Independent Game Development
Meet other local people interested in Independent Game Development: share experiences, inspire and encourage each other! Join a Independent Game Development group.
5,622
members
5
groups
Largest Independent Game Development groups
Newest Independent Game Development groups
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Check out independent game development events happening today here. These are in-person gatherings where you can meet fellow enthusiasts and participate in activities right now.
Discover all the independent game development events taking place this week here. Plan ahead and join exciting meetups throughout the week.
Absolutely! Find independent game development events near your location here. Connect with your local community and discover events within your area.
Independent Game Development Events Today
Join in-person Independent Game Development events happening right now
Board Game Night at Marché
Whether you're looking for a short, light game or a longer strategy-heavy game, come join the Melbourne Asian Board Gamers on Tuesday night at Marché Board Game Cafe for some fun!
To **check in**, please head to the front counter and show your RSVP for the Meetup event to a Marché staff member. They will then point you towards the event host for the evening to take down your attendance.
**⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆ Cost ⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆**
Attendees who have registered for the event on Meetup can play at discounted rates, with the following payments to be made:
* **$7 in total per session” to cover Meetup subscription and cafe costs. Payment of $7 should be made to Marche at the front counter upon notification to the staff member that you are here for the scheduled meetup.
There is now no minimum spend on items at the cafe as there were before.
The cafes menu can be found here https://mbgcafe.com.au/menu.pdf .
Only attendees on the "going" list are entitled to the discount. attendees that are on the waitlist or didn't register on Meetup are still welcome to come, but will need to pay the regular Marche rate of $22 for three hours of board games (includes one free drink).
**Attendance**
As our events are highly popular, if you have RSVP as going but can no longer attend, please amend your RSVP to allow others a chance to attend. If we notice people are not showing up when they have RSVP, you will be moved to the waitlist the following week and give priority to those who actually turn up.
We appreciate everyone's understanding and co-operation.
We really appreciate your support and look forward to playing with you.
Tricky Tuesday @ The Peacock Inn
Welcome to the **Tricky Tuesday** Meet Up! This is a smaller event in most respects - smaller capacity, smaller games - but still the same sized fun! Come join us to learn a new game and meet some new people.
* This event was created primarily to play and explore **modern** **trick taking games** and **smaller card games** which can be played on more limited table space.
* As this is a smaller event, please note it is a bit more casual. Find the group at the table/s, come over and join - we're a welcoming bunch.
* Please **bring some games** to this event if you can and be prepared to teach them if you do. **There are** **no games available at the venue** but I will always bring a few.
Please consider others when coming and in the lead up to the event. We want as many people there as possible. If you are unable to attend mark yourself as such as soon as you can so others can be notified and attend.
There's an FAQ below but if you have any questions please don't hesitate to reach out.
Your tricky friend,
Dave
**FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS**
**What is a trick taking game? Good question you handsome person.**
* Generally speaking, a trick taking game is a card game which is played in a series of rounds known as ***tricks***.
* Each trick is evaluated to determine a winner or ***taker*** of that trick and then will usually start - or ***lead*** *-* the next trick.
* The goal is usually tied to either winning or losing a number of tricks. This may also come in the form of you guessing how many tricks you will win - known as a ***bid***.
* Some games may have a suit that always wins - known as a ***trump***.
* Most trick taking games are **competitive** needing between 3-5 players, others are **cooperative**, there are also solo and two-player trick taking games as well!
* Popular trick taking/trick taking adjacent games you may have heard of: [The Crew](https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/324856/the-crew-mission-deep-sea), [Skull King](https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/150145/skull-king), [Cat in the Box](https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/345972/cat-in-the-box-deluxe-edition), [Scout](https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/291453/scout), [Fox in the Forest](https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/221965/the-fox-in-the-forest), the classic games of [Spades](https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/592/spades) and [Hearts](https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/6887/hearts),
**What makes a Trick Taking game fun?**
* There's so much to trick taking games! They're generally quick to teach, quick to play, have interesting decision spaces, and a wide variety of novelty. Even the classics though can be played thousands of times without getting tiresome. Part of the fun is in the interaction with others, assessing their moves and countering them, and how to win (or lose) at the right times. You have to stay on your toes, adapt frequently, and keep tabs on the other players, what they have played, and what they may play next!
