jae @ migw / sxsw syd

"Assembly Definitions in Unity - Better code, faster dev" with Emmet Winter showed how to reduce Unity compile times by splitting the codebase into separate assemblies so changes to one part of the code do not require recompilation of other sections of the codebase
#TGLightningTalks

"Automate! Play your changes on Steam 2 minutes after you make them (on a shoestring budget)" with Callum Spring showed how doing automated builds are easier and more affordable than you may think using only an old computer and github actions. Start with a simple script & grow
#TGLightningTalks

After the panel we're back to @technicallygames.bsky.social lightning talks with Jay Wingate and "Trial by Firebase".

Firebase is a cloud database, now owned by Google.

Some of the pain points Jay ran into included support for multiple environments and serialisation

Ranjit Singh with "Taming Assets with Unity Addressables".

Addressables let you assign an address to your assets which you can then load and unload on demand, allowing you to update your game without rebuilding it, to better manage memory or share resources across projects

#TGLightningTalks

Neil has worked in games for 25 years beginning as a 3D artist in the UK before starting @thetinminions.bsky.social in Australia.

He talks about how people who release successful games have a duty to share the learnings from their projects and to give back to the wider game development community

Maize has worked in games for 12 years from large teams to smaller indies. Their current passion is collective ownership from small co-op game studios to larger co-ops like @sabbygallery.bsky.social

They see it as providing more meaningful jobs & spaces people can bring their whole selves to work

Panellist @thegooflord.bsky.social has worked in QA across Australian games studios from some of the largest in the country to the teams of only a few people

Sarah has also been heavily involved with @gameworkersau.bsky.social now as a convenor helping to support game workers & protect their rights

After a networking & snacks break at @technicallygames.bsky.social we're back with a panel "Lore Dumping for the Future of Games in Australia" with @thegooflord.bsky.social Maize from @sabbygallery.bsky.social & @thetinminions.bsky.social moderated by @inkmo.bsky.social

#TGLightningTalks

Next @parkeranniemay.bsky.social with "How I Stay Relevant Through Burnout, Layoffs, and a Never-ending Job Hunt".

Anniemay talks about finding alternatives to networking, keeping in touch with old connections and exploring causes of burnout to help heal from it.

#TGLightningTalks

First up is Dan Violet Sagmiller with "PRF Physics. From 200 Cars, to 10K".

Dan talked about swapping out Unity's default physics engine Physx for his own custom one. He claims it's not as difficult as you'd think(!)

#TGLightningTalks

After Louie's opening keynote it's time for the lightning talk section of @technicallygames.bsky.social !

@inkmo.bsky.social tells us we'll be hearing from a series of presenters in rapid succession advising us to get ready for info dumps.

#TGLightningTalks

Arrived in time to hear @louieroots.bsky.social co-director of @free-play.bsky.social prev SK Games, Bar SK with "Getting Technical About Studios"

Louie talks about starting at Danish Studio Kiloo who were great talented people but had limited connection to the wider community #TGLightningTalks

Clearly at least one level designer is on the team of @technicallygames.bsky.social

#TGLightningTalks #guideThePlayer

Reaprieve with Althea Francisco & Luke Kemp from @10pmclub.bsky.social telling us about the digital afterlife, where grief meets technology and the internet like a deceased friend's instagram being resurrected after being hacked and losing messages when moving to a new phone.

Pro Jank Footy from Powerbomb Games and @umbrellaent.bsky.social with David Ashby and Tyler Roach telling us about making the kind of australian football game an overseas company might have made in the early 90s complete with surreal power ups and absurd Australiana, seagulls and cars on the field

First up is @joshalanb.bsky.social from @oddlark.com telling us about Noibs, making lil guys, talent contests, the anxiety of creation and a pun he's been wanting to fit into a presentation for months - owl-t-comes

Some words from @chadtoprak.bsky.social who talks about having one foot in the art world and the other in games and asks us to treat games as an artform and as artists to embrace our moral responsibility to speak up against oppression, state violence and genocide.

Introduction to Parallels from @free-play.bsky.social co-director @madmacsfuryroad.bsky.social !

Time for @free-play.bsky.social Parallels 2025!

The last thing roman gladiators see is @bonicle.bsky.social
#fashionOfFreeplay

@jadefae.bsky.social @milosoftfen.bsky.social @parishilton #fashionOfFreeplay

📢📢📢

you thought #fashionOfFreeplay was over??? what if we moved to a third location and started again??

(also i still have photos from science gallery i haven't had a chance to upload)

🚨🚨🚨

Canvas Street style icons @smitleu.bsky.social and @yozibak.bsky.social #fashionOfFreeplay #fitsOfFreeplay

🙏 up @walistudios.au and @sashamutch.bsky.social who suggest the alternative hashtag #fitsOfFreeplay

#fashionOfFreeplay

Art director AND fashionista @theboyofcheese.bsky.social
#fashionOfFreeplay

Pikmin earring close up photo by @oddgoo.bsky.social #fashionOfFreeplay

Heeney & blue steel @oddgoo.bsky.social are both big @magpiegameresearch.bsky.social fans!
#fashionOfFreeplay

A sample* of academic style with Jacqui Moran @mahliann.bsky.social @darthtayrah.bsky.social @cassiebara29.bsky.social
#fashionOfFreeplay

* statistical significance has not yet been established (n = 4)

Dead Melbourne Fashion Week Fashionistas with @unseconds.bsky.social @haraiva.bsky.social
Both stripes and flannel!
( I was too slow starting to catch final trifecta member & fashion icon @mickey.ghoulish.com.au ) #fashionOfFreeplay

Punk looks with @cmddx.itch.io #fashionOfFreeplay