PAX East: March 10-12, 2017 – Boston, MA
Drop by booth #13130 to check out our games or just say hi! And, catch our panel, “Wait, wait, that’s a bad idea” on Friday at 10:30a! More information on PAX East can be found here.
Made In MA at PAX East Party: March 10, 2017 – District Hall, Boston, MA
New date, new venue! RSVP here.
Made In MA at GDC Party: February 28, 2017 – San Francisco, CA
Tickets for the annual Made In MA at GDC Party are now available. Click here to register.
MassDiGI Game Challenge: February 24-25, 2017 – Cambridge, MA
Join us for our annual Game Challenge pitch competition. For details and registration information, please click here.
2017 MassDiGI Game Challenge registration and SIP application period open – 1/2/17
2017 MassDiGI Game Challenge registration and SIP application period open
By Tim Loew, executive director, MassDiGI
It is really hard to believe that 2017 will mark our sixth year running the Game Challenge and Summer Innovation Program. Time sure does fly.
Over the years at the Game Challenge we have seen some amazing game concepts and titles near-release from a range of indies, pros and students of all sorts. And, sponsors, mentors, speakers, volunteers and judges have helped make it all happen. Thanks again to everyone involved, we couldn’t do it without your support – especially, Microsoft New England for providing such great space each year.
That said, we expect this year’s Game Challenge to be better than ever and we have tweaked a number of things which will be noticeable to veteran competitors at the event. With only 40 slots available, team registration will go fast so if you’re an indie, college, university or high school team, sign up sooner rather than later. See you on February 24 and 25 in Cambridge.
Of course, if you’re looking for a summer internship we think SIP is something special. SIP is open to students who will be entering their sophomore, junior or senior year (and graduate students, too).
The application process is very competitive. For example, last year 216 students attending 66 different colleges and universities from around the world applied for the 24 available slots. The SIP17 application period is currently open. The program runs from May 16 to August 13, 2017 in Worcester. Click here for more information and to apply.
MassDiGI granted Collaborative Workspace award
MassDiGI is pleased to announce that we have been awarded a Collaborative Workspace Program grant from MassDevelopment to be used for core networking equipment in our New Ventures Center (NVC) at 80 William St. in Worcester. The NVC, a community-facing business assistance center for interactive media and game development students and entrepreneurs, is currently under renovation and scheduled to open in summer/fall 2017.
The $50,000 grant was one of 23 awarded by the Baker-Polito Administration to strengthen community-based innovation and entrepreneurship in the Commonwealth. The awards will go to support the physical infrastructure to supports the growth of new entrepreneurial ventures, while spurring innovation and job creation at the local level.
Read the official press release here, MassLive’s story here and WBJ’s story here.
MassDiGI granted Collaborative Workspace award – 12/15/16
MassDiGI granted Collaborative Workspace award
By Tim Loew, executive director, MassDiGI
MassDiGI is pleased to announce that we have been awarded a Collaborative Workspace Program grant from MassDevelopment to be used for core networking equipment in our New Ventures Center (NVC) at 80 William St. in Worcester. The NVC, a community-facing business assistance center for interactive media and game development students and entrepreneurs, is currently under renovation and scheduled to open in summer/fall 2017.
The $50,000 grant was one of 23 awarded by the Baker-Polito Administration to strengthen community-based innovation and entrepreneurship in the Commonwealth. The awards will go to support the physical infrastructure to supports the growth of new entrepreneurial ventures, while spurring innovation and job creation at the local level.
Read the official press release here, MassLive’s story here and WBJ’s story here.
Save the dates: 2017 Game Challenge, SIP, Made in MA at GDC & Pre-PAX East Made in MA Party – 11/29/16
Save the following dates!
- 2017 Game Challenge, Feb. 24-25, 2017, team registration opens Dec. 6, 2016
- 2017 Summer Innovation Program, May 16 – Aug. 11, 2017, application period opens on Jan. 2, 2017
- 2017 Made in MA at GDC Party, Feb. 28, 2017, tickets available beginning Jan. 9, 2017
- 2017 PAX East Made in MA Party, Mar. 10, 2017, tickets available beginning Feb. 1, 2017
GAME LAUNCH Takeover Trail: The world is yours – 11/15/16
Takeover Trail: The world is yours
By Timothy Loew, executive director, MassDiGI
Takeover Trail, a free, fun, strategy game about world domination, is available for download now on the Apple App Store and Google Play. The mobile game was created during the 2016 MassDiGI Summer Innovation Program (SIP) by students Sarah Spiers from Emerson College, Ian Clinkenbeard and Erica Lyons from Becker, Prisyafandiafif Charifa from NYU, Conor Canavan from LYIT (Ireland), Elizabeth Lanahan from RISD and Joe Marchuk from Berklee College of Music.
Working over the summer, the team produced a beta/near-release version of the game – watch the trailer here. From there, we brought the game into our LiveStudio program at Becker during the fall ’16 semester. Through LiveStudio, more students across a range of disciplines had roles in polishing the game and getting it ready to launch. For a roster of all the contributors to the game, check out the credit roll. You can download Takeover Trail today for iOS and Android.
GAME LAUNCH Smash Crusaders breaks out – 11/11/16
Smash Crusaders breaks out
By Timothy Loew, executive director, MassDiGI
Smash Crusaders, a free and fun mobile game, is available for download on the Apple App Store and Google Play. The title, a Breakout-meets-endless-runner game, was created during the 2016 MassDiGI Summer Innovation Program (SIP) by students Sam Luangkhot from Smith College, J Tuason from RIT, Marc McCrevan from Becker College, Andrew Barrett from Northeastern University, Liam Doherty from Letterkenny Institute of Technology (Ireland) and Joe Marchuk from Berklee College of Music.
Working over the summer, the SIP team produced a beta/near-release version of the game – watch the trailer here. From there, we brought the game into our LiveStudio program at Becker during the fall ’16 semester. Through LiveStudio, more students across a range of disciplines had roles in polishing the game, originally known as Slime Break, and getting it ready to launch. For a roster of all the contributors to the game check out the credit roll. You can download Smash Crusaders today for iOS and Android.
