Video Game Development

This is an inclusive and welcoming meetup. The core of this meetup is to foster a collaborative environment where participants playtest board games and offer constructive feedback to fellow designers. Bringing a design or prototype is not a requirement, this event is for anyone passionate about games—whether they're a designer, developer, playtester, or simply someone who loves engaging with creative ideas. No prior experience is necessary. Location: Exact location within the National Theatre is shared 10-15 mins before the event, depending on the availability of the seating. Keep an eye out for a comment on the event page. "Usually", it is around the Lyttleton Circle Bar, First floor.

A friendly and informal Playtest Meetup in North London. Bring along a game to test or just turn up to see what other developers have brought. Play some games, give some feedback, socialise and network with like minded creative-types who love games of all kinds. There is food and drink served at the Beehive. Please purchase something as they have been kind enough to let us use the premises for free. Thanks.

Dive into The Brotherhood Games' Weekly TCG tournaments! Whether you're into Magic: The Gathering, Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh, or One Piece, Lorcana, and more, our events are perfect for TCG enthusiasts of all levels. Join us for a day filled with strategy, trading, and friendly competitions. Embrace your inner tactician and showcase your skills in thrilling matches with fellow gamers. Check out what's happening every evening through our website's [Event Calendar!](https://thebrotherhoodgames.co.uk/product-category/events/) These events are not just limited to TCG fans - board game lovers can also enjoy classics like Settlers of Catan and Backgammon Tournaments. Whether you're into Anime & Manga or a Disney enthusiast, there's something for everyone at The Brotherhood Games. Share your passion for gaming, connect with like-minded individuals, and enjoy a cozy atmosphere perfect for cafe lovers. Don't miss out on this opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of deck building games and strategy - see you there!

We're fed up of boring, monotonous exercise - let's play ourselves fit! **TO BOOK**: It's essential that you book onto sessions via our website, using the link below; due to restrictions on games and preparation times we cannot accept walk-ins, or late arrivals. [https://joinrabble.com/locations/london/](https://joinrabble.com/locations/london/) Use the code **FREEPLAY** to get your first game free! *** Rabble is a fitness club with a difference: * Every 1 hour session is a mixture of team games, such as Capture the Flag, Frisbee or Kickball - no two sessions are alike! * We are SUPER friendly and often host socials after the game * All abilities are welcomed * Our aim is to have **FUN**, make **FRIENDS**, and get **FIT** without even noticing * Bring your friends along! Please come in comfortable sports clothing and bring a bottle of water and hand sanitizer. Trail shoes or studs (weather dependent) are recommended, or a good pair of trainers. Please arrive 5-10 minutes before the session to allow us to start on time. We play every: * Monday in Highbury & Islington (19:00 - 20:00) * Tuesday in Shoreditch / Haggerston (19:00 - 20:00) * Wednesday in Elephant & Castle (19:00-20:00) * Saturday in Southwark Park (10:30 - 11:30) * Saturday in Finsbury Park (11:00 - 12:00) * Sunday in Clapham Common (12:00-13:00) We hope to see you playing soon! PS. We have a group of dedicated regulars, so numbers are usually much higher than Meetup might suggest. Book your place here: [https://joinrabble.com/locations/london/](https://joinrabble.com/locations/london/) **Love Rabble**

**BOOK HERE**: https://sportas.co.uk/games/43157 **Game Description:** Come and join a casual mixed football game in Stratford 😎 **Directions:** 🚶‍♂️5 minute walk from Stratford International DLR Station 📍 Pitch 3 - In the small 6 aside cages NOT the big 11 aside pitch. **Rules** Classic 6 aside rules, can be explained at the start of the session. Please be encouraging and positive to all players 🧡

