Arcade Projects

Bubble – Chris Lewis

Chris Lewis is currently a first year student at Swinburne University. He uses his spare time to create games in C++ and maintain his website / blog, Coding Kick. His most recent project, Bubble, explores ideas of social interaction with the world around us.

Pollinator – Tim Randall

Pollinator is a simple touch-based game for iPhone, iPad and Android. Simply draw a path for your bee to follow from the hive to the flowers and back again. Touch dragonflies to squish them and spit out any bees that they’ve captured.

Puzzle Treasure – Play-Bit Entertainment

Puzzle Treasure is a casual puzzle game designed for social networks like Facebook. Players strive to become a master treasure-hunter and solve a huge variety of tricky puzzles in order to earn and uncover rare artifacts, idols and treasures! Puzzle Treasure is due for release in late 2011.

Winnitron Au – Winnitron AU Team

The Winnitron AU is an arcade cabinet for independent video games.  It’s goal is to inspire game developers to become an active part of the independent video game community.  Housed permanently at the Mana Bar Melbourne, the Australian variant of the Winnitron 1000 offers a unique entry point for local game developers to get involved.

Once Upon a Spacetime – Digitalis

Once upon a spacetime is a small, simple, 2.5D game about the search for love for in an uncaring universe. It features a deep space/deep ocean environment, procedurally composed music, and tiny dancers. It has no score, health, text, dialogue, time limits, enemies or punishments, but we’ve aimed to give it a soul.  The player controls a couple in love, dancing through a space environment. It’s more an interactive artwork than a game.

Critical Mass – Manic Game Studios

Manic Game Studios is an Australian independant game developer consisting of two members, James Barrie and Matthew Edmondson. Their first release is Critical Mass a 3D Action Puzzle game bringing traditional match 3 into the world of 3D. Critical Mass combines fast addictive gameplay with strategy to create a new and innovative gameplay experience.

Whisperous – Swing Interactive

Whisperous is a 2.5D platformer for PC/Mac intended for X-box 360. Players can interact with their environment, attracting and repelling various objects and particles to transverse, explore and re-energise the environment with light. Swing Interactive was founded by 13 talented students of QANTM College Melbourne and an external audio contractor.

Slingshot Justice – Anomalous Interactive

Slingshot Justice tells a heart-wrenching tale of warfare in the schoolyard. As a fifth grade vigilante, you have taken up action to protect the lemonade stands of the youth from the local bullies. With your trusty slingshot in hand, you’ll defend innocence from brutality, or get a wedgie trying.

Under our Green Skies / Gangsta Snap – Ahasai Designs

Ahasai Designs specialises in mobile development primarily producing innovative high quality titles within the Cyber-Punk genre. Under our Green Skies is a breathtaking, immersive family friendly experience following the classic father rescues daughter in a hostile futuristic word. Gansgsta Snap is a totally insane, crazy and weird resurrection ofthe classic Snap card game taking on gangs around the world.

Battle Group – Bane Games

Battle Group puts you in command of modern day fighting ships in a new take on action orientated naval warfare. Unlock patrol boats, battleships and aircraft carriers as you progress through the story driven campaign.
Battle Group is being developed by Bane Games a small independent developer based in Brisbane.

Antichamber – Alexander Bruce

Antichamber is a game about discovery, set inside a vibrant, minimal, Escher-like world, where geometry and space follow unfamiliar rules, and obstacles are a matter of perception. Journey through the depths of a non-Euclidean labyrinth, as you create, destroy and manipulate matter, and uncover new ways to overcome your surroundings in this mind-bending psychological exploration game.

Mining For Profits! – Agents of Chaos

Have you ever wondered what would happen if you gave email scammers your money and they turned out to be liegitimate? Come by to see our theoretical take on such a situation – a mining operation that’s remote controlled by software developed by out-of-work game developers.

Expo Exhibitors

Monash University

The Faculty of Information Technology Monash University is a proud supporter of Freeplay. The Faculty of Information Technology provides outstanding teaching and research across six campuses. By integrating its computing and information technology disciplines, the Faculty provides enormous breadth and depth of teaching and research to the campuses, strategic alliances, centres and partnerships that form the Monash global network.

andrew.owen@infotech.monash.edu.au | 03 9903 1441 | www.it.monash.edu

RMIT University

RMIT offers two interlinked games degrees: Bachelor of Design (Games) and Bachelor of IT (Games Graphics Programming)

The Bachelor of Design (Games) is a world-class creative degree that encompasses the width and breadth of contemporary games design. Students can expect to develop digital art, interaction design, game studies and analysis skills. The degree’s collaborative studio environment is enriched by industry-experienced staff and state of the art technology.

