Each year Melbourne proudly hosts Games Connect Asia Pacific (GCAP), a massive industry and professional development conference and networking event.

GCAP attracts local, interstate, and international professionals to deliver and attend workshops and panels, with opportunities for one-on-one meetings and a suite of social events to strengthen the industry community.

This year, the rain didn’t deter visitors. Umbrellas in tow, the halls of the Melbourne Convention Centre were filled with fervour for 3 days of knowledge sharing, practical and interactive workshops, and social and professional connection.

GCAP’s 2023 theme was Empower; an apt theme for the diverse range of skills, roles, artistic practice and perspectives represented. Driving the event was the goal to “empower developers to achieve their vision for themselves, their teams, their art and their technical skills” (gcap.com.au).

There were sessions tailored to advance and upskill for all levels of experience, whether for small or large studios, or independent developers.

A wealth on insights were shared on writing, sound, accessible design, marketing and business, exhibiting in museums, community engagement, and more. And there was hardly a dry eye in the room during Summerfall Studios’ honest and emotional closing keynote on the value of fostering a safe and supportive workplace, which was met with a standing ovation.

Another standout session was Guck’s Phoebe Watson and Elijah McDonald’s generously reflective and informative ‘Indigenous Culture and Games: Re-visited, Re-amped, Re-Upped.’ The session focussed on what ‘Indigenous representation in games’ means, and how the labour of responsibility and learning should be shared and fairly navigated. It was a must see talk for folk in the industry, regardless of the project.

Screen Australia also announced 3 games funds at GCAP this year: the Games Production Fund, which offers up to $100k to support your game to its next milestone, Emerging Gamemakers Fund, for up to $30k to support a new project, and Future Leaders Delegation support for individuals to attend Game Developers Conferences (GDC) in San Francisco in 2024 (up to $8k).

Image via IGEA / GCAP

An escape from the bustle could be found in Screen Australia’s exhibition space—a quiet and cosy room displaying playable demos of games supported by Screen Australia. Up-and-coming Victorian games were included like Effort Star’s psychedelic Enter the Chronosphere and O’Saurus Studios’ Call of the Golden Valley.

GCAP 2023 came to a close at the Australian Game Developer Awards (AGDAs), a glamorous evening that annually recognises Australia’s creativity, talent, and cultural leaders in the industry.

GCAP is hosted by the Interactive Games & Entertainment Association (IGEA) in industry partnership with Screen Australia and VicScreen.