Who Did What is a new type of game where teams are presented with a list of twenty famous people and then match each person from another list with something they achieved during their lifetime. (No sports or maths). Clues will be short and/or cryptic! Four players max per team, but the lower number teams get a point per player start from the biggest team. For example, four teams of one, two, three and four. Four player team, no advantage, (the biggest and theoretically the more knowledge between them, except it doesn't always work like that). Three player team. one point start. Two player team. two point start. One player team. three point start. Prizes of interesting flavour chocolate and also for the funniest team name chosen by Sue, my glamorous assistant. Hosted mainly on Mondays, but not the first Monday of the month, (when it is a Tuesday instead) at various central London Wetherspoons. Event time is from 2-4pm, which allows plenty of time to get away for transport. Twenty five minutes for the quiz, five for marking up, and socialising time for the remainder period. There is a small charge of £5 cash/card to cover prize and Meetup costs. This is a great way to make new friends or catch up with old ones. See you there! Contact number on the day is 07422334411 if your transport is delayed. Please leave your name if texting. **Don’t forget to cancel via the “Edit RSVP” button if you can’t make it. Please do this well in advance when you know, so it allows good notice for someone else to take your place, and minimizes waiting time for non-attendees.** **Your consideration is greatly appreciated.**

Most of what we know we know by perception: by seeing, hearing, touching, tasting and so on. But do our senses present the world as it really is? There are many arguments that they don’t, and that what we actually perceive are internal mental images. So what is the right account of perception? And can we explain it without sliding into scepticism? Introduction to the topic will be by Elliot Buss. NB Early Bird tickets at £3 are available until Mon 12 Jan. **Where:** Downstairs room, Square Pig, Holborn (private room) **NB:** The event begins at 7pm, doors open at 6:50pm. Event ends at 9pm **Format:** 10-minute intro talk → vote on questions → small-group discussion → share insights with the whole room **Keep in touch:** Join our Philosophy Café Discord to continue the conversation anytime → https://discord.gg/UGxBqJXM

**GameMaker London CoWorking (10 spots only) — BrewDog Waterloo** Happy New Year everyone! To kick off the new year we’ve reserved **10 coworking places** at **BrewDog Waterloo** on Thursday 22nd January for a relaxed, productive day of making games, swapping quick feedback, and meeting local devs. This is **not** a workshop or lecture, think: laptops open, headphones on, friendly check-ins. Whatever you choose to work on in the day is completely up to you, we thought this would be a good opportunity to work and connect with other GameMaker developers. **There will be free tea/coffee, a breakfast roll for everyone, and importanty, a free beer (or non-alcoholic drink) at the end of the day.** **When** * **Thursday 22nd January 2026** * **9:00am – 5:00pm** (drop in/out anytime) **Where** * **BrewDog Waterloo** * **Unit G 1 The Sidings, London, SE1 7BH** ## How to RSVP (required) **EDIT (14-01-26):** We were limiting this to GameMaker Pro licence holder, but there are still spaces and we are opening up to London Indie Dev Community!

IMPORTANT UPDATE: The event will take place in the National Theatre Welcome to London 2-player Playtests—a friendly meetup open to everyone interested in playing 2-player or solo games. You don't need to bring a game - we always love to have new playtesters! For designers: Whether your game is for TWO PLAYERS, a SOLO experience, or a larger game you’d like to test with fewer players, this event is for you. Please comment with the game length, whether you need 1 or 2 playtesters, and a brief description. The event is free and will take place at the National Theatre: https://maps.app.goo.gl/74QGHXWPs5KZH6MC9 We'll meet around 6:15 pm, and playtesting sessions will begin at 6:30 pm. Join us for an evening of engaging playtests and creative feedback!

Join us for a fun afternoon of board games and indie games at the Dial at North Greenwich Peninsula. We'll be upstairs in the sports bar. Bring your favorite game (that can be played in around 30 minutes) to share with the group and be ready for a fun casual time! There'll be a small selection of casual games already such as: \- Innocent Chicks \- Dixit \- Sushi Go Party\! \- Uno \- Cards Against Humanity \- Exploding kittens We do request that people buy a drink to help support the venue

