Game Design

Come play the Riftbound TCG in a relaxed, friendly environment! We’ll be hosting casual Riftbound nights, specifically geared towards beginners and casual players. **TIME:** 6:00PM-9:00PM **PRIZING:** 1 participation promo pack for attendance Bring a 40–60 card deck, and battle in a casual multiplayer environment. Custom Deck Play encourages creativity, experimentation, and friendly strategy without the pressure of competitiveness. Games typically support 2–4 players depending on preference. Don’t have your own deck yet? We have a few Riftbound starter decks available to borrow to play fort he event. All skill levels are welcome! You can pre-purchase your ticket to confirm your spot on https://lvlupgames.ca/products/saturday-night-riftbound \~ **What is Riftbound?** Riftbound is a new physical trading card game from Riot Games set in the world of League of Legends. Players compete to score points by controlling battlefields with units, spells, and gear, with the first to reach eight points winning. The game is designed to be easy to learn and supports both one-on-one and multiplayer (up to four players) games.

Welcome to the Saturday meetup for Toronto Heavy Boardgamers @ The Guild House! The purpose of this event is to meet up to play heavier / longer board games, and have fun while doing it! We will start off small and if there is sufficient interest we will add capacity for future events. You are welcome to bring your own games to the event, or use the games in the library at the location. **Scheduling details:** \- If you have a specific game that you would like to post for\, feel free to do so in comments\. In your post\, include the name of the game\, number of players needed for the game\, whether you are offering a teach or not\, and the start time \(please try to start before noon if possible\)\. \- If you would like to join a specific game that has already been posted\, feel free to comment on it confirming your participation\. Make sure you have noted the details posted by the host\. \- You are of course also welcome to organize / join games onsite on the day itself\, assuming sufficient players / tables are available **Rules around COVID:** \- Given this is a public event\, we respectfully ask that only i\) fully vaccinated individuals\, and ii\) those not exhibiting any COVID symptoms\, participate\. This requirement may change in the future based on provincial guidelines and group requirements **Available Amenities:** \- Food and drinks are available on\-site\, you can see a detailed menu [here](https://theguildhouse.ca/pages/menu). **Outside food and drinks are not allowed by the Guild House.** \- There is an on\-site game library\, and use of it is covered within the admission fee\. **Admission Fee:** \- There is a $10 fee charged by the establishment for use of space\. Payments are to be made directly to the establishment at the time of entry and not to the organizer

Make your weekend more exciting — join us for a lively evening of **interactive trivia, laughter, and social fun** — the perfect way to meet new friends (or bring your crew) at one of Toronto’s favourite spots, **Pizza Rustica**! 📅 **When:** Saturday\, Jan 24\, 2025 \| 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM 📍 **Where:** Pizza Rustica (37 Blue Jays Way, Toronto, ON M5V 9G9) 👥 **Who:** Open to singles and couples, ages 19+ 🎟️ **Tickets:**[ ](https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/toronto-event-hub-x-pizza-rustica-october-trivia-social-mixer-tickets-1751146178359?aff=meetup)[\[Sign up Here\]](https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/toronto-event-hub-x-pizza-rustica-new-year-saturday-trivia-social-mixer-tickets-1979198775817?aff=meetup) ✅ **First 20 entries are free with food or drink purchase** — limited spots, so reserve your seat on Eventbrite! Check all of our events at [https://www.torontoeventhub.com/](https://www.torontoeventhub.com/)

*Games Schedule* Wednesday Event: - 1 / 3 NLH - 3 / 5 NLH - $500 Free Roll Thursday Event: - 1 / 2 NLH - Deep Stack - Min 100 - Max 1000 - $500 Free Roll Friday Event: - 1 / 3 NLH - 1 / 3 PLO - $500 Free Roll Saturday Event: - 1 / 2 NLH - Deep Stack - Min 100 - Max 1000 - $500 Free Roll Sunday Event: - 1 / 3 NLH - 2 / 2 PLO - $500 Free Roll Monday Event: - 1 / 3 NLH - 3 / 5 NLH - $500 Free Roll

We're going to the Harbourfront Dance Festival for Dance Ontario weekend. This features the best professional dance troupes in Toronto performing all kinds of dance styles from flamenco, asian, Indian, bellydance to modern. Each dance troupe performs for a half hour from 1 - 5pm. We will meet inside King subway station where you pay your fare, then we will take the subway to the harbourfront Fleck Theatre where the festival starts at 1pm and you can stay as long as you like. I suggest you buy your $20 ticket in advance to avoid a line-up on arrival but you can purchase your ticket at the door as well. We go to this festival every year it's excellent and worth paying for. If you like dance you're going to love it. Check out the event: [https://danceontario.ca/programs/dance-weekend/](https://www.google.com/url?q=https://danceontario.ca/programs/dance-weekend/&sa=D&source=calendar&usd=2&usg=AOvVaw3KwlgnBkXswYDvS6o7eu8H) purchase tickets online for Jan 24 [https://ci.ovationtix.com/36999/production/1260352?performanceId=11733867](https://www.google.com/url?q=https://ci.ovationtix.com/36999/production/1260352?performanceId%3D11733867&sa=D&source=calendar&usd=2&usg=AOvVaw0EWZR8nQEGnocnBNfS6MCp)

