SpilBar 40: Stories

The Danish games industry is sprawling with new games. At SpilBar 40 we want to take a look at some of the games, and have the developers tell us their stories and dissect the development process live on stage. Each developer will get 10 minutes and 10 slides to talk about what surprised them, what screwed them, what went well, and what went wrong? And of course, why, oh why?

Program:

16:30:
Welcome

16:35:
Wartile – Michael Rud (Playwood Games)
A Hat in Time – Jonas Kærlev (Gears for Breakfast)
Shrug Island – Michael Rose (Tiny Red Camel)

17:10 
Coffee break

17:30
Youropa – Mikkel Fredborg (Frecle)
Forgotton Anne – Alfred Nyguen (Throughline Games)
Fimbul – Søren Jepsen (Zaxis)
#dkgame book release – Mikkel Lodahl (Institute for Danish Game Development)

18:15
Beers, games and mingling

When: Thursday, March 14th, 16:30 – 20:00
Where: Cinemateket, Gothersgade 55, 1123 Copenhagen

Open Call for games at SpilBar 40
Sign up here if you are up for showcasing your digital and/or board game at SpilBar 40

To link to this event, please use: https://interactivedenmark.dk/events/spilbar-40/

Interactive Denmark is offering a pro-level pitching workshop

In preparation for Copenhagen MatchUp, Interactive Denmark 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 participant, 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 singe sentence!

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 CPH MatchUp participants. The workshop is free

Deadline for signup is APRIL 3rd.

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

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

Funday Factory, Filmby Aarhus and Create Converge are happy to announce the conference Digital Kids Today.

Digital Kids Today is a full day conference that focuses on kids as digital media consumers. The purpose of the conference is to share knowledge and insights while creating a foundation for networking and business development across creative industries – national as well as international.

This year’s conference sheds light on bridging digital and physical play & IP’s and how to monetise brands.

More info and sign up check out https://digitalkidstoday.com/

It’s time for the annual Game Dev Date Night in Ideas Lab!

In need of artists, devs, sound designers, producers or the like to accelerate your production? Then here is your chance!

At Date Night you’ll pitch your project and be able to find the resources you need.

The concept:
Bring your own 4-minute slideshow to present.
It must include the following three questions:
– Who are you?
– What are you working on right now?
– Which skills are you looking for?
We are timing you, so make it 4 minutes or less 😉

Afterwards, beer and pizza are on us – remember to sign up, so we know how much food to order.

Sign up here if you want to participate: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1GDC_93K_c3iXasgRStErwRD7Uhhf0lfNup8-bVtt1c0/edit

Remember to e-mail us your slides the day before: sdib@aarhus.dk

We hope to see you there!

Please use this link to share the event: https://interactivedenmark.dk/events/cph-matchup-2019-studio-meetings/

CPH MatchUp is a 2-day event during Games Week Denmark 2019, May 6-7. We aim to do the best match-up’s possible between investors, publishers and Danish Game Studios.

DAY 1 – May 6: Private Studio Meeting in between international publishers/investors and Copenhagen based Game Studios.

DAY 2 – May 7: One-on-One meetings at Børsen (Old Stock Exchange) with MeetToMatch booking system.

Participating investors and publishers:

1C Publishing, 505 Games, 5th Planet Games, Catalis Group, Coffee Stain Publishing, Crunching Koalas, Danfoss, Dazzle Interactive – China Telecom, Dino Patti, Deck13 Interactive, DR, EA, European Games Group, Game Seer Venture Partners, Green Man Gaming, Goodbye Kansas, JoyPac, Level-Up, Lvp, Makers Fund, Modern Times Group (MTG), NetEase, Nordic Game Ventures, Nordisk Film Games, Nordic Makers, Oizumi Amuzio Inc., PlayStack, Raw Fury, Rovio Entertainment, SEGA, Six Foot, Super!, SYBO, Tactile Games, Tencent GWB, THQ Nordic, and ThumbAge.

Participating game studios:

Partners:

Please use the following link to share the event: https://interactivedenmark.dk/events/cph-matchup-2019-11-meetings/

CPH MatchUp is a 2-day event during Games Week Denmark 2019, May 6-7. We aim to do the best match-up’s possible between investors, publishers and Danish Game Studios.

DAY 1 – May 6: Private Studio Meeting in between international publishers/investors and Copenhagen based Game Studios.

DAY 2 – May 7: One-on-One meetings at Børsen (Old Stock Exchange) with MeetToMatch booking system.

Tentative program for May 7th:

• 8:30 – 9:00: Registration and breakfast
• 9:00 – 12:15: Meetings, Round 1
• 12:15 – 13:15: Lunch
• 13:00 – 17:00: Meetings, Round 2
  

Participating investors and publishers:

1C Publishing, 505 Games, 5th Planet Games, Catalis Group, Coffee Stain Publishing, Crunching Koalas, Danfoss, Dazzle Interactive – China Telecom, Dino Patti, Deck13 Interactive, DR, EA, European Games Group, Game Seer Venture Partners, Green Man Gaming, Goodbye Kansas, JoyPac, Level-Up, Lvp, Makers Fund, Modern Times Group (MTG), NetEase, Nordic Game Ventures, Nordisk Film Games, Nordic Makers, Oizumi Amuzio Inc., PlayStack, Raw Fury, Rovio Entertainment, SEGA, Six Foot, Super!, SYBO, Tactile Games, Tencent GWB, THQ Nordic, and ThumbAge.

Participating game studios:

Sign-up for Danish game developers/studios here

Partners and sponsors:

To link to this event, please use: https://interactivedenmark.dk/events/spilbar-41-sounds-good/

Use this link, to share the event: https://interactivedenmark.dk/events/growing-games-starting-a-games-company/

PLEASE NOTE. VENUE CHANGED DUE TO SCHEDULING CONFLICTS.

*** Sign-up closed, as venue is full ***

Considering establishing your own game company? Or maybe you’ve already taken the first step, but are looking for advice on what to do next?

At the upcoming Growing Games: Starting a games company, you will get the basic tools and knowledge to get the best possible start for your new company. Meet experts from the Danish games industry, as they lend us their expertise, and network with other people in the same position as you – looking to get started in the games industry.

The workshop will cover the following themes

– The basics of establishing and running a business: Company types, registration, taxation, company rules, ownership
– Financing and funding: How and where to find funding for your projects
– Business models: What are the possible ways to make money on your game, and how do you build your game to match it?
– Production Planning: How do you set up a realistic production plan for your game?
– Budgeting: How to build a realistic budget for your company.
– To be a CEO: What is expected for a CEO, and what is your role and responsibilities towards your employees

Program:
11:45 – 12:00: Get-in & registration
12:00 – 12:15: Introduction & Welcome
12:15 – 13:00: Business Basics, Kaspar Ganer
13:00 – 13:15: Financing, Jesper Krogh Kristiansen
13:15 – 13:25: Pause
13:25 – 14:05: Business Models, Kristian Bang Nørgaard
14:05 – 14:45: Production Planning, Manuel Somonte
14:45 – 15:00: Pause
15:00 – 15:20: Budgeting, Astrid Refstrup
15:20 – 15:50: The role as CEO and founder, Astrid Refstrup & Simon Staalhandske
15:50 – 16:00: Sum-up & goodbye

Join the workshop, and make sure your company gets the best possible start in the games industry.

Participation is free, but registration is required.

This event is organized in cooperation with Game Syndicate Denmark

To link to this event, please use: https://interactivedenmark.dk/events/spilbar-42-boss/

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/