April’s Hang In There Newsletter
Hey everyone! I hope you’ve all been doing well! Times are hard and there are a lot of things happening out there in the world, but we have to do our best to stay positive and do our best with staying indoors when possible, washing our hands and, well, I think you all know the drill.
There’s not much things going on in Toronto with local events obviously…BUT there are quite a few online events and initiatives going on within the city that you can join to make games, make friends as well as applying for personal funding.
Please forgive the bare bones calendar! I’m sure when things get better we’ll have more events in city venues again!
In the meantime, stay safe and don’t touch your face without washing your hands. 👏🏾🧼
This newsletter is more of an info dump, so please feel free to share, check out, or attend these virtual events!
Note: Events may be cancelled, or change form.
Don’t forget, there’s Google Calendar, in which you can check out all of the events here in one handy, downloadable place!
You can also submit news about Toronto/GTA games and events to calendar@handeyesociety.com at any time before the month in which the event takes place (preferably with a week to spare), post to our Facebook Group (as long as it’s relevant to local games/playful media and doesn’t violate our Code of Conduct), or @ us on Twitter for a RT.
Where to Jaunt & Haunt
April 7
DMG’s Organizing Committee Meeting.
April 15
Game Workers Unite’s Monthly General Meeting.
April 17
Image Festival‘s live stream with Canadian spotlight, Skawennati.
April 29
DMG’s Game Writer’s Circle + Social.
#ICYMI
We're excited to be co-presenting w/ @imagesfestival Live Stream on April 17 this year's Canadian Spotlight: @Skawennati, followed by a talk on April 18.
Details here: https://t.co/xljmPT6XcA#IF20 #imagefestival pic.twitter.com/zn8r8NsSod
— Hand Eye Society (@HandEyeSociety) April 15, 2020
Heard the word? 👀 #TheBigCon is coming to #Xbox One, #Windows10 & #XboxPlay Anywhere! 🎉
The Big Con is a #90s-themed #adventure #game about a young woman con artist hustling across the country to save her family video store. @ID_Xbox https://t.co/A1mPoHnPyO
— The Big Con ✨ AVAILABLE NOW on Xbox PC & Switch! ✨ (@MightyYell) April 2, 2020
We’re excited to announce the finalists for the 2020 @Ubisoft Indie Series presented by @nationalbank .
Check it out 👉https://t.co/FhlFtThOci pic.twitter.com/BQWOWAiNSD
— Ubisoft Toronto (@UbisoftToronto) March 25, 2020
The March 25 deadline for this program has been extended to April 8, due to challenges caused by COVID-19, https://t.co/blBOpS1zrn pic.twitter.com/l7Yffy9NlO
— Ontario Arts Council (@ONArtsCouncil) March 23, 2020
🔴 NOW LIVE: https://t.co/0SeIPDEbAB
Our GDC Relief Bundle, powered by @itchio, is now available this week only as a PWYW – 167 items donated by 104 creators!
All proceeds will go directly to the GDC Relief Fund spearheaded by @wingsfundme. pic.twitter.com/068E42JR8a
— gamedev.world (@gamedevworld) March 30, 2020
Sometimes Always Monsters releases in less than a week, and the team's got a crazy time coming. Still, we've got a little bit of news left to announce that you're not going to want to miss.
Sign up for our newsletter so you get the updates.https://t.co/OAfJDtvz6D
— Vagabond Dog (@VagabondDog) March 29, 2020
If you missed us last night.
Games workers: COVID-19 is affecting all of us. If you need assistance, The ESDC is seeking advice from affected workers so they can figure out a path forward for you. You can participate anon in these consultations here:
https://t.co/uoulHeDuEc— GWU Toronto (@GWU_Toronto) March 27, 2020
⭐️We're very excited to announce that BELOW is coming to #PS4 April 7th! Delve into #BELOW's mysterious underworld, now with an all-new Explore Mode🧭
⭐️Learn more on PlayStation Blog: https://t.co/Fa61zquD9U
⭐️Grab your sword & shield, pack well… & bring a light!
🗡🛡🥪🕯💀 pic.twitter.com/8pMdvp5Unj— CAPY (@CAPYGAMES) March 25, 2020
Indiepocalypse is a monthly indie game (physical or digital) anthology that collects together games by developers and pays them! Upon acceptance and in royalties! There are no requirements for entries based on theme, genre, age of game, etc. and I claim no ownership or exclusivity of your work. So submit whatever you want.
