MY FIRST Experience in A LOCAL GAME DEV EXPO Convention – PGDX 2024

In this article, I just want to share to you my experience in the recently conducted Philippine Game Developer Expo this last July 26, 27, and 28.

One thing to take note of, is that this is my first time to attend a local indie game developer gathering. I would like to share to you my experience and breakdown this article into sections that would involve challenges and learning I’ve experienced as I’ve prepared for joining our local indie game developer expo here in the Philippines.

Before the event…

The first thing that I would want to share is the experience of meeting up with the organizers and how the sign up process to become an indie game exhibitor during the PGDX event.

I was able to to find out about PGDX when I did a search for local game developer associations or organizations that organize gatherings. This is because this is one of our criteria for a gamified character sheet in our group hometeamgamedev, I was hoping to check out the criteria of being able to attend in a local conference (external). This was one of my motivation to look for local events of gathering of game developers. You can check out my character sheet through this character link certification https://hometeamgamedev.com/certificate.php?member=rodprogramdev.

I also wanted to meet industry experts that can give me an idea on how to get into game development in our local country.

I learned about PGDX through Facebook and saw their event last 2023. I followed their page and waited for the next event that they planned to organize.

When they posted about the upcoming PGDX 2024, I was really excited and signed up as early as possible through the link they provided in their page. It was a sign up form for the indie game star exhibitor opportunity. It was a really a straight forward process. You just need to fill out details about your self and details of the game that you were developing and then submit the google form.

You just have to wait for a confirmation and you will also have the option to have a copy of your submitted form.

After signing up for the indie game star program of PGDX, I was also invited to attend the Tokyo Game Show briefing that was conducted to introduce the opportunity to also join the said event.

It was great opportunity to learn that there are game show events similar to the Tokyo Game Show that provides opportunities to indie game developers like me to join and market games that we are trying to develop. If your game qualifies to the standards, you can even be provided a free spot in their event as an exhibitor. The briefing was really informative especially, for newbie game developers like me. I like how the organizers explained details of the event and the safety and security reminders if you will be one of those who will be going to Tokyo and showcase your game in the said event.

Moving forward in time, the PGDX organizers announced the official dates for the PGDX 2024. It was last July 26, 27, and 28. I was really excited to join the event and was looking forward to joining the expo.

I would say that for the first local game developer’s expo that I was able to attend, it was a bit challenging due to the unexpected fictitious event that happened and that is the Typhoon Carina.

It was the most challenging part of joining the event because “Typhoon Carina” hit us hard in our area in Bulacan. I didn’t expect that the typhoon will be affecting even the room that I’ve already tried to renovate. The flooding reached up to the upper room from where I work and there was no electricity and internet that led to me not being able to continue working on the additional features and improvement I was hoping to implement for the game Datu’s Quest that I submitted for the indie game star program.

I had some second thoughts on whether I would be attending or cleaning my area. However, when I learned that there were news of another typhoon that might arrive.

I decided to postpone the clearing and cleaning of our lower area in the house due to previous experience that I’ve had from where sometimes, after clearing and cleaning. Another flooding would occur that would lead to us wasting our energy and time in cleaning the mud produced by flooding.

So I decided, to just relax for the meantime and also push through with joining the PGDX event. It was an opportunity to take away the worries of the after effects of the typhoon Carina and strategize the next steps on how to clear and clean the mud in our house.

So, moving forward, I waited for the announcement of the organizers and they emailed us that there will be a preparation for briefing for the ingress and egress during the event.

They provided us information about the id badges of exhibitors and where we can get those badges. They also met with us through an online meeting to further clarify the needed information in preparation before the date of the event. It was really helpful, because some of the questions of the exhibitors were clarified during the said meeting. They also provided us the opportunity to improve the design of the tarp that they will be preparing for our booths.

The PGDX organizers had prepared a free tarpaulin for the indie game stars and they provided us a link to the possible look of our booths during the day and the printed output of the tarp of our game that we will be showcasing. So, I was able to work on designing a quick update for the tarpaulin that was used for the event.

The organizers also mentioned the safety considerations related to the venue. We were also able to talk about the necessary procedures for entering the venue for those who are going to be bringing equipment for their games such as desktop PC’s that they aim to carry inside of the venue. They also partnered with different institutions for the accommodation of those indie game star’s exhibitors who will be coming from the provinces. They had first aid stations setup and a lot of security personnel that you can easily approach for further instructions if ever you will be lost in the large area of the event.

It was also a great help that we had a Discord channel to ask for questions and assistance from the organizers. Some questions where further clarified by organizers through that communication platform. The event was really planned out and pretty well organized.

During the event…

Day 1

This was my first time attending a game developer’s expo, it was really refreshing specially, after the Typhoon Carina affected us, the event was an opportunity to relax and enjoy the different activities that were set by the event organizers.

I arrived a bit late due to some transportation issues because, some roads were still closed like the one in Malanday, the bus that I took had to turn around because the flood water level in the area was still not passable. We had to take the NLEX route to get to Manila.

When I arrived on the venue, I wasn’t really able to fill out the ingress form and was also not able to go a day before the first day to get my ID badges. Supposedly, we should have acquired our badges before the day of the event, however, due to the circumstances, I wasn’t able to leave the house because of the flood.

I had to go look for the information booth from where exhibitors can get their free ID badge and a we were also given a wrist band so that we can enter and leave the venue during the day.

We were given 2 Id badges for the exhibitors and 1 free workshop badge so that we can join some of the workshops for both students and professionals during each of the day.

I was able to arrive on the booth that was for my indie game around late after lunch time.

