Playup Perth accelerates creative innovation in WA through events and a pilot microgrant support program funded by the City of Perth.
Since 2013, Playup Perth has supported the development and launch of over 100 locally made games and creative innovations, helping them to connect with the $110bn (USD) global market. Games tested or showcased at PlayupPerth have gone on to receive national and international attention and accolades, including two Australian Game Developer Awards, OOMPF Games funding and Amcom Upstart funding.
History
Playup Perth was founded in 2013 by Kate Raynes-Goldie to provide a resource for local game creators and innovators to get feedback on their work in progress. In partnership with the Film and Television Institute and SK Games, Playup Perth grew into a monthly social night that connected creators and the public not only for feedback but also to showcase and raise the profile of local talent. Playup Perth now has a regular attendance of 50-80 people (capped at current venue capacity) and will be moving to Spacecubed in 2018 to continue growing the event.
Three year plan
Our plan for Playup Perth is to expand our support offering for local game makers and creative innovators to enable them to better tap into the $150bn global market. With the Film and Television Institute (FTI) closing its doors earlier this year due to funding cuts, local game makers were left with no support program, which puts us far behind states like Victoria whose strong government funding and subsequent support programs have positioned the state as the leader in the Australian games industry, producing 50% of Australian games. FTI’s closure also saw the end of the WA Screen Awards, which included awards for games. We are working to expand Playup Perth’s offerings to fill this gap.
Quick Facts
- Playup Perth is an inclusive, diverse event that has been supporting creative innovation in Perth since 2013
- Events are regularly attended by 50-80 participants from all ages and backgrounds, including journalists, artists, game designers, teachers, investors and even politicians. October 2015’s Playup Perth hosted former Senator Scott Ludlam
- Over 100 locally created projects have been featured, including virtual reality, physical world games, new sports, video games and digitally augmented table top games.
- Playup Perth recently partnered with Propel Youth Arts for a special edition of the event, which featured games made for and by young people, including a 12 year old developer who showed off a brand new game he’s working on.
- Projects tested at Playup Perth have gone on to successful crowdfunding campaigns and have received funding or investment, including Amcom Upstart and FTI’s OOMPF Games grant program.
- Provides community access to expensive equipment, including an HTC Vive VR rig, donated by SK Games and HTC.
Goals + Values
Quality Act as resource for Western Australian game makers and creative innovators to improve the quality of their works in progress through our playtesting nights
Visibility Act as a showcase for Perth’s new and cutting edge games and creative innovators
Outreach Encourage the public to become makers
Advocacy Raise awareness and promote the cultural and economic importance of games and creative innovation in Western Australia.
Informing these goals are three core values: inclusivity, accessibility and diversity:
- All projects at any stage of development are welcome. We are platform, technology and genre agnostic. We’ve tested everything from console games, VR games, interactive narrative pervasive games, mobile games and even new sport games.
- Inclusive, diverse and accessible. We are a safe space, harassment free space and actively encourage the involvement of developers from all backgrounds, ages, genders, sexual orientations, abilities and ethnicities. We work to accommodate any special needs to ensure everyone can participate. Get in touch if you’d like to join us and are concerned about any issues that you feel might be a barrier — we’d love to have you!
IMPORTANT: Playup Perth has a strict Safe Spaces & Accessibility Policy is dedicated to providing a harassment-free experience for everyone, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, age or religion. We do not tolerate harassment of event participants in any form.