Adam.Nash@rmit.edu.au | 03 9925 2598 | www.games.rmit.edu.au

La Trobe University

Games Technology at La Trobe combines a theoretical basis with practical training in games design and development for PCs and consoles. Graduates possess exceptionally-developed programming skills, sound theoretical basis in game design and specialist knowledge and skills in areas including graphics, artificial intelligence, software development and operating systems in addition to the physics and mathematics necessary for producing increasingly realistic computer games

sci.tech@latrobe.edu.au | 03 9479 2220 | www.latrobe.edu.au

Deakin University

The School of Information Technology at Deakin University offers a range of teaching programmes in Information Technology covering a broad spectrum from telecommunications, through mathematics, to the information technology end of the spectrum which covers IT security, computer science and software development, games design and development, multimedia technology, network computing, and IT services.

sci-tech@deakin.edu.au | 03 9244 6699 | http://www.deakin.edu.au

We’re looking for the quirky, the experimental, the commercial, the finished and unfinished, the polished and the unpolished. All we really ask is that it’s playable and will be interesting to a wide audience that will include developers, educators, students, and the general public.

To register your interest, fill out our google form. And if you have any questions about whether or not your project might be eligible, email us at expo@freeplay.net.au

AND if that wasn’t enough, we’re also working with some other events between now and August to tide you over until we kick off.

Read on to find out everything you might want to know…

Speakers and Sessions…

Freeplay 2011′s theme is ‘Handmade’ and our focus is on the specific craft aspects of game development, as well as the individual’s place in the creative process and how games manifest as player constructed experiences.

Just like in 2009 and 2010, we’re putting Freeplay together a little differently from other events. Rather than pitching sessions to us – although you can do that if you want – we want to hear from you about what you do, why you do it, and how that fits with Freeplay.  When we have that info, we’ll put you where you might not be entirely comfortable, but where we’re sure you’ll be interesting.

We’re also very interested in alternative structures for presenting. Obviously we’re keeping lectures and panels and workshops, but we’d also like to incorporate playful sessions or microlectures or anything anyone else might pitch to us.

We also have some possible additional space to run more active events as part of our public program, so if anyone has something totally outlandish, drop us an email at speakers@freeplay.net.au to discuss.

You can register to be a speaker for our by filling out the google form here.

Volunteering…

Freeplay wouldn’t be possible without the support of volunteers, and this year we’re looking for them early to better integrate them into the event and the library infrastructure.

Volunteers are needed to help usher and check tickets in the conference centre, staff the information table in Experimedia, hand out feedback forms, direct attendees, and provide additional event support.

We’re also looking for some volunteers to help support other events that we’re running, including during the Emerging Writers’ Festival and the State of Design Festival.

You can register for volunteering by filling out the google form here. If you have any questions, email us at volunteers@freeplay.net.au

Indie Expo…

As with last year, we’re having an expo space in Experimedia and we’d like to showcase even more of the exciting and innovative work happening in Melbourne.

To register an expo project, you can fill out the google form here. If you have any further questions, email us at expo@freeplay.net.au.

Associate Producers

It’s looking more and more like Freeplay 2011 is going to be bigger than ever been and to help us manage that we’re looking at bringing in some associate producers to co-ordinate specific events.

Associate Producers will be responsible for working with the festival directors and program advisory committee to help shape and deliver an event during Freeplay, following it from programming to production. These are volunteer positions.  Email us to register your interest.

Freeplay Board

And if all of that isn’t enough, Freeplay is currently looking for two board members to join us. Board members are volunteer positions and provide organisational direction, support, and governance.  Not for profit experience is desirable for either role, but not essential. Knowledge of the games sector is an advantage, but also not essential. Email us to register your interest.

Treasurer

The Treasurer is responsible for monitoring Freeplay’s financial compliance, providing financial and commercial advice, contributing to the organisation and festival budgeting process, and providing as needed support to Freeplay directors.

Secretary

The Secretary is responsible for handling Freeplay’s administrative compliance, supporting the board, managing Freeplay’s articles of incorporation, contributing to the organisation and festival planning, and providing as needed support to Freeplay directors.

Sponsorship

Freeplay is currently open to sponsorship opportunities and partnerships. Email info@freeplay.net.au for a prospectus or to discuss options.

State of Design

As part of this year’s State of Design festival, we’re running a game jam event based on Adam Saltsman’s Idea Bucket from Gamecity 2010 on July 23 & 24 at the Royal Exhibition Building. Details here.