Looking for something light and fun to do weekend? We’re hosting a super relaxed **Board Game Afternoon** — perfect for meeting new people, taking a break, and enjoying a cozy vibe. **No experience needed, no pressure. Just drop in anytime!** 📅 **Date:** Saturday, Jan. 24th ⏰ **Time:** 2:00–5:00 PM (Come and go anytime!) 📍 **Location:** 215 Mavety St (FFWPU) 💰 **Fee:** Free We’ll have a variety of games, including: **Catan, Monopoly, Scrabble, Exploding Kittens, Playing Cards, UNO, Munchkin, and more**! Whether you’re a total beginner or a board-game pro, you’re welcome. We’ll play easy, fun games that anyone can join — perfect for relaxing, meeting new people, and enjoying the afternoon together. If you’ve had a long week, come unwind with us. If you’re new to the community, this is a great chance to make friends 😊 We’d be happy to have you join our **Peace Starts With Me** family.

Welcome to the Sunday meetup for Toronto Heavy Boardgamers @ Face-to-Face Games! The purpose of this event is to meet up to play heavier / longer board games, and have fun while doing it! We will start off small and if there is sufficient interest we will add capacity for future events. **Scheduling details:** \- If you have a specific game that you would like to post for\, feel free to do so in comments\. In your post\, include the name of the game\, number of players needed for the game\, whether you are offering a teach or not\, and the start time \(please try to start before noon if possible\)\. \- If you would like to join a specific game that has already been posted\, feel free to comment on it confirming your participation\. Make sure you have noted the details posted by the host\. \- You are of course also welcome to organize / join games onsite on the day itself\, assuming sufficient players / tables are available **Rules around COVID:** \- Given this is a public event\, we respectfully ask that only i\) fully vaccinated individuals\, and ii\) those not exhibiting any COVID symptoms\, participate\. This requirement may change in the future based on provincial guidelines and group requirements **Admission Fee:** \- There are no table fees for this event

OTHER CAFE POLICIES 1. There is an entry fee of $6/person + tax during weekdays (MON - THU excluding holidays) and $8/person + tax on weekends and holidays 2. As a cafe we offer coffee and other beverage options. We would greatly appreciate that you not bring outside drinks into the store 3. We offer pastries baked in house, light fate, and some pre-packaged snacks, but permit you to bring food options from the other businesses in the plaza to support our neighbouring small businesses 4. Be considerate of other guests when selecting games from our library and limit the number of games you bring back to each table to two (2) at a time 5. You are welcome to bring your own games to use in the cafe, but LVLUP GAMES is not responsible for lost, stolen, or otherwise damaged games/components Also as a general meet up rule, to be considerate to other guests. Since we have limited seating, it is of the utmost importance that if you plan on attending you sign up for the event. Likewise, if you are unable to make it, kindly mark that you will not be coming so your spot becomes available for another person. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation. Hope to see you soon!

