Game development in Adelaide
ON THIS PAGE
Government
Community groups
Game development hubs
Industry groups
Events
Game jams and hackathons
Jobs
Unions
Funding and Awards
eSports
Media
Schools
Game dev resources
Last 4 updates
Government
Community groups
Game development hubs
Industry groups
Events
Game jams and hackathons
Jobs
Unions
Funding and Awards
eSports
Media
Schools
Game dev resources
Last 4 updates
The South Australian Film Corporation (SAFC) is the government agency supporting game developers in South Australia. They have a Game Development Executive, currently James O’Connor, email reception@safilm.com.au.
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Adelaide Game Developers Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/382760981775174
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- GamePlus - digital games development hub operated by GamePlus. They provide a hub for digital entrepreneurs to co-locate and share knowledge, resources and opportunities. http://gameplus.com.au/
- Lot 14 have Hello Fridays from 4pm - 7pm. Lot 14 people can be anyone from defence force developers to hi-tech designers to VR producers
- Adelaide Game Developers discord channel https://discord.gg/ENfTcXT
- Adelaide Game Developers (formerly ARGGGH) Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/382760981775174/
- Adelindie – Adelaide game developers https://www.facebook.com/Adelindie-Adelaide-Game-Developers-162642723745960/
- Board game groups – see separate Tabletop Games page, last updated 2022
- Games Development Club at UniSA https://www.facebook.com/agpu.unisa
- IGEA – Interactive Games and Entertainment Association membership is open to Australian game developers of all sizes starting from $550 and provides a free contract starter kit https://igea.net/2020/07/igeas-contract-starter-kit-and-info-sheets
- LabRats - a network of diverse artists creating experiences for The Lab at ILA https://immersivelightandart.com.au/the-lab-rats/
- Ludomusicology [Game Music] Society of Australia http://ludomusicologysociety.com.au
- SA Women in Games https://www.facebook.com/groups/277261842607076/
- SAGA - South Australian Games Association https://www.sagames.org/
- VR Adelaide Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/119734348658873/
All current events are on Adelaide Game Developer discord #whats-on page https://bit.ly/AGDdiscord and there is also the Adelaide Game Developers Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/382760981775174
- AR Adelaide Meetup - Heath Amos is a passionate AR developer who gets speakers from around the world to come (virtually) to a room in the Hotel Metropolitan and discuss the latest developments. Open to anyone interested in AR. www.meetup.com/en-AU/adelaide-augmented-reality/
- Adelaide City Library – Digital Services volunteers will provide free 1:1 help with sound and music editing in the Media Lab https://bit.ly/3j88QJ5
- Adelaide Game Developer Talks organised by Adam Dowley at Games Plus, 44 Pirie Street https://www.facebook.com/Adelaide-Game-Developer-Talks-520168648367532/ Usually two lectures followed by questions and answers, plenty of opportunity for networking before and during. Loosely planned for the third Wednesday every two months. Tweet Adam with talk requests or offers to speak @DowleyAdam
- Augmented Reality Adelaide have excellent meetups which are often combined Adelaide VR Meetups and AR Adelaide Meetups https://www.meetup.com/Adelaide-HoloLens-Meetup/
- Adelaide VR Meetup: Daish Malani has been a VR pioneer for years and always has the latest VR to show. Meetups are very informal, you just get a short talk and then lots of opportunities for hands-on experimentation. Daish's meetups are free and friendly and inclusive, you don't need to be a game developer. https://www.meetup.com/Adelaide-Virtual-Reality/
- Adelaide Visual Novel Creators MeetUp - https://www.meetup.com/adelaidevisualnovel/events/qbsrpsyccnbwb/
- AVCON – Adelaide’s Anime and Video Games Festival https://www.avcon.org.au/ Annual convention for anime and video game exhibitions and cosplay. 300 volunteers, 20,000 visitors, June or July. 2024 AVCon is being held at the Adelaide Showgrounds 28 - 30 June 2024. https://www.avcon.org.au/
- IGR - The Indie Games Room https://www.avcon.org.au/gaming/indie-games-room/
- Game Plus Playback Nights are held every two months or so.