**Do I need to know how to play/have played a trick taking game before?**
* Not at all, but it is good to understand the basics and general terminology so you can pick things up a bit easier on the night. You can check out [this video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7O7QyhKmCsk) for a bit of a general breakdown .
**Is this event free?**
* Yes, but please support the venue by purchasing a drink or two.
**I'm on the waitlist can I still come?**
* Unfortunately, no. We have limited capacity and must abide by it.
**I don't have a game to bring, is that okay?**
* Generally it will be okay, but it is encouraged to bring and share a game where you can! You can always bring a standard deck of cards or tarot cards and learn a card game or two as well!
**Can I bring a guest?**
* Unfortunately, unless they have signed up too it won't be possible. We have a strict limit on guests and the event would fill up too quickly otherwise.
**How do I get to the venue?**
* The 86 Tram is your best bet and has a stop pretty much right outside of the venue.
* There are two train stations (Westgarth and Northcote) which are within walking distance.
* Parking is available in the area but can get busy. If you don't mind a little walk there is parking down the adjacent street.
**Dave, I worry you will win all the games we play. Such an intelligent and beautiful man, you must be a master of the tricks, is this true?**
* Firstly - thank-you for the kind words, but secondly - no. I suck at trick taking games and lose more than I win. Yet, I enjoy them for their variety, high interaction, and quick nature regardless. You will be fine if you don't take things too seriously. It's about fun and meeting people... (but if you do beat me too often I will ban you from the group and venue...).
Tuesday Board Games
Happening weekly on Tuesday, EGAD hosts a community night for those who are wanting to play some board games. No knowledge of games needed, just a desire to play and willingness to play with folks from all walks of life.
Long time friend of EGAD (back when we were a games bar named Pause Menu), and board gamer, Kevin is your wonderful host on fortnightly Tuesday. Kevin has been part of our board games nights as long as we have been running them and has a great knowledge of them. The alternate nights are run by our lovely reception team Nick and Orla! They will be there every Tuesday making your hot chocolates and late night coffees.
The event starts at 6:30pm and finishes at 10:30pm and has an entry fee of $10 if you purchase tickets online in advance. Tickets available on the night at the door for $12.
(https://www.egnd.com.au/events-1)
Our space is limited to 16 people. Outside food and drink okay! EGAD has sodas and hot drinks if you would like to have some on site. A note here for accessibility, this event is happening up a flight of stairs.
Play and become a part of our community of board gamers!
The Rovo Grand Prix: Winning the Race for Productivity
Every team has that "Manual Drag" - those repetitive, low-gear loops that keep you stuck in the pits while the competition is flying. It’s time to break the rhythm and find your flow.
Join us for a high-octane session on Atlassian Rovo, the AI power unit built to eliminate the manual grind and get you to the podium.
We’re going to show you how to:
Tune the Frequency (Search): Stop the static. Cut through the noise and find exactly what you need across your entire stack in one smooth motion. No more hunting for the beat.
Riff with the Pit Wall (Chat): Turn fragmented data into instant insights. Don’t just read the spec—ask the engine to remix it, summarize it, and serve it up so you stay in the flow.
Hand Off the Loops (Agents): Put Rovo Agents on the repetitive, manual chores that stall your engine. Let them handle the grind while you focus on the high-speed moves that actually win the race.
The grid is forming. Stop idling in the manual lane and start playing the high-speed tracks.
Are you ready to take the lead?
Agenda
---
Speaker
Abbas Heidari - Woolworths Group (Atlassian Expert)
Hosted By
Michelle Letho, Account Executive & Networking Junkie
Michelle (Miche) Letho is the Melbourne Atlassian Community Event (ACE) Champion and an Account Executive at Willyama Togetha, Australia’s only Indigenous-owned Atlassian Platinum Partner. She helps organisations imagine, build, and scale better ways of working through Atlassian solutions that boost collaboration, visibility, and impact.
A member of the Transformers Unite leadership team, Miche supports national change and transformation events that bring practitioners together to learn and share. With a career spanning tech, FMCG, a Startup founder and consulting, she blends commercial know-how with curiosity and heart.
