and Filmby Århus has teamed up with with Finnish game pitching specialist and executive training expert Walid O. El Cheikh for an intensive 1-day pitching- and messaging master workshop for CEOs and executives, looking to get their communication about their company and projects to the next level.

The workshop will teach the participants, how to be razor sharp in both their pitching and general communication about their company and project, based on a number of methods and practical exercises. In the end, you should be able to communicate the essence of your product or company in a single sentence!

As an additional incentive, Jacob Riis from Nordic Game will be attending the final pitching round of the workshop. If he sees the right project, he may select it to participate in the Nordic Game Discovery Contest at Nordic Game Conference 2020 – including 2 conference passes for the presenting team.

The workshop offered lasts a full day, and will require preparatory work. The workshop is open to Danish developers, but Interactive Denmark retains the right to screen and select applicants. Priority will also be given to companies from Ideas Lab, GameHub Denmark, Arsenalet and CPH MatchUp participants. The workshop is free

Deadline for signup is February 18th.

Click here to register or contact Jesper Krogh Kristiansen at jkk@interactivedenmark.dk or Fanny Saemund at fs@interactivedenmark.dk if you have any questions

Use this link, to share the event: https://interactivedenmark.dk/events/growing-games-pitching-aarhus/

DUE TO THE COVID-19 PRECAUTIONS IN PLACE IN DENMARK, THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

Cities are like games with rules, players, goals, failures and moods. At this Spilbar, we dig further into the relationship between games and the city and look at how you can play the city. Lena Mech from Institute of Wonder will talk about how to play games in the city, and Tana Tanoi will talk about how city design inspired him and his company Dinosaur Polo Club to create fun and engaging games about city stables like designing metros and roads!

This SpilBar is held in collaboration with DAC (Danish Architecture Center) and their exhibition Kids City.

As always, you are welcome to showcase your own games, simulations, playfulness or surprises. Sign up here before March 23.

Programme:
17:30: Welcome by Kristine Ploug, Thomas Vigild and DAC.
17:40: A City of Abstractions: From City Design to Game Design (Tana Tanoi, Dinosaur Polo Club)
18:20: Break
18:40: Viktor Bedö
19:00: Where to GO from here? The future of games in the city (Lene Mech, Institute of Wonder)
19:15: Games and mingling
20:30: Goodbye

A City of Abstractions: From City Design to Game Design – Tana Tanoi, Dinosaur Polo Club
The design of Mini Metro and Mini Motorways is built upon abstractions of real life. 
Mini Metro is an abstraction of subway maps; Mini Motorways is an abstraction of road maps. These abstractions are often done in the name of game design, so why do we make these abstractions? What do we lose in the process? What do we gain? In this talk, Tana Tanoi from Dinosaur Polo Club will use the lens of the development of Mini Motorways to explain how to go from city design to game design and the importance of well-executed abstraction.

About Tana Tanoi
Tana is a Wellington, New Zealand based programmer at Dinosaur Polo Club, with work on both Mini Motorways and Mini Metro.
Originally starting in Software Engineering, Tana transitioned to the games industry when the opportunity arose, bringing a passion for procedural building generation and architecture with him. Tana is also an avid tiny-game maker, Lindy-hop swing dancer, tea drinker, and enthusiastic dog petter.

Please use the following link to share the event: https://interactivedenmark.dk/events/spilbar-44-games-cities-at-dac/

Please use the following link to share the event: https://copenhagenmatchup.dk/

An update regarding Copenhagen MatchUp and COVID-19

We are still very much committed to make Copenhagen MatchUp 2020 happen. But due to the COVID-19 lock-down and precautions, we have taken the decision to make this year’s MatchUp will be an online-only event, centered around 1:1 meetings on April 22.

With so many other events being postponed or outright cancelled, we feel that it’s more important than ever to go through with Copenhagen MatchUp, since the matchmaking opportunities for both investors/publishers and developers have been severely limited otherwise.

– The Copenhagen MatchUp Team

CPH MatchUp is a 1-day online event, April 22, 2020. We aim to do the best match-up’s possible between investors, publishers and Danish Game Studios.

The event consists of one full day of online 1:1 meetings, where both investors/publishers and developers can book meetings with each other through the Meet2Match booking system.

Participating in Copenhagen MatchUp is free.

Read More and Sign-up here

Partners and sponsors:

Truemax Copenhagen Academy and Vision Denmark are hosting the first-ever matchmaking session between upcoming interns from Truemax Copenhagen Academy and the Danish digital visual industry – especially targeting the game, animation and XR sector.

As a consequence of the Corona crisis, Danish companies have an unprecedented opportunity to hire these Truemax Copenhagen Academy interns, that would otherwise be taken by large international game developers and visual agencies.

Interns from the Truemax Academy offers several advantages for companies to consider:

• The interns are at the absolute end of their education, meaning they have an almost finished education and skillset
• The internships are unpaid
• If conditions necessitate it (depending on the Corona situation), the Academy can equip each intern with a full graphical workstation to “work from home” from Truemax Copenhagen Academy.

The event:
The event consists of a presentation of the student’s showreels (approx. 50 mins.) followed by a section of 5 short 10 min. meetings between students and company representatives. The students will be able to reserve up to 3 of 5 meeting slots in advance, and the company can request meetings with specific students for the remaining slots, after seeing the showreel presentation. We will of cause make sure, that companies and students can get in touch afterwards if one of the parties run out of meeting slots.