- IGEA Industry Briefing is held annually.
- Unwind held by the South Australian Game Association for community and industry networking in a casual environment. It's a great chance to come out for a drink or a bite after work and hear about what's going on locally each month at The Lab, 63 Light Square Adelaide. Meetings announced on the AGD Unwind website unwindsa.com
- The Global Game Jam is a worldwide game jam held on the last weekend of January. https://globalgamejam.org/
- GovHack (ACT, NSW, NT, QLD, SA, TAS, VIC & WA, each September) – An open data hackathon focused on unlocking the value in open data published by government. https://www.govhack.org/
- Transformathon - game-jam/hackathon with a $10,000 prize for helping develop a new idea for a greener future in South Australia. November.
- Artstation for artists to showcase work and look over artist job ads, also convenient way to refer potential employers to your portfolio https://www.artstation.com
- Carclew - If you are 18-26 (or Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander 18-30), you can apply to produce something alongside artists at Carclew for a year. This is a paid position. Special consideration if you are from regional South Australia, Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, or with disability. https://carclew.com.au/Program/sharehouse
- Code Like A Girl has internships: https://www.codelikeagirl.com/internships/
- Department for Trade and Investment live Q&A webinars feature successful South Australian creative companies https://dti.sa.gov.au/investment/opportunities-for-industry/creative-industries
- Foxie Games are a major Adelaide game developer who frequently hire. https://www.foxieventures.com/jobs/
- Games Industry Group, based in New South Wales, has a job board which is supposed to cover the whole of Australia and New Zealand https://www.gamesindustrygroup.org/jobs
- IGDA careers page seems more aimed at the US market but if you are a member of IGDA seeking international work it may be worth a look https://careers.igda.org/
- IGEA jobs portal is a national jobs board for game developers https://igea.net/jobsportal/
- IGEA Skills Matrix shows what particular companies require of job applicants. https://igea.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/IGEA-Skills-Matrix-2021-1.pdf
- Looking For Game Developers (Australia & NZ) “So You Want To Work In Video Games” https://www.facebook.com/groups/lookingforgamedevelopers/
- Mighty Kingdom have created a presentation about the types of jobs available in the games industry. https://public.mightykingdom.com/working-in-games.pdf
- Mighty Kingdom have a Careers page. https://www.mightykingdom.com/careers/
- Monkeystack have a slate of exciting projects across various creative, corporate and industry markets. Careers portal https://careers.monkeystack.com.au/
- SAFC Targeted Diversity Attachment – keep an eye out for opportunities https://www.safilm.com.au/work-in-the-screen-industry/
- Tantalus Media, Adelaide is mostly owned by Keywords Australia and in 2022 they set up a new studio in Adelaide https://www.keywordsstudios.com/careers/
- Tsumea for game developer jobseekers in Australia and New Zealand www.tsumea.com/
- Digital Labourers Federation, originally for TV and film creators, now supports game developers https://www.linkedin.com/in/digital-labourers-federation-4319b265/
- Game Workers Australia, union formed 2018 for everyone in the Australian video game industry. Union formalised from 2022 under the aegis of the Professionals Australia union. https://gameworkers.professionalsaustralia.org.au/
Funding bodies - Game engine companies fund games which show off their engine. Technology companies fund games which show off their technology. Special interest groups fund games which support their charter. Startup accelerators provide support for a fee. Publishers fund and market games. Angel investors fund games early for philanthropic reasons. Venture capitalists fund games at high risk. Larger developers contract out game development work to smaller developers. Governments and companies put out tenders for game developers to compete for a contract to make a game.