If she's not at networking events, outside work, she keeps busy ubering teens at calisthenics and netball. and recharges through yoga, Pilates and hiking.
Abbas Heidari, Engineer
With an IT career spanning over 30 years, I have always been passionate about bridging the gap between technical architecture and human collaboration. My journey began in 1995 in software engineering, and after completing my Master of Information Systems at the University of Melbourne, I transitioned my focus to the Atlassian ecosystem in 2015.
Currently, I serve as the Atlassian SME at Woolworths Group. Working within a high-impact team, I focus on delivering enterprise-grade solution consulting and sustainable governance to support thousands of users across a complex, large-scale environment.
I am particularly dedicated to:
■ Enterprise Solution Consulting
Architecting the Atlassian product lifecycle to meet the intricate, scalable needs of the Woolworths Group.
■ Community Leadership
Since last year, I have led the Atlassian CUG (Company User Group) within Woolworths, fostering a culture of knowledge-sharing and cross-functional best practices.
■ Product Influence
Active participation in Atlassian’s Early Access Programmes (EAPs), providing direct feedback to help shape the future of the tools we use every day.
■ Governance & Enablement
Establishing frameworks that balance operational efficiency with internal security while empowering teams through specialised training.
I believe the strength of the Atlassian suite lies in the community behind it. I’m always keen to exchange ideas on governance, scalability, and how to build a thriving internal user community.
Bonnie Emmerson, Atlassian Community Champion
Mit Tolia, Atlassian Community Champion
Andy Fleming, Lead DevOps Engineer
G’day everyone, I’m Andy from Melbourne (Australia) and I've been a Community Champion since late 2025.
I’ve been an Atlassian geek since around 2008 when I started using Jira, Confluence, Bitbucket, Bamboo, Fisheye and Crucible for my startup, and have been in a number of Atlassian Admin and advocacy roles across multiple industries since then.
Primarily a Developer and DevOps guy in office hours, I love tinkering with a new tool or process and working out how it can help teams do what they’re doing better, with more clarity and transparency.
Fair chunk of experience around JSM (and the alternatives) and a passion for DX and DevSecOps type processes. Bringing some order to chaos, helping people with work and processes and generally helping people get stuff done.
My undergrad was focused on AI 30 years too early, but now spending a lot of time there as it all comes full circle, so Rovo is of particular interest.
Looking forward to meeting hopefully lots of you 🍻
---
Global Partner
Atlassian (http://atlassian.com)
Millions of users globally rely on Atlassian products every day for improving software development, project management, collaboration, and code quality.
For over a decade, Atlassian customers have come together to network, share ideas, solve problems, and find new ways to use Atlassian products. Today, more than 15,000 people take part in Atlassian community events in more than 30 countries.
---
Complete your event RSVP here: https://ace.atlassian.com/events/details/atlassian-melbourne-presents-the-rovo-grand-prix-winning-the-race-for-productivity/.
Umbraco 360°
The Umbraco HQ team in Melbourne have finalised the agenda for Umbraco 360° on Tuesday, 3 March. This is a chance for the local community, developers, practitioners, and partners alike, to get together, talk shop, and hear the latest directly from the source.
This is a free in-person event, but space is limited. Please make sure to register so we can get the catering right!
Register here: [https://umbraco.com/umbraco-anz-community-360-melbourne/](https://umbraco.com/umbraco-anz-community-360-melbourne/)
**Why come along?**
🛠️ The Inside Track: Get a first look at the global roadmap and the future of the Umbraco ecosystem directly from CEO Mats Persson.
💻 Technical Deep Dives: Callum Whyte, joined by guest stars Mario Lopez and Nathan Woulfe, will present "Engaging Engage." Expect a practical look at personalization and analytics without the fluff.
⚡ Community Lightning Talks: Rapid-fire innovation showcases from local legends Alexander Jacobsen, Peter Gregory, and Daniel Walker.
🍻 Socialize & Connect: This isn't just a series of slides. We've carved out plenty of time for food, drinks, and honest chats with the HQ team and your fellow ANZ developers.
