MIGW2025 What a ride!
From GCAP (Games Connect Asia Pacific) and PAX Australia to Freeplay Parallels, Technically Games ➡️ MIGW25 Games, and the AGDAs, this year’s MIGW was packed with creativity, connection, and community.
After a big week speaking across the pond at NZGDA’s NZGDC in Wellington, it was refreshing to be back home in Melbourne – just absorbing, learning, networking and celebrating the incredible work happening across our local game dev scene.
Here are a few highlights:
✨ GCAP (Games Connect Asia Pacific) – Insightful sessions from mod.io’s Scott Reismanis & Paul Houlihan on UGC, and a standout deep dive into Spider-Man 2’s Design by Donald Barrett from Insomniac Games – humble, friendly, and incredibly down to earth.
🏆 AGDAs – A night celebrating the best in Australian game development, with a moving tribute to Narayana “River Boy” Johnson and a well-deserved Game of the Year award to The Drifter by Powerhoof
🎨 Freeplay Parallels – Bold, emotional, experimental work that truly pushes the medium. Truly, some excellent talks on innovative and bold indie games!
🎮 PAX Australia – Incredible showing from Aussie & Kiwi devs alike with CODE NZ – New Zealand Centre of Digital Excellence – showcasing great NZ games. I am especially impressed by what solo developers are building, and the speed and quality at which they are creating is remarkable.
⚙️ Technically Games ➡️ MIGW25 – Brandon Hare’s comedic Bluejeweled modding talk was a gem, and Calum Spring’s session on CI/CD for indies was both practical and inspiring (great to see a fellow Immutable alum on stage!).
🍻 Megadev – A new, larger venue and a record turnout – amazing to meet so many fresh faces entering the space and an incredible calibre of overseas attendees.
If we didn’t cross paths during the week, let’s connect – I’m always keen to meet fellow developers, creatives, creators, modders and storytellers. And if you haven’t experienced MIGW before, I highly recommend adding it to your calendar – make the leap to Melbourne next year and see it for yourself!