- Adelaide City Council Christmas provided event funding to deliver live music, performances, community events and small festivals during the 2021 Christmas Festival. https://www.cityofadelaide.com.au/about-council/grants-sponsorship-incentives/christmas-incentive-scheme-grants/
- Adelaide Founder Institute charges for their start up accelerator program, which is designed to help start up companies find funding https://fi.co/apply/adelaide/canvas
- Australian Game Developer Awards https://gcap.com.au/the-agdas/
- Carclew project grants - twice a year - Individual early career artists and arts workers (aged 26 years and under) based in South Australia, working in any artform were invited to apply for a grant of up to $10,000 to support the development and presentation of creative projects. http://carclew.com.au/Program/project-grants
- Government funding list created by IGEA There are federal opportunities for larger companies plus 2 pages for South Australian government funding opportunities. https://igea.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/IGEA-Overview-of-Government-Funding-Incl.-COVID-Programs-September-2021.pdf
- FIXE - Future Industries Exchange for Entrepreneurs https://www.fixe.org.au/ - provides a link to (hopefully) all the ways the state government can help game devs in business. Note that the FIXE scholarship that provides training funds for businesses on a 2:1 basis applies to the games industry.
- Impact Awards - The Impact Awards Foundation was established as a not-for-profit in 2015 by three South Australian commercial organisations. Nominate by mid October. https://www.theimpactawards.com.au/nominate
- Mercury Cinema SA Screen Awards have a category for Best Video Game. https://themercury.org.au/sasa2024/
- SA Science Excellence and Innovation Awards - Alongside categories recognising science, research and teaching excellence, the awards include categories for business teams—including Innovator of the Year and Excellence in Science and Industry Collaboration. Winners gain widespread recognition, new connections, and a cash prize of up to $25,000. scienceawards.sa.gov.au
- Seed-Start program, part of the Government of South Australia's Research and Innovation Fund (RIF) administered by the Office of the South Australian Chief Entrepreneur, Department for Innovation and Skills. https://innovationandskills.sa.gov.au/innovation/entrepreneurship-and-future-industries/funding/research-and-innovation-fund
- SAFC, South Australian Film Corporation, which is the South Australian government body supporting game developers, have put out the draft guidelines seeking feedback for their programs, but some of the programs specifically exclude games. So what is left is:
- The Video Game Development Rebate for game devs who have spent more than $250,000 in South Australia https://www.safilm.com.au/production/#pdv
- The Screen Production Fund which covers narrative online work made by a podcaster with more than 1 million views or a channel with more than 100K subscribers
- SA government free cybersecurity advice - South Australian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can now access a free 45-minute consult with a local cybersecurity advisor to be delivered by the Australian Cyber Collaboration Centre (A3C) in partnership with the South Australian Government and AustCyber’s SA Node https://business.sa.gov.au/news/free-cybersecurity-advice-for-south-australian-smes
- Screen Australia - important game development funding. www.screenaustralia.gov.au/funding-and-support/online/games
- Self-Employment Assistance formerly known as NEIS, the New Enterprise Incentive Scheme, provides financial support for trainees as their Self-Employment Assistance providers teach them how to set up their own business. Providers have different rules for eligibility but they seem to be linked to being on Centrelink for a period of time. www.dewr.gov.au/self-employment-assistance
- Solar Art Prize, run annually, provides prizes in the form of vouchers for solar art products. The theme is: Climate change, nature and the environment. All mediums are accepted, including artistic games. https://solarartprize.com
- South Australian Government Apprentice traineeships - For companies looking to take on artists or other game devs as apprentices, go to https://s.skills.sa.gov.au/Apprenticeships-traineeships
- Supply to Gov workshop - Creative Industries - information about how to quote/tender to the South Australian government by the Office of the Industry Advocate 28 June 2021 https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/supply-to-gov-workshop-28-june-2021-creative-industries-tickets-159583216697