**Event Details**
📅 Date: Tuesday, 3 March
🕔 Time: 5:00 PM – 8:30 PM AEDT
📍 Location: The Commons, 55 Collins Street, Melbourne
Tickets are moving fast. Grab your spot to catch up with the community and see where the platform is headed next.
Secure your place: [https://umbraco.com/umbraco-anz-community-360-melbourne/](https://umbraco.com/umbraco-anz-community-360-melbourne/)
Social Chess Meetup - Tuesday March 3rd
Hello everyone! We’re back with another weekday social chess event at Brick Lane Market next to Queen Vic Market.
The perfect spot to cure those early workweek blues.
Come and enjoy an after work beer and play some chess with like minded people - its totally free. All skills welcome from beginner to pro - you don't need to be good to join us! Boards, pieces and clocks will be provided.
This is a free event, but we ask that you purchase a drink or food to support the venue hosting us.
Stay up to date through our socials or WhatsApp community: message me (AJ - 0434409720) and I’ll add you to the chat.
Social links IG FB: [https://linktr.ee/MelbourneChessSociety](https://linktr.ee/MelbourneChessSociety)
Tuesday Library Sketchathon ✏️📚
Every Tuesday i’ll be hosting this event at Docklands Library 📚
Bring any art supplies you like and meet me at the library for some relaxing sketching. Depending on the weather we may be outside by the water or inside on the ground level, I will let everyone know on the day where exactly we will be. If you aren’t sure what to draw the club has a weekly drawing theme, just ask me what the prompt is 😊
✏️ We welcome all artists of any skill level or medium, Whether you’re a beginner or pro, traditional or digital, absolutely anyone can join.
⚠️IMPORTANT⚠️ Please do not attend if you are sick. I have multiple chronic illnesses so my immune system is extremely weak. keep everyone safe by staying home if you are unwell
——————————————————
Check out our instagram @shypeoplesdrawingclub to see more about our awesome group. We also have a Discord group for online events if you would like to join and chat with more artists. ✨
Independent Game Development Events This Week
Discover what is happening in the next few days
Dinner & Board Games Fortnightly CBD (We Play Board Games Melbourne)
Hi everyone, Stella & Tarrant here 😃
It's board game and dinner time every 2nd Wednesdays! Everyone's welcome, new or experienced board gamer. Let's play board games together, meet new friends if you want, and also supporting local restaurant buying their food and drink, coz the event is free.
𝐏𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐑𝐒𝐕𝐏, 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐥 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧'𝐭 𝐠𝐨 𝐬𝐨 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐝, 𝐜𝐨𝐳 𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝
Meetup will be in the separate room at the back of their venue!
𝗧𝗜𝗠𝗘: 6pm - 10pm (but the pub is open till later if you want to stay around)
𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗘𝗫𝗣𝗘𝗖𝗧: Meetup for dinner & drink while playing board games. Here's a one page PDF document explaining how it works - https://loom.ly/hTHo2cM. Basically, find some friends or make some new ones.
𝗕𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗚: Bring your own games or play our growing board games library, teach others or join others games. We have flag system to help you find people to play with you. Here is the list of our growing games library, categories and with short description - https://loom.ly/fOKuaM4
𝗙𝗘𝗘: Zero. Nada. It's a casual get together, we're helping facilitating the meetup. All I asked is to please order food & drink from the venue, don't bring your own food and eat there, as the venue is a pub, they are providing the venue for free So please help local business 😃
𝗢𝗥𝗚𝗔𝗡𝗜𝗦𝗘: Feel free to post in the comment if you have games you want to bring and teach others, try to organise people to play. Or if you want to join other people's game. We have a group via Aftergame (app/website) where you can organise a game as well here - https://aftergame.app/groups/we-play-board-games-melbourne-meetup-by-meeple-university-1386
𝗛𝗢𝗪 𝗧𝗢 𝗚𝗘𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗘: Melbourne Central, level 3. Melbourne Central station underneath.
There are various public carpark Wilson 300 LaTrobe and Secure Parking in the city. Or the Wilson carpark under Melbourne Central, entry is a set price after 5pm (at the time of writing).
