Freeplay, Australia's most exciting independent games festival, today announced that it will take place in Melbourne at The State Library of Victoria on Friday, August 14th and Saturday, August 15th.
The festival event focuses on the creative and artistic side of making games, delivering a varied lecture and workshop program, and engaging with regional and interstate developers, educators, and industry practitioners in an environment designed to stimulate debate, foster new ideas, allow creative exploration, and drive discussions and industry development.
Over the past few years, the opportunities for independent developers to find distribute their projects has increased dramatically. With the introduction of the iPhone App Store, Microsoft's XNA , Nintendo's WiiWare service, and along with the increased availability of low‐cost development tools, it has never been easier to create unique and innovative games and for developers to find an audience. Victoria, with almost half of all Australian game developers, is well placed to explore these new options, and Freeplay will showcase their exciting work.
Freeplay co-director, Paul Callaghan, says, "we're incredibly excited to have the State Library support Freeplay. With an already diverse range of games events, it's the perfect venue, and attendees can expect a broad range of panels, workshops, demonstrations and social events when they come along in August."