In about 2 weeks, I'll be giving a keynote at Freeplay Angles 2025, an indie video game festival in Melbourne, Australia, running from July 31 - August 2, 2025.
I'd give a hint for what my keynote's about, but I'm still in the middle of writing it, so you'll just have to wait in suspense a little while longer. (It'll probably have some sex in it I don't know)... For now, some logistics: I'll be keynoting the first festival day on Thursday, July 31, but there's also two more keynotes + full slates of interesting talks planned for both Friday and Saturday, August 1-2 too.
Full schedule and tickets are available on the Freeplay website. Ticket prices are on a sliding scale, from $20 AUD for those on a budget, to $150 AUD for those who can afford to pay more to keep it cheaper for everyone else.
Submissions are open for the WIP Night (July 31) to show off your work-in-progress projects for free -- tables, chairs, and power are provided. Submissions are also open for the Night Market (August 2) with free vendor stalls to sell your games, arts, and crafts -- tables, chairs, and power are provided.
I should add that in 2025, it's a remarkable privilege to keynote a public art-oriented indie games festival.
Around the world, similar amazing indie game festivals like Now Play This are winding down. I remember back in 2010, it seemed like every city was starting something new, but now in the 2020s everyone is struggling and nonprofit community game festivals are increasingly rare.
On that note, I should also mention the membership drive at Sabby in Melbourne -- they're literally one of the few remaining indie game galleries / community collectives in the world. But they may not remain for much longer. They need to get 100 co-op members by August or else they're going to shut down forever! Memberships start at only $5 AUD / week for those on a budget, to $20 AUD / week for those who can afford to help it grow extra. That's cheaper than one of those fancy Australian cafe brunches we always talk about here in New Zealand!!
It's vital for all of us to support our local nonprofit games community initiatives that already exist -- because without support, anything WILL burn out -- and in 2025, there's a higher chance that something new may not necessarily emerge from the ashes. Sometimes stuff just gets lost forever. You really can't take anything for granted.
So this is especially important if you're Australian or Melbournian! You're lucky you still have local indie games shit to attend! SHOW UP, even in the dead of Southern winter! Even if you miss my talk on Thursday, go on Friday and/or Saturday at least! Use it or lose it, Australians! Don't let everything get as pitiful and neglected as your national rugby union teams!