Being a solo developer was really quite challenging, because, I really wanted to go and visit other booths during the first day, but I couldn’t leave my booth due to not having a partner to cover my shift in the exhibitor booth. (Note that I’m also a gamer so I also really wanted to play some of the games in the event, both from my fellow indie game developers and some nostalgic games that were free to play)

I also encountered an issue with my mechanical keyboard that led me to not being able to setup my laptop device for the indie game showcase and play test during the first day.

So one of my key learning during the first day, is to make sure to have and bring an extra external keyboard so that it will be easier for players to play the game that I’ve developed.

During the first day, I was also able to meet with some fellow developers, first of which are the developers of the game “Hell week” they were the game developers beside me near my booth. You can check out the demo of their game in their itch.io page. I was also able to play and meet the developer in Neko games. I was able to play the game “Unfounded: Tales of the Barrio” from Gphoenix games (Been following this Filipino 3d game in their fb page before the event) and the game of “My Hero” of Axolotea games. I also got a chance to play the “Stranded on a raft” from the Rinexusgames. I also got a chance to play the game “The Cope”, and you can also check them out in Steam https://store.steampowered.com/app/2979860/THE_COPE/.

I would have gone around further if I had more time to play more games from fellow developers but I had to go back to my booth and try to setup my laptop for possible play testers to arrive and play my game during the first day.

I wanted to go around the event during the first day and get to meet up with other indie game developers. My mistake was really not to have someone with me to take care of my booth and monitor if there will be visitors who are willing to play my game. I think this will be one of my goals next year and that will be to have a team with me during the event.

There were a lot of sponsors who also provided some freebies if you go around their booths. I had a chance to get some free drinks, you just need to roam a bit and you’ll find some chances to get some freebies along the way.

There were also a lot of cosplayer during the first day and I took on the chance to have some pictures for remembrance during the day.

One other challenge that I encountered during the event was that my game was browser based and can only be played on Itch.io.

I would suggest that you prepare a PC build of your game. I was planning to do this but because of the typhoon and the lost of electricity, I wasn’t able to build a PC version for the event. I had my desktop computer disassembled from where I was working and had the copy of my game. I wasn’t able to setup my laptop yet during the event for the PC build version.

Day 2

During the day 2, I had a chance to invite my sister to attend and enjoy the event with me. She even bought me a new mechanical keyboard that I wasn’t really expecting. I was grateful for her support and the freebies she bought me during the second day. She also treated me to lunch.

I was observing some of the other booths during day 2, and trying to look at some of the things the other developers prepared. I noticed that most of them had calling cards for networking and some freebies like stickers that they give away to play testers.

Out of the observation that I’ve noticed, I decided to go to a bookstore to buy some paper for calling cards and stickers after the day of the event for day 2.

When I got home, I tried to create a quick calling card design, I was also thinking about making some stickers but my printer was malfunctioning (another one of the challenge that I’ve encountered). I was only able to print out black colored cards with my name and some information about some of my social media accounts for the game that I’m developing.

Day 3

On the final day of the event, I was able to print out a black and white calling card and was also able to give it to some of the play testers and some fellow developers who went to my booth and some passing by game enthusiasts.

I also finally had some play testers play the game. I took note of some of their feedback so that I can try to implement and improve the game play of the game.

I was originally planning during day 2 to just use the play test google form I’ve already created in the past, but there was no easy access to the internet. So I just took some notes and asked the different players to give me some honest feedback about the game.

One memorable event that happened during the 3rd day was my sister winning a Fantech headset during the event. There were really a lot of freebies being given by some of the sponsors, you just need to go around and join some of the activities that they have prepared. There were even competitions that you can join and play during the event. I wasn’t able to participate directly on all of them because I was alone, however, if you have some team mates or you could invite some friends to join the event. It will be a great opportunity for them to enjoy the different programs that will entail with it some freebies and rewards.

After the event…

Some of the things that I’ve learned and taken note of when preparing to go to an event. I learned from one play tester of my game to prepare a “post it” for the controls of my game. In that way, the post it will serve as a guide for the players to know the different key movements of the character of the game.

Overall some of the key points in summary are the following:

1. Bring extra keyboard and test if it will work.
2. Create calling cards and gifts that you can distribute to your possible players or visitors in your booth. (Flyers, calling card, stickers, special give away, etc.)
3. Bring a camera for documentation (In my case, I couldn’t bring my camera due to me being alone and it will definitely be a big addition to the weight I will be carrying from my province to Manila. I would have really loved to document the different events if I had a partner exhibitor who could have switched with me during the three day event.)
4. In line with number 3, it’s best that you plan out a way to bring a friend with you during each days of the event.
5. I learned that we can partner with some cosplayers that can try to look after your booth during the day of the event if in case you couldn’t find someone to bring with you.
6. Have ready “Post it” or sticky notes from where you can use it for announcing if you are on break, notes for the controls of your game, and other possible announcements that you may want to post during the day of the event.
7. Bring your own wifi for internet connection.
8. Have a video demonstration or trailer of the game (This perhaps will be able to showcase the game play to passer by game enthusiast.)
9. Creating a possible list of itinerary of booths you may want to visit. (A good thing about PGDX organizers they have a website for connecting you with possible funding opportunities for organizations that may get interested in the game you are building.)

In conclusion, the event was a great experience for me as a new indie game developer looking forward to network, learn, and gain experience in going to events that helps indie game developers like me to promote our game and at the same time be able to meet up with fellow developers for motivation and inspiration.

I’m really looking forward for the next year event and prepare some of the key things that I missed bringing during this first event that I’ve attended. I am hoping to find some team mates that I can work with and bring on the day of the next PGDX gathering.

Kudo’s to all of the organizers for bringing the different opportunities and for supporting the local indie game developers in our country.

I hope this article helps fellow indie game developers who are looking forward to joining the next PGDX 2025.

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