And then plenty of public transport in the city 🙂
To connect more to fellow board gamers, you can join the Facebook group that started the event here - https://www.facebook.com/groups/WePlayBoardGames
Thank you and hope to see you all then!
Stella & Tarrant
Board Games Night - Beginners Welcome @North Melbourne Saturday
1) Ludos Reserved Cafe. After work, come to boardgames. If this goes well, I'll get us kitchen service also☕
2) Donations. QR codes to donate to our Ko-Fi will be around.
We have a library of games that we think will suit all players.
If you have any suggestions please message:
Messaging Anna on meetup through the link here
Messaging Jope on meetup through the link here
Schedule:
We will start at 6:00pm and play until 9:30pm.
2 Strike Policy
Late-leavers: attendees who cancel within 24 hours of the event.
No-shows: attendees who mark themselves as “going” but don’t turn up.
Someone who does either of these once will be forgiven but flagged.
On a second offence, they will be removed.
Long-time regulars will be afforded some leniency.
Legitimate reasons will be considered for leniency.
What to bring:
Yourself! Feel free to bring any games of your own but neither is necessary to having an enjoyable time with us (no alcohol permitted).
What we will bring:
We will bring our library of games that we think will suit players of all experience and taste, tap water is available.
Below is the list of games we make available to this event. We will bring a subset of these games.
WAVELENGTH (2019)
Codenames Duet
Codenames
Monikers
The Resistance: Avalon
Deception: Murder in Hong Kong
Dominion: Second Edition
Dixit
7 Wonders
Sheriff of Nottingham: 2nd Edition
Catan
Splendor
Modern Art
Chinatown
Landmarks (2024)
Bang!
Secret Hitler
Mafia
Crossfire
Insider
Wonky (2015)
Love Letter
7 Flip
And Way MORE
List of banned games:
Monopoly (any version)
MEL MLOps Community #16 | Generative AI in Games and Getting Hired
We’re excited to kick off 2026 with our first **Melbourne MLOps Community Meetup** of the year!
This event is extra special! For the first time, we’re featuring a married duo, Mr. and Mrs. Badawy. And what better day to announce it than Valentine’s Day? 🚀✨
**🎤 Speakers**
We’re thrilled to introduce:
**\- Luke Badawy**, Generative AI Engineering Manager at Commonwealth Bank. Luke is a seasoned Software Engineer and self-proclaimed AI nerd with years of industry experience. In his talk, *Generating Games Using Only Gen AI*, Luke will explore a fascinating and often overlooked frontier in Generative AI — game generation.
**\- Natalie Badawy**, Talent Acquisition Specialist *at* Andromeda.
Described by Mr. Badawy as “Initiative Lord 9000,” Natalie is the co-founder of "What the Heck is Tech (?)" and co-organiser of "Melbourne Talent Meetup"*.* With deep experience in the tech recruitment landscape, she’ll share a recruiter’s-eye view of how the job market is evolving in the age of AI and ML in her talk: *How to Get Hired in the AI/ML Era*.
**Networking**
The Melbourne MLOps Community is committed to fostering a space where AI/ML engineers and practitioners can connect, exchange ideas, and build meaningful relationships.
Come ready to discuss:
* The tools you’re experimenting with
* Trends you’re seeing in ML and MLOps
* Challenges you’re tackling
* Ways to find peer support
We’ll have food, drinks, and the perfect space for great conversations — so feel free to bring along anyone interested in ML, MLOps, or AI more broadly.
**Agenda**
🍕 **5:30pm** – Networking, drinks & food
🙋 **6:00pm** – Welcome
🎤 **6:10pm** – Presentation by Luke
❓ **6:30pm** – Questions for Luke
🎤 **6:40pm** – Presentation by Natalie
❓ **7:00pm** – Questions for Natalie
🍻 **7:10pm onwards** – Networking, drinks & food
We’re looking forward to seeing you there!
**P.S.** If you can’t make it in person, we’ll be streaming the event via Google Meet.
Google Meet link: [https://meet.google.com/fxh-hpsg-ryt](https://meet.google.com/fxh-hpsg-ryt)
The Red Manor - Strike Bowling QV
Welcome to another one of our monthly escape room meetup!