- Adelaide eSports summit, first in Adelaide, 7 November 2019 www.facebook.com/events/3078426685562754/
- Australian eSports Association https://www.aesa.org.au/
- Australian E-Sports Masters are an eSports league in Adelaide specializing in short online seasons followed by offline finals in the CG Studio in Edwardstown. https://www.australianesportsmasters.com.au/aboutus/
- High School League of Legends Australia and New Zealand Championship https://www.highschoolesportsleague.com/
- South Australian Esports League https://www.facebook.com/SAEL0/
- Ashton McAllan – South Australian game streamer: roleplaying games on Monday nights, PC games on Saturday mornings and PS4 nights on Wednesdays - https://www.twitch.tv/acegiak
- Aussie Games News Blast by D1DLC https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-kqZZXe5zj9OgRDe_7cm5Q
- Australian Videogames – send details of your releases to Brendan Keogh at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeJLW8RbOb7ScghRp7hqlfoHnk3DuaMRhoCSo95jEdDslf1sw/viewform
- Byte Magazine https://www.facebook.com/ByteMagazineAus/
- Café Booleans – formed from Raccoon Media Café and Live Booleans https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy83MzQ2NzMwL3BvZGNhc3QvcnNz
- D1DLC - Adelaide Gaming Podcast http://www.d1dlc.com/
- Downloadable Context - monthly interviews of game devs https://www.downloadablecontext.com/
- Game On AUS https://www.gameonaus.com/
- Hack the Dino podcast recorded at Greenlight Comics http://hackthedino.com/
- Live Booleans by Kosta and Alex https://anchor.fm/live-booleans
- National Cultural Policy has many public submissions, a couple of which relate to videogames, and one from Adelaide https://www.arts.gov.au/have-your-say/new-national-cultural-policywww.arts.gov.au/have-your-say/new-national-cultural-policy
- Pixel Bites SA game review podcast https://pixelsforbreakfast.net/pixel-bites-the-last-campfire/
- Pixel Pop Network https://www.facebook.com/pixelpopnetwork/
- Pixels Rising, Radio Adelaide - see archives at http://radioadelaide.org.au/program/pixel-rising/
- Player Attack https://www.playerattack.com/?s=Player+A-Chat
- Raccoon Media Cafe – for creators of all types in South Australia. Episode example https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWDPq9h8Q34&t=1425s&ab_channel=RaccoonMediaCafe-Adelaide Submission form https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScua3YQSLHeAJ3iFOt2W3DANmfFQJUOzlR62DAeZdBUWXe8lA/viewform
- Retrospekt - South Australia’s number one retro gaming website and community http://www.retrospekt.com.au
- SIFTER (formerly Pixel Sift) make an annual list of Australian made games, so make sure you contact them when you publish a game https://twitter.com/sifterhq
- Tulpa Magazine - Tulpa is an Adelaide-based magazine focusing on the Arts Community in South Australia https://tulpamagazine.com/
- The Under-Developed Podcast - This Adelaide-based podcast talks about video games and the development process that goes into every game big or small https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0TdUyIFJhtjNzBU1ohjNNg/featured
- Veldt Magazine – a small team based in South Australia provides the latest news on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering Arts and Mathematics), films and video games https://www.veldtmagazine.com/
- 42 Adelaide - peer to peer (tutorials, not teachers), free coding school https://www.42adel.org.au/admission
- AIE – game art, film art, programming, and game design & production https://aie.edu.au/campuses/adelaide-campus/
- CDW / Flinders University– game and film art https://www.flinders.edu.au/study/courses/bachelor-creative-arts-visual-effects-entertainment-design
- Flinders University – programming https://www.flinders.edu.au/study/computer-science-information-technology
- Rising Sun Pictures – film and art and VFX https://www.rsp.com.au/study-with-rsp/study-with-rsp/
- SAE – animation, game design, game programming, music https://sae.edu.au/campuses/adelaide/
- TAFE(SA) –programming, 2D art, 3D art, UI/UX, technical art, animation, game design https://www.tafesa.edu.au/
- Torrens University – post-graduate programming https://www.torrens.edu.au/courses/technology#course-listing-search_citylocation=Adelaide&e=0
- UniSA – Bachelor of Creative Industries
- University of Adelaide – film art, game art, programming https://www.adelaide.edu.au/course-outlines/
See the list of resources on the Game dev resources page.
Kalli Addicoat wrote a paper for Adelaide Game Developers which is now on the Workplace laws page.
Kalli Addicoat wrote a paper for Adelaide Game Developers which is now on the Workplace laws page.