🧩☕ **A Cozy Puzzle Afternoon (1000 Pieces, Zero Stress)** Looking for a **low-pressure, cozy Sunday plan** where you can actually relax, chat, and do something with your hands instead of staring at another screen? This is for members who love **quiet fun, teamwork, and a calm afternoon vibe**. We did this event last year and it was a **huge hit**, so it’s back! We’ll work together as a small group to complete a **1000-piece puzzle** over **4–5 hours**. It’s an *easy* puzzle — the goal isn’t speed, it’s **connection, conversation, and that deeply satisfying moment when pieces finally click into place**. Think: snacks, soft music, good company, and a very chill Sunday at my place. No pressure to stay the whole time — just come, puzzle, relax, and enjoy. ⚠️ **PLEASE READ EVERYTHING BELOW BEFORE SIGNING UP** This is a **small, intentional gathering**, so it’s important that everyone reads and agrees to the details. *** ### 💲 Cost & Commitment • **$10 fee** to help cover the cost of the puzzle and event fee • E-transfer to: **mathewmaclean@hotmail.com** • You have **24 hours from signing up** to send payment • If payment isn’t received within 24 hours, you’ll be moved to *“Not Going”* 🚫 **No refunds for any reason** *** ### 🧩 Group Size & Vibe • **Only 5 people total** (very limited space) • This is a **group puzzle** — we’ll all work on the same one • Please **bring snacks to share** • **BYOB** if you’d like — I’ll have non-alcoholic drinks *(Mathew does not drink wine — please don’t bring him a bottle)* 🐱 **Important:** I have a **cat**, so you must be okay with cats. *** ### 🏠 Location • Exact address will be sent **24 hours before the event via text** • I live near **Sherbourne & Wellesley** • Parking is available in the building • TTC accessible — walking distance or short bus ride *** ### ⏰ Timing • **Meetup Time:** 1:00 PM (we start right away) • You’re welcome to arrive from **12:45 PM** • **Leaving time:** Anytime you like — no pressure to stay the full 4–5 hours *** ### ⚠️ RSVP POLICY (PLEASE READ) Members who change their RSVP **within 24 hours of the event start time** will **not be able to attend future puzzle or board game events**. These events only work when people **follow through**, so please **only sign up if you are 100% sure you can attend**. *** ### 📝 Final Notes • Sometimes things happen and I may need to cancel — please keep an eye out for updates 📱 **Don’t forget to join our WhatsApp group** – [CLICK HERE!](https://chat.whatsapp.com/H59mSCbsAi018gYANrKAnc?mode=ac_t) Get updates, chat with other walkers, and stay in the loop for future events! *** 🧩 This event is perfect if you’re craving something **calm, social, cozy, and screen-free**. Small group. Good energy. And the quiet joy of fitting pieces together. **Organizer:** Mathew 📧 **torontomoviesandoutings@hotmail.com**

**Cardio Pickleball (12+): Conditioning, Drills & Group Play** Looking to boost your game and your heart rate? Join us for **Cardio Pickleball**—a high-energy class designed to improve your endurance, agility, and pickleball performance through targeted conditioning, skill-building drills, and fast-paced group play. This program is suitable for **novice players and above**. Participants should have **prior experience playing pickleball** and be comfortable with the rules and basic gameplay. 🟢 **What to Expect:** * Pickleball-specific cardio and conditioning * Skill-focused drills to improve your game * Small group play with quick rotations to keep you moving 📅 **Full Program Available** Register for the full session (automatically prorated if you join late): 👉 [Click here to register](https://app.amilia.com/store/en/miles-nadal-jcc/api/Activity/Detail?activityId=xrVn1j6) 💲 **Drop-In Option:** Want to try it first? Drop in for just **$40** (subject to availability). Bring your water bottle, court shoes, and get ready to move! Paddles are provided, or feel free to bring your own!

Let’s do some coding together at a cafe! No more working alone in the weekend. Here, we write code together. And I mean together together. Not occupying-the-same-space-but-separate together. Here’s how it works: Jennifer brings her mobile app project, tells everyone that it is like Pinterest for recipes and she’d like to work on the nav bar. Paul and Chloe think Jennifer's project is fascinating, and they join the group. They gather around Jennifer’s laptop and work on the nav bar for 2 hours. Jennifer is the one typing out the code while Paul and Chloe research, brainstorm, and offer suggestions. If you’re feeling stuck on your own project or need a motivation boost, bring it to mob programming! Want to learn by watching how others code and solve problems? Join someone else’s project at this event! Oh and we love your half-done projects that you are a bit embarrassed to share. Absolutely bring those to the event! **Discord**: We use Discord to share screen & code snippets during the event. Also feel free to share your projects here before the event! https://discord.gg/Da9fZFxPfs **Event policy**: * We have 0 tolerance for harassment. * We don’t allow the projects that are not meant to be shared in public such as school assignments, interview tasks, or trade secrets. * The goal is to write code. We discourage you from pitching business ideas here, doing code reviews, or spending the whole event on planning what to do. * Please buy a drink, and tip the barista well.

Join us fora fabulous live music ! Repeat performance!