**The event needs a minimum of 3 people to go ahead.**
Please arrive at the listed time. This is scheduled 15 mins ahead of the room time so that everyone can arrive, check in and sign waivers if applicable.
If you have RSVP'd and aren't able to make it, please remove yourself so the spot may open up to others.
**ABOUT THE ROOM:**
*You don’t remember anything. A dull pounding of pain rocks through the back of your head. As your eyes adjust to the darkness, your memory starts to return.*
*You decided to help an old hitchhiker on the side of the road. Suddenly a scratchy voice cuts through the blackness… “Welcome, to Red Manor.”*
*Lucky you’re not alone, it’s going to take teamwork to escape this nightmare.*
Difficulty: Average Joe
**PAYMENT:**
Please send through payments to my PayID: 0451 472 976, stating your name and venue you are going to.
Eg. Michelle - Strike QV
Your spot is only secured once payment is made.
**REFUNDS:**
Cancellations 2 days before the event or no shows will not receive refunds due to the non-refundable nature of the escape room businesses.
If there is a cancellation/rescheduling of the event, you WILL receive refunds.
I look forward to seeing you there!
**Morty app**: If you haven’t downloaded the Morty app, I highly recommend it! It’s the perfect way to find new escape rooms, read/write reviews, log plays, and so much more. Find it in the Apple App Store/Google Play Store or go to [https://www.morty.app](https://www.morty.app/)!
Thursday night Rainbow Boardgames - Marché Board Games Cafe
Join your fellow LGBTQIA+ folks for a social evening of board games at Marché Board Games Cafe.
We have access to the games library at the cafe. If you have a game that you want to share, please feel free to bring it along. We play all sorts of games - card games, party games, strategy games - and we're happy to teach new players.
Groups for games usually form between 6:30-6:45, so it's important to try arrive on time to ensure you're allocated to a game/group. Anyone arriving late may have to wait for a game if all groups have started.
The cafe has drinks and food available. Check out their menu here: https://mbgcafe.com.au/menu.pdf
We only accept payment at the time of booking to reserve your spot. This means you will need to pay the booking amount via PayPal at the time of booking to confirm your spot.
If you can't make it to the event, please ensure you get in touch by messaging the event hosts or emailing rainbowbg.melbourne@gmail.com at least one day before the event, and we can reverse your payment via PayPal.
The cafe does NOT have a liquor licence. Consuming alcohol on the premises is illegal, and will result in any members being banned from future events.
See you on Thursday!
Hong Kong Mahjong at Marché Board Game Cafe
Players of all skill levels are welcome to join us at Marché Board Games Cafe in the CBD for a casual night of mahjong - Right in the CBD. We'll start around 6:00pm till we all need to go home :)
Our typical session concludes usually around 10:00pm.
Please change your RSVP to not going if you're no longer able to attend, 24 hours prior the event.
For those that have a record of non attendance without communicating, you will be moved to the waiting list for future events and be contacted directly to confirm that you indeed intend to turn up, at which you will be allotted a spot subject to availability.
For more details on the rules of the game, please refer to: http://mahjongtime.com/hong-kong-mahjong-rules.html
Marche has been kind enough to offer us a deal to play in their cafe.
**⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆ Cost ⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆**
Attendees who have registered for the event on Meetup can play at discounted rates, with the following payments to be made:
* **$6 in total per session” to cover cafe costs. Payment of $6 should be made to Marche at the front counter upon notification to the staff member that you are here for the scheduled meetup.
There is now no minimum spend on items at the cafe as there were before.
The cafes menu can be found here https://mbgcafe.com.au/menu.pdf .
📚 #InPursuit – A Book Club for Builders, Thinkers, and Doers
📚 #InPursuit is a book club for entrepreneurs, creatives, and curious minds who know personal growth fuels business growth.
**See a lot of RSPVPs and wonder how it works? We'll break up into groups of 6-8 to share our insights, then swap groups after 30-45min so you can maximise learning from everybody!**
*Note: this even is not organised by or affiliated with The State Library of Victoria*
**That's what #InPursuit is all about**
It’s not a traditional book club, it’s a space for people who are actively designing a better life through the pursuit of business, creativity, and personal growth. This event is for anyone #InPursuit of better business, life and relationships.