The Game Dev Group is a chilled, friendly place for anyone interested in game development to meet, learn and collaborate. Structure: 6:30PM - Doors Open - Bar Snacks, Drinks, Networking 9:30PM - Last Orders Please let your game dev friends and colleagues know about this group too. We hope to build it into a great resource for the community over the coming months and years. 1 Mill Street is the incredible home of TheGDG, a place designed to blur the lines between work and play. For more information about the co-working facilities, podcast studio or event space, check out their website. Maverick Games is a UK-based independent video game studio, focused on creating premium open-world AAA titles for consoles and PC. The studio champions a developer-first culture that encourages creativity, bold ideas, and risk-taking to craft innovative gaming experiences. Playground Games are an award-winning studio based in the heart of Leamington Spa. They have built one of the biggest franchises on Xbox with Forza Horizon, and are currently building one of the most highly anticipated games of the decade: Fable. They are recruiting across both teams, so check their website to see if there is a role for you! Code Wizards Group – Code Wizards and Multiplayer Wizards – help studios build and run games that players love. Their company specialises in video game consulting services for backend elements, powering up gaming projects with expert gametech, esports-tech, and LiveOps services for game dev professionals and studios. Rebellion is an independent video games studio that also produces books, comics, TV, Film, board games, etc. They make great games such as the genre-defining Sniper Elite series and Zombie Army, and before 2010 have worked on multiple amazing external projects including the likes of Aliens vs Predator and Star Wars Battlefront. Creare Capital is a financial platform dedicated to empowering small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and freelancers in the creative industries by connecting them with tailored grants, loans, and investment opportunities. Their mission is to bridge the gap between finance and creativity, offering inclusive, flexible funding solutions that help creative businesses grow and thrive. Sorcery.gg is a jobs platform built by game devs, for game devs. The platform is one of the biggest in the industry, with over 15,000 roles listed. Sign up for an account and start your hunt. Black Cat Entertainment is an indie studio focused on supporting junior game devs get their chance in the industry. In order to show appropriate respect to the organisers, speakers, and your fellow community members, please ensure you attend if you RSVP! See you there! A disclaimer: This event is intended for an audience of people aged 18+ and alcohol will be present. Anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a responsible adult.

Okay! The Clapham monthly meetup is back to it's usual time and place. We now have THREE evening meetups each month in different areas of London. The monthly indie pub night is relaxing social with other indie game devs in London. Chat about all things game/tech related, make new friends and test out some demos from community members. Look out for the group with laptops and tablets out. Venue: https://www.fourthieves.pub/

***Enter the live meeting room here: [https://discord.gg/5wgxtr4c2u](https://discord.gg/5wgxtr4c2u)*** ***Download the engine here: [https://www.unrealengine.com/en-US/download](https://www.unrealengine.com/en-US/download)*** Welcome to the **Unreal Engine Workshop!** In each session we'll tackle essential game design discussions, then transition into hands-on project creation. Participants will build and expand their skills continuously as we explore every aspect of game development. From basic blueprints and interactive mechanics, to advanced rigging, animation, environment design, and lighting, we'll work our way up to creating small complete games. We encourage experimentation and peer teaching, so whether you're a beginner or experienced developer looking to deepen your expertise, our sessions provide a supportive environment to learn, create, and innovate together in Unreal Engine 5.

**Saturdays \| Every Saturday 1pm \- 3pm** In partnership with The National Lottery, SHYNNE Neurodiverse Weekly Gaming Club provides a welcoming, inclusive space where neurodivergent gamers can connect, play, and be themselves in a supportive environment. **What We Offer** * **Inclusive Gaming Environment**: A sensory-friendly space designed with neurodivergent needs in mind * **Diverse Game Selection**: Board games, card games, tabletop RPGs, and video games catering to various interests * **Structured Activities**: Clear schedules and optional guided gaming sessions * **Social Connection**: Opportunities to meet others with similar interests in a low-pressure setting * **Support Staff**: Knowledgeable facilitators who understand neurodivergent experiences * **Important Details** * **Time**: Fridays, 1 pm - 3 pm * **Cost**: **£5** per session * Carers/support workers attend free * **What to Bring**: Just yourself! All gaming equipment provided * **Accessibility**: Our venue is fully accessible

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.

