The Ballarat Get into Games Expo (GiG) will take virtual reality into the virtual realm on Tuesday 5 October.
Hosted by the City of Ballarat since 2008 - apart from a break due to COVID-19 last year - the 2021 event will be held online for the first time because of current restrictions.
Ballarat GiG is for students who want to learn more about possible careers within the gaming industry, showing how these skills are transferable to other industries, highlighting future study and work paths and outlining potential regional business opportunities to Australian game developers.
For this year only, the format comprises a livestreamed panel session with nationally significant games developers speaking about how they got into games and what aspect of games development they are involved in.
The theme of this year's event is "Create Your Story", so there is a particular focus on games design.
In an exciting first, this panel session will also form an official part of Melbourne International Games Week's program, so it will be livestreamed for the public to watch.
The remainder of the day will comprise online interactive workshops for Ballarat and surrounding regions' school students, facilitated by the Ballarat Tech School and some games industry representatives.
This year's guest speakers include:
- Angharad Yeo - an award-winning television presenter, video game critic, technology journalist, and one of the hosts of ABC ME's Good Game Spawn Point. She is also host of technology podcast Queens of the Drone Age, ABC Science's Elevator Pitch and Rad Experiments, and ABC Listen's How Games Play Us.
- Alexander Swords - a writer and narrative designer with a background in audience development and arts management.
- Dan Golding - a Swinburne University Media and Communication senior lecturer, the host of Screen Sounds on ABC Classic, and an award-winning composer and writer.
- Teja Godson - a designer based in Sydney. She works in video game environment art, prop design, graphic design, and event branding.
The City of Ballarat coordinates Ballarat: GiG with support from Federation University Australia, Highlands LLEN, Ballarat Tech School and industry partners such as Game Developers Association of Australia, Creative Victoria and GUF Games.
City of Ballarat Mayor Councillor Daniel Moloney said Council is committed to encouraging a pipeline of IT and creative industry skills as part of its Creative City Strategy.
"This will support Ballarat and the region's established industry base and build its reputation as a premier high tech and knowledge based regional economy," Cr Moloney said.
"Ballarat is a creative city, and this extends to the growing creative sector of digital games development.
"I would encourage any school student with an interesting in the gaming world to listen to the words of wisdom from these amazing game developers, take part in the interactive workshops offered by Ballarat Tech School in conjunction with some fabulous games developers - who knows, this could be your first step towards being involved in this industry yourself!"