To participate, sign up on [IDGA DC's 2026 Global Game Jam page](https://globalgamejam.org/jam-sites/2026/igda-dc-george-mason-university-2026) IGDA DC is hosting an in-person global game jam site at George Mason University! This site is in-person only, but is open to anyone, not just George Mason students. We will have volunteer faculty from George Mason University if you want a little bit of help on making your games, and we are open to game developers of all skill levels. Planned Schedule: Friday: 5:00 PM - Jammers arrive (Johnson Center Bistro) 5:30 PM-6:00 PM - Pre-jam Talks TBD 5:30-5:45 - Darian Stigall - related to creative play in game development 6:00 PM - Jam Introduction + Keynote/Theme Reveal 6:30 PM - Brainstorm and team forming 7:30 PM - Dinner 10:00 PM - Site closes Saturday: 9:00 AM - Site opens (Dewberry Hall South) 5:00 PM - Halfway point check-in & optional progress presentations 10:00 PM - Site closes Sunday: 9:00 AM - Site opens (Johnson Center Bistro) 4:00 PM - Submit games to GGJ site + Presentations 6:00 PM - Site Closes Getting there: DRIVING Paid parking is available on campus in the visitor garages at a cost of $11.50 per day. JOHNSON CENTER: Closest parking deck is the Mason Pond Parking Deck: 4500 Aquia Creek Ln, Fairfax, VA 22030 LOT K parking: A longer walk, but usually free on weekends Other George Mason Parking Information: https://transportation.gmu.edu/parking/#Visitors PUBLIC TRANSIT You can take the Orange line metro to the Vienna metro station, and the Gold1, Gold2, Green1, or Green2 buses to get to campus: https://www.fairfaxva.gov/government/public-works/transportation-division/cue-bus-system/cue-bus-map-and-schedule Food Options: There are lots of food options on campus: https://content-service.sodexomyway.com/media/HOO%20Fall%202023%20%20%282%29_tcm1097-150428.pdf?url=https://masondining.sodexomyway.com/ If you don't want to have to go too far from the jam site or are worried about getting lost wandering around campus, you can order food using the Starship Robots available on campus which will deliver to the jam site: https://get.starshipdeliveries.com/u/patriots JOHNSON CENTER: Has Starbucks, Chipotle, Panera, and more Tech: You will need to bring your own computer equipment. We will provide outlets and surge protectors. Internet: \> Guest Wifi is available: connect to MASON\. Full details on how to get wifi available here: https://its\.gmu\.edu/knowledge\-base/guestwifi/ \> We strongly recommend that you download any programs like game engines you intend to use in advance\, so you don't have to be dependent on guest wifi speeds for those large downloads

**Location**: Tysons-Pimmit Regional Library (Virginia) Conference Room A game development **Working Session** involves 3 key parts: 1. Tell people what you're going to do 2. Actually do stuff 3. Show people what you did That's what we'll be doing for this meeting. We'll briefly tell each other what we're going to do, then work on our projects, then at around 5:30 wrap up to show each other what we did and chat for a bit. You don't have to stay the whole time, so feel free to drop in and out as you have time. All game development skill levels welcome. Whether you're bringing a game you're trying to ship in a month, or you're just planning on following some tutorials or trying out a new tool to improve your skills, use this time to make progress. Working sessions also train you to think about the scope of your work: pick a chunk of work that you can complete in the time that we have. That way you can end the working session with a feeling of accomplishment! **What to bring**: Laptop, Charger, maybe a power strip if you have one handy, any other game development tools you need. Try to download any software you need before the working session. There is Wifi at this location, but it may be slow if you have to download any large files.

Looking for a fun, screen-free way to spend your Sunday afternoon? Join us every other week at the Community Center for a few hours of friendly competition and laughter. Feel free to bring your own treasured game or borrow one from our shelves. It’s the ultimate low-pressure way for families to connect. Note: This is not a drop-off event. Please ensure children have a parent or guardian joining in on the fun.

Join local video game developers, artists, musicians and writers to talk about the art and science of game development. Bring a device and demo your game, talk shop, find like minded folks to join forces with, have a snack or a beverage among new friends. We are an informal meetup where we share what we've been working on and socialize. Come for all or just a bit of the time!

Games night is back! With our favorite local game store opening back up, Games night will come back starting Monday June 7th! We are an lgbt+ games group that’s been going for nearly 3 years now! We welcome anyone in the lgbt+ community to come play board games every Monday with our fun and chaotic crew! If you’re brand new to board gaming and looking to make some friends or if you love playing 4 hour space operas and are looking to make some rivals, we’re the group for you! We are an lgbt+ group that focuses on creating a safe lgbt+ community. Non-lgbt+ individuals are welcome when attending with an lgbt+ friend, family member, or partner. Huzzah hobbies currently follows cdc guidelines, where customers who are vaccinated are allowed to not wear masks indoors. With their current hours on Mondays, they are open until 9pm; if they change hours and remain open later, games night will continue until close. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns please feel free to message us here!

HYBRID EVENT, VIRTUAL SPEAKER In this talk, Sean Hoar will explore the transformative journey of AI’s role in modern software engineering, from rapid prototyping (“Vibe Coding”) to strategic AI integration by skilled practitioners. It clarifies the distinctions between AI-assisted, AI-enabled, and practitioner-led approaches, offering insights into how developers can effectively adapt to and harness AI tools. The presentation also highlights recent advancements and practical strategies for leveraging AI in daily workflows and long-term development.