SkyNews report 10 December 2021
14 May 2024 - INDUSTRY GROUPS - added the LabRats at ILA
8 May 2024 - COMMUNITY GROUPS – added Facebook icon; GOVERNMENT – added James O'Connor; GAME DEVELOPMENT HUBS – separated hubs into their own section, deleted St Paul's Creative Centre which has closed; INDUSTRY GROUPS – deleted IGDA(SA) who are no longer operating in South Australia; deleted invalid links to Games Development Club at UniSA and Adelaide Uni Software Engineering Club; moved Adelaide AR meetup to Events; added SAGA; JOBS – deleted Mighty Kingdom graduate program; deleted Story City who will post when they have opportunities; UNIONS – separated unions into their own section; FUNDING AND AWARDS – updated NEIS to Self-Employment Assistance; deleted 2022 CreateTech City Challenge; deleted Adelaide Game Development Business Information Sessions no longer available; deleted the defunct Austrade news link; deleted Blue Chilli; deleted the Boosting Female Founders initiative as Round 2 was in 2021; deleted Catapult 2021 Call Out; Export Strategy and Planning Workshop 2021; deleted the South Australian Games Innovation Fund; deleted the Global Expansion Program; deleted Holmesglen which is a Self Employment Assistance provider; deleted Hybrid World; deleted SheStarts3; some SAFC programs including administration of the Epic Games grant; updated Mercury Cinema screen awards; deleted Small Business Advisory Service special program and Small Business grants; deleted South Australian Government Research, Commercialisation and Startup Fund (RCSF); deleted Workforce Innovation Project. EVENTS – deleted all outdated events; SCHOOLS – deleted Mighty Kingdom, Monkeystack, ODD games and Technicolour short courses as all links defunct; deleted Unreal Engine 2022 courses. Reordered sections.
4 March 2023 - GAME DEVELOPERS IN ADELAIDE – deleted this section as Chris Johnson’s list is no longer available
16 October 2022 – EVENTS - eChallenge Venture Showcase 24 October; SouthStart Start/Up week from 14-19 November including Accelerating Commercialisation Info Session; Innovation & Collaboration Centre (ICC) is hosting 24-hour-hackathon ‘ActInSpace’ 19 November
8 May 2024 - COMMUNITY GROUPS – added Facebook icon; GOVERNMENT – added James O'Connor; GAME DEVELOPMENT HUBS – separated hubs into their own section, deleted St Paul's Creative Centre which has closed; INDUSTRY GROUPS – deleted IGDA(SA) who are no longer operating in South Australia; deleted invalid links to Games Development Club at UniSA and Adelaide Uni Software Engineering Club; moved Adelaide AR meetup to Events; added SAGA; JOBS – deleted Mighty Kingdom graduate program; deleted Story City who will post when they have opportunities; UNIONS – separated unions into their own section; FUNDING AND AWARDS – updated NEIS to Self-Employment Assistance; deleted 2022 CreateTech City Challenge; deleted Adelaide Game Development Business Information Sessions no longer available; deleted the defunct Austrade news link; deleted Blue Chilli; deleted the Boosting Female Founders initiative as Round 2 was in 2021; deleted Catapult 2021 Call Out; Export Strategy and Planning Workshop 2021; deleted the South Australian Games Innovation Fund; deleted the Global Expansion Program; deleted Holmesglen which is a Self Employment Assistance provider; deleted Hybrid World; deleted SheStarts3; some SAFC programs including administration of the Epic Games grant; updated Mercury Cinema screen awards; deleted Small Business Advisory Service special program and Small Business grants; deleted South Australian Government Research, Commercialisation and Startup Fund (RCSF); deleted Workforce Innovation Project. EVENTS – deleted all outdated events; SCHOOLS – deleted Mighty Kingdom, Monkeystack, ODD games and Technicolour short courses as all links defunct; deleted Unreal Engine 2022 courses. Reordered sections.
4 March 2023 - GAME DEVELOPERS IN ADELAIDE – deleted this section as Chris Johnson’s list is no longer available
16 October 2022 – EVENTS - eChallenge Venture Showcase 24 October; SouthStart Start/Up week from 14-19 November including Accelerating Commercialisation Info Session; Innovation & Collaboration Centre (ICC) is hosting 24-hour-hackathon ‘ActInSpace’ 19 November