Each issue also comes with a short PDF zine with a page for (and made by) each developer. In an attempt cross-pollinate games folks with other artists, each issue will have a cover made by someone outside of, or tangentially related to, the world of games. Below is the first cover. Submit!
Get hit with Cupid's arrow this Valentine's and check out our sizzling new trailer for Later Daters! The elderly dating "simcom" is coming at you on Switch and Steam April 16, 2020 @Steam #switch #datingsim #visualnovel https://t.co/UhRRWenGkz pic.twitter.com/BKKxgWfjkg
— Bloom Digital Media (@Bloom_Digital_) February 14, 2020
COMING AND GOING ATTRACTIONS
April 3-5th we’re packing our digital bags & coming to your house for Now Play This at Home, a virtual festival of creativity, play & experimentation. pic.twitter.com/OeMqusnWKW
— Now Play This (@nowplaythese) March 27, 2020
Did you worry we were going to be cancelled?!
*hearty goat laugh* No, friends, TOJam 2020 is HAPPENING on May 8 -10!
We're going fully virtual this year to keep everyone safe and sound. More details are coming as we plan them! pic.twitter.com/zIAqjksRHJ
— Toronto Game Jam (@torontogamejam) March 27, 2020
We hope you’re all taking good care of yourselves and each other. We are excited to say that we have an online game jam coming up to help the planet, that you can be part of right from home: The #ClimateJam! Info here: https://t.co/3LhpFV9JjI pic.twitter.com/GXFMiyWxeq
— IndieCade 🕹️🌟 (@IndieCade) March 20, 2020
BREADWINNER – JOBS/GIGS/OPPORTUNITIES/DEADLINES
I am looking for people that have experience actually building games that want to make a difference. We have something small out right now but I want to create an actual game we continue to get actual market feedback. We’re looking for someone proficient in game development, python, java, front end and back end uI UX development. I do not have any prior work but this is something meaningful to me that I really think we can make work. – Colby Sharma
Do I know any Junior Producer who is looking for work? Great team, great company! Work from anywhere.
RTs appreciated. DMs open, thank you 🙏🏼
— Gwen Foster 👑 (@ifnotnowgwen) March 27, 2020
#Toronto artists, who enliven our city, are now facing potentially devastating financial strains due to cancelled performances.
➔ Please consider donating to @TOArtsFdn: https://t.co/2EzUFWlr0F
➔ For artists seeking relief, apply here: https://t.co/JNFvAHkFBH #TOArtsTogether pic.twitter.com/AyDn7ZUOUV— Toronto Arts Council (@TorontoArts) March 26, 2020
https://twitter.com/gringatears/status/1243244301754273792
My current job has essentially fired me, so I'm looking for work now more than ever.
Game producer. Designer. Writer. Anything game related, just let me know. If I can freelance about 50-150 USD, I'll be good. DMs are open, friends 👏 https://t.co/uPDEUt9bfL
— Guil Bandini (@CappuccinoGuil) March 27, 2020
You or someone you know a dope graphic designer who loves getting paid in real money for work? @evolve_pr is looking for someone to help develop consistent branding elements, presentations/decks, and more. More info in thread 👇
— Tom Ohle (@EvolveTom) March 26, 2020
Our friends at @zzzgiants are hiring!
➡️Unity Programmer
➡️Level Designer
➡️Environment ArtistApply!https://t.co/Z7UdUSXQvS
— Hand Eye Society (@HandEyeSociety) March 23, 2020
Want top notch (and cost effective) original music and sound design for your Game or Animation? I´d love to help! Check me out! — Thiago Gobet
Where’s my French at? Are you a game developer whose game is about to launch and for which you want to do a multilingual release?
Are you now thinking of localizing to increase your market and revenue, now that your game has shipped?
Are you still in development, and feeling stuck because the grant you are applying for requires you to offer a French version?
I’d love to help! Hit me up! — Benoît Esmein
Hi, I’m Marcus Mowat, music producer at Point Nine Records and I’m looking to help fellow gamers/designers out by writing songs and providing audio ingenuity geared specifically for video games.
Ubisoft has jobs for ya!
Hey you, Bunch is looking for a 2D Artist!
Rockstar Games has WORK.
Get Set has a few jobs for ya! Check em!
Uken has tons of JERBS!
Disclaimer: This is a monthly compilation of various Toronto game news and events in and around the city — many of which are not organized by Hand Eye Society — and is by no means comprehensive. Always check official links for accurate details and credits, and please send any corrections, additions, or submissions for future months to calendar@handeyesociety.com before the month in which the event takes place.