**FOR BEGINNERS** If you've ever seen Korean movies or K-dramas, you may have seen some characters play with small red cards decorated with flowers and animals. Those cards are called "hwatu" or flower cards. The most popular game played with hwatu is "Go-Stop". Come to the inaugural meeting of Hwatu Hangout, and learn how to play this awesome game. It can take some time to orient yourself with the cards and rules, but once you do, there's no turning back. It's major fun. **FOR EXPERIENCED PLAYERS** No Tazza-style deck rigging or hand chopping. Most importantly, no gambling. We may play with plastic chips to raise the faux stakes, but that's it! If you'd like to skip the lesson/demo, then please arrive at 2p for game play. **THE PLAN** **1:00p - 1:30p**: Learn how to play **1:30p - 2:00p**: Demo Game **2:00p - 4:00p**: Game play Before attending, please complete [this interest form](https://forms.gle/BNyZuZSZBzmDKQNA7). I will bring some hwatu decks, but please bring a deck if you have one. Questions? Send an email to hwatuhangout (at) gmail (dot) com Hope to see you there! Eunice

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!

Bring a favorite game or pick out a new favorite!

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.

Both primary COVID-19 vaccinations are REQUIRED to enter. No vax, no entry. No exceptions. Please preferably share your vaccine status in the #vaccine channel on our Discord, either via https://vase.vdh.virginia.gov/vdhapps/f?p=545:1 or photograph of your vaccine card. If you're not comfortable sharing your status online, you can also physically bring your card. Attendees come at their own risk. In terms of setup, I have a TV for videos and general gaming, a monitor in a different room for smaller games, let's plays, and streaming, and a projector in the loft for movies and larger games requiring more space like Dance Dance Revolution, Just Dance, and Guitar Hero/Rock Band. For consoles I have PlayStations 2 through 4 plus a PS TV, Wii/Wii U, Switch, and PC. I often move my consoles around (either for let's play or streaming purposes or to bring them other places), so if you can't find what you're looking for just ask. I don't own any XBox consoles but you're welcome to bring yours if you'd like! Extra consoles, controllers, games, and screens are always welcome; just let me know in advance if you're able so we can plan for it. :) My game & console/controller list is here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/11LvIAgla39HtYpx9PLf6AaVj7DI3i7ypox8qSj23SCo/edit?usp=drivesdk When you arrive please park in a space that does NOT have a number; if those aren't available we have lots of open street parking within the Penderbrook community (I'm right in the middle so either side is cool; parking on Center Way or the middle of Penderbrook Drive is best) but please don't park on a yellow curb or you might be towed! You'll want to turn onto Golf RIDGE, and then onto Golf TEE where I'm the first house on the left. When you enter walk all the way up and to the right; look for the Super Mario Bros. doormat. I'm about 10 driving minutes from the Vienna/Fairfax metro station. We usually go out for dinner at around 5 PM; I live a short drive away from lots of shopping centers including Fair Oaks Mall, Pender, Fairfax Shopping/Towne Center, Fair Lakes Promenade, Fair Lakes Center, and Fairfax Corner. Here's a list of restaurants in the area by food type: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Mn6ytvuaaGaBlpVT-9pBSh8fv6X8_V9wzl4eQKYzRT0/edit?usp=sharing And by shopping center location! https://docs.google.com/document/d/1DZe-ZY5_hKk9SaCSfyjh2eZLNHXTFQLC0QAW12AnYto/edit?usp=sharing Please follow the group's rules & guidelines below: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1PS-UUkkFQ1JDaMp7pCTSGMu2Rqm58X7srdCzhN0Y-xA/edit?usp=drivesdk I also have a few more guidelines, but they're pretty easy to follow: Gaming equipment are not toys. Please be responsible with other people's controllers, consoles, games, furniture, etc. Accidents happen, but if you continuously break things you won't be allowed to use people's equipment. Try and keep a positive atmosphere. A lot of people attend the group to escape from their daily lives. Don't feel like you need to leave your problems at the door, everyone needs to vent once in a while, but please attempt to not do so the whole meetup. We're here to have fun after all, so try and keep it that way! <3