If you are interested in attending, please sign up here.

Use this link, to share the event: https://interactivedenmark.dk/events/growing_games_freelancer/

What does it take, to make it as a freelancer in the Danish games industry?

Join us for an afternoon workshop, prepared specifically for people working as freelancers in the Danish games industry. Through a number of talks, exercises, and panels, we are going to touch upon issues such as:

Workshop Panel:

• Palle Schmidt, freelance illustrator, writer and comic book artist living in Copenhagen, Denmark and author of “SOLO – Survival guide for create freelancers“. Besides writing his own comics and crime novels , he teaches comics on ComicsForBeginners.com and has a podcast with writer interviews (in Danish) at plotcast.dk, and blogs on palleschmidt.com.
• Thomas Løfgren, award-winning veteran developer, designer and director of games, apps, communities and social media systems.
• Bjørn Jacobsen, Audio designer. MSc. IT. Audio Design. Award-winning audio designer who has worked on titles like HITMAN, Cyperpunk 2077, EVE : Valkyrie, DARQ, and many more
• Morten Brunbjerg, award-winning freelance game writer with 9 years of experience writing and designing stories, narratives, dialogue, and plot.
• Caroline Fangel, Freelance UI, 2D and 3D artist with a number og years of experience from the Danish games industry.

Detailed program:

12:00 – 12:30: Get-in and registration
12:30 – 12:45: Welcome and introduction
12:45 – 13:00: Initial networking exercise

13:00 – 13:45: Palle Schmidt: Life as a Freelancer including:
Administration & accounting
Own projects and supplementary earnings channels
How to get assignments?
How do you find the right price?
Structuring the working day.
How do you find your USP?

13:45 – 14:00: Pause
14:00 – 14:20: Exercise: Find your USP and your profile (v. Palle Schmidt)

14:20 – 14:40: Bjørn Jacobsen: Life as a freelance audio designer including
Special conditions for audio freelancers
How to handle tests
Pricing in relation to project type (heart blood project, etc.) and national differences.

14:40 – 15:00: Thomas Løfgren: Life as a freelance designer and consultant
Special conditions for designers and consultants
Long-term building of specific competencies

15:00 – 15:10: Pause
15:10 – 15:30: Caroline Fangel: Life as a freelance graphic designer
Special conditions for freelance graphic designers
The difference between being a freelancer and a permanent employee

15:30 – 15:50: Morten Brunbjerg: Life as a Freelance game writer
Special conditions for freelance writers
Free work. How and when is it worth it.
Competitors
15:50 – 16:00: Thank you for today.

Note: Please enter through the door at Flæsketorvet 38B, go to the back of the corridor, and take the stairs to the 3rd floor.

Please use this link to share the event: https://interactivedenmark.dk/events/growing-games-getting-started/

What does it take to get started in the games industry?

Are you considering or have you already started a company working in the games industry? Then this event is for you.

Over the course of 3,5 hours, we will cover the most important basics in getting your new company up and running, and how to secure the best possible chances for survival.

Meet other developers in the same situation, and get expert advise from experts and veteran developers.

Program:

12:15 – 12:40 – Get in & registration
12:30 – 12:40 – Welcome and introduction
12:40 – 12:50 – Introductory exercise
12:50 – 13:30 – Lasse Sørensen, Business Consultant at Copenhagen Business Hub:
Startup mentality. What is a start-up mindset? With exercises and talk about the importance of mentality and attitude plays in startups.
13:30 – 13:40 – Break
13:40 – 14:10 – Riley Andersen, CEO Umami Games:
What I wish I knew 2 years ago – especially about rapid development og testing
14:10 – 14:40 – Michael Flarup, CEO Northplay
How to not die in the games industry. Running a sustainable game studio from funding to business models
14:40 – 14:50 – Break
14:50 – 15:20 – Søren Lass, Independant games consultant
From startup to your first contract
15:20 – 15:40 – Pitching session
15:40 – 15:45 – Thanks & Goodbye

Join us, and get the best possible start for you and your company in the games industry 🙂

image credit: “CRW_6224” by mike warren is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Why does a game look the way it does? What does a game tell us, just by looking the way it does? And how is our experience affected by the way a game looks?

UPDATE: PHYSICAL PART OF SPILBAR44 EVENT CANCELLED

Note: This event will be in English

This edition of SpilBar is all about the aesthetics of digital video games, but also how these relate to other media outside of games.

NOTE: Due to COVID-19 restrictions, we sadly will have to impose a limit on the number of people attending the physical event (for the first time ever). However, for the first time, the event will also be streamed live to those, not able to attend the physical event on the Vision Denmark Twitch-channel.

Tickets will be released sep. 1st at noon.

Program:

16:30 – 16:40: Welcome & introduction

16:40 – 17:10: Jesper Juul, associate Professor at KADK

Based on his recent book, “Handmade pixels”, Juul will be talking about how aesthetics is an integral part of indie games struggle for authenticity

17:10 – 17:30: Niels Fyrst, Freelance graphics designer

Niels Fyrst will talk about his approach to design, and the importance to look at other medias, than the one you are designing for

…. more speakers may be added.

Please use the following link to share the event: https://interactivedenmark.dk/events/spilbar-44-the-look/