Instead of reading the same book, we each come prepared to share one powerful insight from something we’ve read in the past 3-months. Anything non-fiction that’s moved us forward.
Whether it’s a mindset shift, a productivity system, a new philosophy, or just a truth that punched us in the gut. This is a place to unpack it together and hear what others are learning too.
We’re not just here to *read*. We’re here to *integrate*. Because when we grow, our business and our lives grow too.
**🔍 Why Join? You'll leave with:**
* 5–10 fresh insights from books you may never have picked up
* Deeper awareness of how others think, lead, and evolve
* New connections with people walking a similar path toward purpose, results, and impact
This isn’t a lecture. It’s a room full of people building themselves while they build the thing.
**📖 How It Works**
First time? No pressure to share, just come curious.
We'll break up into groups of 6-8 and share our insights, then swap groups so you can maximise the learning!
Returning? Bring one idea you’ve read about in the last 3-months and be ready to speak on:
1. What did you learn?
2. How did it shift your perspective about the world or yourself?
3. How has it changed the way you show up or behave?
We keep it structured, but flexible. After sharing, we open up to Q&A, personal stories, challenges, and deep dives. Some of the best insights come from the conversations *after* the share.
**🧠 Who This Is For**
* Entrepreneurs or side-hustlers finding their footing
* Business owners, and doers building toward better
* Curious minds who love ideas but care more about action
* People tired of shallow conversations and hungry for growth
If you’re working on something—or becoming someone—this space is for you. It’s a practice ground for people who want to grow forward.
We’re all #InPursuit of mastery, momentum, and the kind of success that starts from within.
**Map on how to get there**
We're in the Create Quarter on the ground level (back right of the Quad as you enter from Swanson St). We'll likely be on a long table together.
https://www.slv.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/SLV-EnglishMap_Jan25.pdf
*If there is no room at a table I'll post on the event page that we'll be going to Mr. Tulk Cafe, which is on the corner of the library at Swanson St and La Trobe St.*
Independent Game Development Events Near You
Connect with your local Independent Game Development community
Unity GameDev Hangout – Tools, Workflows & Open Discussion
This is a relaxed, community-driven Unity GameDev meetup.
There’s no strict agenda this time — just developers getting together to talk shop, share projects, and exchange ideas.
**Some topics that may come up (based on attendee interest):**
• Frame Debugger & performance tooling
• Addressables & additive scene workflows
• Input System, localization, responsive UI
• AI integration approaches
• DevOps & LiveOps experiences
• Full lifecycle: idea → cross-platform publishing
• Favorite Asset Store tools and hidden gems
• Weird Unity quirks we’ve all run into
*Nothing is locked in.*
Bring a project if you’d like.
Bring a question.
Bring a lesson learned.
Or just come hang out and meet other developers.
All skill levels welcome!
Dinner Game Night
Come ready to play.
We’re turning dinner into a full-on game night. Card games, competitive chaos, and yes, those long strategic nerd games my friends love to play. We’ll also have Jackbox games on the big screen so everyone can jump in and talk a little trash.
There will be pizza. There will be drinks. There will be snacks. There will absolutely be laughter.
Pull up, grab a slice, pick a game, and let’s make it a night.
\* This will be at someone's house so address will be given night before the event.
Prototype, Play, and Build Workshops (In-Person @GameArena)!!!
This month, we are in-person at GameArena!!! We will also be joined by students and their games from [Shawnee State](https://www.shawnee.edu/game-design-programs)!
\-\-\-
Join us for our our monthly COGG Prototype and Play event @GameArena! Come to play and showcase your games.
We're back in the upper levels of the catwalk mezzanine area. It'll be packed with lots of camaraderie playing your game(s) and other's games on the 2nd floor as well as the 1st floor in the gaming room below the mezzanine.
Light snacks and water provided but you can buy food and drinks at the bar (alcoholic drink ID required).
[https://www.game-arena.co/menu](https://www.game-arena.co/menu)
**Attendees:**
Don't have a game to show? Not a problem! All are welcomed and invited from all ages and backgrounds. The more we can have to play test our games the better!
