GameChangers Open House

The Hand Eye is a community partner in this Centre for Social Innovation project GameChangers.

GameChangers is a game design competition for diverse teams to collaborate, network, support and mentor people in software and game development. No game experience necessary — people bring an interest to collaborate and learn along the way. We’ve got amazing response from students in comp sci and professional coders who are into making games as a creative outlet and building community.

It all started with the goal to increase the number of women in tech.  We’re excited that this creative hands-on project has emerged as a way to help make this happen by creating mentoring relationships. Both men and women are welcome to participate.

Interested in being on a team? Come out to the Open House on this Sat Feb 4th from 4pm – 6pm.

Interested in giving direction or feedback as a mentor? Shoot over an email.

Mare Sheppard and Mark Rabo have contributed posts to the GameChangers blog.

Event | Jim Munroe | February 1, 2012 4:01 pm | Comments (0)

Difference Engine Games Now Available

The games made during the second incubator of the Difference Engine Initiative are here, along with screenshots and descriptions. Play a raging cyclist, an immoral prisoner, a space explorer, a Newfie adventurer, a memetic cat and a doughnut slaying questor.

The games of the DEI were showcased at the TIFF Bell Lightbox last month as a part of the Women in Film, Games and New Media Conference. If you missed it, you can watch the keynote and other videos here.

Tags: Difference Engine Initiative

Inspiration, Project | Jim Munroe | January 17, 2012 8:51 am | Comments Off

Iteration Not Hibernation!

We’re not doing a Hand Eye Social in February, so we’re co-presenting D-Pad instead. D-Pad is a new series at Interaccess, an art gallery that has hosted the Torontron, put on by Skot Deeming, the organizer of Winnipeg’s Data Dances and other videogame event goodness.

Friday Feb. 3rd, door at 8pm (performances at 9:30)
Interaccess Gallery (9 Ossington Ave. at Queen W.)
$5

Check out the Interaccess page and the Facebook page.

Event, Social | Jim Munroe | January 13, 2012 9:22 pm | Comments Off

Toronto Global Game Jam

D.A.R.C. Productions’ Troy Morrissey and Toronto Skillswap’s Randy Orenstein are organizing the Toronto instance of the Global Game Jam.

It’s happening at George Brown College, Jan 27-29.

From the GGJ FAQ:

The GGJ brings together talented individuals from within your community. It is a unique opportunity for people to push their skills and challenge their way of working. Participants work concurrently with developers around the globe; we rally around a central theme, and then have 48 hours to create a game.

To find out how to register for this free event check out the official site.

If you’re interested in helping out (especially if you’re able to sponsor snacks or photograph the event) get in touch with them.

Event | Jim Munroe | January 10, 2012 2:47 pm | Comments (1)

JAMuary is coming!

You’ll have to wait til the new year for the release roundup of the second Difference Engine Initiative incubator games, but in the meanwhile you can check out some game clips and interviews with the creators in this video.

Inspired? Check out this game jam being run by Dames Making Games:

JAMuary will aim to get first-time female game-makers to make their own first games during the month of January. We’ll be providing them with weekly group work sessions and peer mentoring at Site3, an online support and resource package, and an opportunity to present their games in public at a reception held on January 31st.

The deadline to apply is in 5 days, so check it out soon!

If making a game in a month seems impossible, check out the 29 games people made in a week for Game Prototype Challenge v10.

Inspiration, Project | Jim Munroe | December 21, 2011 11:02 am | Comments Off