Lots of good things are happening here in Ohio in terms of game development. For the past year or so, I have been watching a groundswell of activity build. New studios seem to be popping up here every week. We’re gathering and networking, and the latest plans I’ve heard include a possible home-grown game developers’ convention.
This is awesome stuff. We seem to be reaching a point of critical mass, where it is getting much easier to find the partners and complementary skills necessary to take our individual efforts to the next level. I see this especially happening with Multivarious Games.
One key catalyst in bringing us all together is the Central Ohio Gamedev Group (COGG). Many, many thanks to Todd Barchok for continuing to organize these great meetups. They are a good place to meet other developers, talk shop, solicit opinions on our latest work, network, and have a great, jovial time. I have been attending these meetups regularly for the past year, and have seen participation steadily increase. I very much look forward to continuing to attend these awesome sessions.
Another catalyst that is in the process of forming is the Ohio Game Dev Association. Their goals include connecting game developers throughout Ohio, encouraging learning, growth, and innovation in local game development, promoting games created in Ohio, and building a database of Ohio studios and developers. Their most ambitious goal has me very excited: Launch an Ohio game developer conference in 2013. You can bet that I will be there with bells on. Steve Castro, Administrator of the Ohio Game Dev Association, gave a very good talk about all of these goals in last month’s COGG meetup. I very eagerly support his efforts to promote Ohio as a center of game development.
What does all of this mean to Smiling Cat? Everything. With all of this energy and chaos to be directed and put to good use, all options are on the table, nothing is certain, and when the dust settles, Smiling Cat Entertainment will probably look very different than it does now. Such is the face of revolution. All of us that are here, now, in Ohio, have the opportunity to be on the ground floor of Ohio’s next big industry.
I want to take that opportunity. Who else is with me? Let’s get this industry moving forward!