We’re looking for a few developers (and volunteers) to come along and spend 8 hours on the 24^th making a game – in public – out of the pictures the kids draw on the 23^rd. To register your interest, drop us an email.

Emerging Writers’ Festival

Lastly, we’re running some playful events with the Emerging Writers’ Festival from May 26 – June 5. We want to keep some of those a secret for now, but we figured a heads up wouldn’t hurt. Keep an eye on their website for details.

And that’s everything for now. If you have any questions or comments about Freeplay 2011, feel free to email us on info@freeplay.net.au. We’ll also be at the next IGDA Melbourne May meetup if you’d rather talk face to face.

Check out the details of how to get involved after the fold.

Speakers and sessions

Freeplay 2010′s theme is ‘Play is Everywhere’, and our focus is on the creative process, the experience of making things, and on the sharing of ideas and learning. A big part of that is finding really interesting people doing interesting things and putting them together in surprising ways. To make that work, we put our program together a little differently from other events – rather than pitch sessions to us (although you can do that if you want), we want to hear from you about what you do, why you do it, and how that fits with Freeplay. When we have that info, we’ll put you where you might not be entirely comfortable, but where we’re sure you’ll be interesting.

Email us at speakers@freeplay.net.au with the following details:

• Your contact details
• Who you are
• What you do
• Why you want to be involved with Freeplay
• What general area you’d like to cover (code, art, design, audio…), what format you’re comfortable with (workshops, lectures, panels…), and how that fits with the ‘Play is Everywhere’ theme

Speakers will get free access to Freeplay 2010 and an invitation to our exclusive speakers party.

Volunteers

Freeplay wouldn’t be possible without the support of volunteers, and this year we’re looking for them early to better integrate them into the event and the library infrastructure.

Volunteers are needed to help usher and check tickets in the conference centre, staff the information table in Experimedia, hand out feedback forms, direct attendees, and provide additional event support.

This year, we’re also looking for volunteers interested in helping to run public board game sessions in Experimedia, explaining the rules to drop-ins and making sure things run smoothly.

The library itself is also really interested in broadening their games related programs and have asked us to support their official volunteer program this year. For more details, email us at the address below or check out their website – http://www.slv.vic.gov.au/about/supporting/volunteers/

Volunteers get tickets for the event and invitations to our private speakers party.

To register your interest, send an email to volunteers@freeplay.net.au with:

• Your contact details
• Your availability throughout the day for August 14th & 15th
• Why you want to participate
• What relevant skills and experience you might have

Indie Expo

As with last year, we’re having an expo space in Experimedia and we’d like to showcase even more of the exciting and innovative work happening in Melbourne. If you have a project, email expo@freeplay.net.au and let us know:

• Your contact details
• Some details of your project & team
• How complete it’ll be in on August 14th & 15th

Look for more announcements soon…

Panels & Workshops

If you’ve been to previous events, you know that Freeplay is a diverse event, with people delivering everything from traditional keynote lectures to running interactive workshops to staffing demo machines running their projects, with people from all walks of gaming culture, including independent and professional developers, multimedia artists, students, and games players.

We want to continue that in 2009 and the only way we can do that is to get a broad range of people willing to give up some of their time to come along and be part of the Freeplay community.

So, we’re putting the callout for exactly those people.  We’ve drawn up a draft program, but for now, we want to keep that a little bit secret to see what we get – we’re hoping to be inspired and excited by the ideas that come to us.   If you want to be involved, but you don’t have a specific topic, email us anyway and we’ll work on fitting you in.

For 2009, we want to focus on creativity and ideas and better communication and understanding between creative disciplines.  We want to foster a positive and pro-active vibe across the two days, and we want people to leave the event excited about making games.  We also want to make the event more interactive –which means more panels and workshops as opposed to traditional lectures.  That’s not to say you shouldn’t pitch those, but if you can fit them into a discussion format, all the better.

Email: speakers@freeplay.net.au

Expo Space

We’re also looking for people and teams that would like to demo their game in the Experimedia space at the State Library.  We’ll give you a table, access to power and the internet, and all we ask is that you have someone there to mind your equipment and that you’re willing to talk to the general public if they have any questions.

Email: expo@freeplay.net.au

Volunteers

Volunteers have always played an integral part at past Freeplays – from administrative support to venue assistance, we wouldn’t be able to achieve half as much without them.

In return for volunteering, we’ll give you a free ticket for both days, and give you the chance to peek behind the curtain at what goes into putting an event like Freeplay together.  We’ll also give you the chance to meet and hang out with our speakers, other volunteers, and visit parts of the state library you wouldn’t normally see.

Email: volunteers@freeplay.net.au