**Developers:**
Do you have a game that you would like to get critical feedback on? Would you like an excuse to work on a game with other talented artists, programmers, musicians, designers, and writers? Digital, table-top, non-experienced developers, and the like are welcomed! We'll provide signage for your game to help others learn more about your work. Wifi, outlets, tables, and seats (though standing tables also) are available.
Come to the Prototype and Play workshop to collaborate and meet local game developers for an evening of epic and raw game play fun! Play works-in-progress, show off your own game, work with others to add polish to a game, or even lend your talents to other fellow developers.
Can use South Garage at the Gateway with a $5 voucher on your way out.
75 E 11th Ave, Columbus, OH 43201
[https://maps.app.goo.gl/UwgveUYG37Jy7RtS9](https://maps.app.goo.gl/UwgveUYG37Jy7RtS9)
If you have any questions or comments, as always, feel free to reach out to us at [info@thecogg.com!](http://info@thecogg.com!/)
Board games at The Forge
The Forge does have a full bar and kitchen. There is no cover charge but they do request all attendees to purchase a minimum of ~$20 per person. Soft drink refills are $1 each. Please support our hosts so we can continue to provide great events for the group!
The Forge has a large library of games available for us to enjoy. Hosts and regulars will also provide numerous popular games but please bring any games you would like to teach and/or play.
Doors open at 6, and we expect gaming to be rolling by around 630. Please promptly end your games and clear out the space at 10pm when the bar closes.
We encourage socializing but do not permit disruptive behavior of any kind. Thank you for your continued commitment to providing a fun and welcoming space to veteran, newbie, and rookie gamers in the Columbus area.
Parking can be challenging. There is a parking lot behind the neighboring Mexican restaurant that is free and easy to walk from but it's a bit hidden.
Columbus Code & Coffee 84 @ Improving
Columbus Code & Coffee is an inclusive, informal co-working session. People of all skill levels attend, and we love it that way. Many people (optionally) bring projects to work on, and many other people (optionally) socialize the entire time. It's entirely up to you!
**What to Expect at the Intro Circle**
\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~
Near the beginning of the event (1:30 pm), we do a standup:
* Organizer announcements, updates, and logistics
Round 1 - (7 secs max):
* Your name
* What you're working on
* What you can help others with
Round 2:
* Community events you wanna plug. If none, that's cool too.
Round 3:
* Job opportunities you're hiring for OR announce that you are looking for one. If none, that's cool.
After the introduction circle, everything is self-organized! Feel free to work alone, pair up, attend one of our workshops/presentations, or mingle!
Casual Boardgames - make friends, then beat them in games
Welcome to Casual Boardgames, where we enjoy classic tabletop games and social deduction games while bonding over good food, drinks, and great conversations.
We started this group to meet new people and make new friends, and bonding over games in a relaxed atmosphere is a great way to do that.
We currently meet near route 23 and Polaris Parkway, and this is close to areas like Powell, Lewis Center, Worthington, and parts of Westerville and Columbus.
Feel free to bring your own games or play one of the many games our members bring. If you are inexperienced, we will help you learn.
Here are just a few examples of the kind of games we play.
Tabletop/board games: Splendor, Catan, Azul, Dominion, 7 Wonders…
Social deduction games: Code Names, Chameleon, Werewords…
IMPORTANT:
1. While we love playing a variety of games and competing, we are not just about the games. We interact and talk while playing, and this leads to a lot of laughter and fun. If you just want to compete and focus solely on the game, then this is probably not the group you are looking for.
2. Many people join groups like this and never (or rarely) show up after weeks or months. If you join and never really come, we will eventually remove you from the group as a courtesy to our members. Why? Because limiting group conversations (on the app) to regular members makes communication and planning much easier. Also, while it may be rare, it protects members from people who join because they are interested in following a person instead of having a real interest in our group. If you get removed, it is just because you haven’t come, and we follow this protocol as a courtesy to our regular game players.
CABS March First Friday 3/6
Our First Friday meeting of the month. Come join us !!! Your first visit is FREE!!!

























