Swiss game designers taking over GDC

The conference brought together the game development community from around the world to exchange ideas, solve problems, and shape the future of the industry. Among the programmers, artists, producers, and game designers, eight Swiss Game studios presented their work in San Francisco at the coveted SwissGames booth.

The selected studios and their projects are:

• Kipwak Studio, «Wizdom Academy»
• Studio ZB, «Truth Detectives»
• Momento Games, «Flying Toyz»
• Mac n Cheese Games, «Munch»
• «Kohlrabi Starship»
• LUAL Games, «Eldritch Language Processing» (Working Title)
• Disco:very Studio, «Dissecting Love»
• Twisted BrainZ, «Rise of Peles»

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Crafting and delivering a Silicon Valley approved pitch

Prior to the conference, the selected delegation underwent tailored training sessions organised by Swissnex called US Game Industry Days, focusing on refining essential skills such as networking with industry professionals, how to break into the US market, media training, and perfecting pitches tailored for a professional Silicon Valley audience. This culminated in the event SwissGames Pitch 2024 at Pier 17, where esteemed jury members including Don Daglow, Game Designer, Advisor, and Executive Producer, Rachel Heleva, Business Development and Scouting Manager at Astra Logical, Demetri Detsaridis, Operating Partner at Haveli Investments, and Justin Woodward, Co-founder and Creative Director at Media Indie Exchange (The MIX), Interabang Entertainment.

During GDC 2024, SwissGames participated in various side events to complement their presence at the main exhibition. They showcased their talent and innovation at Courage XL, the annual pre-GDC party. Additionally, they engaged with industry leaders and professionals at Pocket Gamer Connects, a leading international conference series, and The MIX, which promotes visibility and discoverability within the gaming community. To emphasise their commitment to diverse and inclusive gaming experiences, SwissGames organised events such as the SwissGames Pitch 2024, and the Gaming and Inclusivity seminar. Furthermore, SwissGames were part of exclusive showcases like the European Game Showcase and the Global Play Showcase, co-initiated by Pro Helvetia, where they competed for recognition and awards alongside other international game developers. They also contributed to the vibrant atmosphere of the GDC week by participating in Courage on Tour, the largest expo party for more than 1,500 visitors showcasing their creativity in a multifaceted venue filled with music, art, and networking opportunities.

Award winning Swiss Game Studios

• Twisted BrainZ (Studio) with the game: Rise of Peles, was selected as a GDC Pitch finalist
• Whimsical Wolff Games (Kohlrabi Starship) won the ’Very Big Indie Pitch’
• Truth Detectives (Studio ZB) won ‘Best Socially Valuable Game’ at Game Connection

Selection to exclusive events include:

• Courage XL: Kipwak Studio, Momento Games, Mac n Cheese Games, Whimsical Wolff Games, Twisted BrainZ
• The Mix: Kipwak Studio, Momento Games, Whimsical Wolff Games
• Pannelist public event Game & Inclusivity: Disco:very Studio
• Courage on Tour: Kipwak Studio, Momento Games, Whimsical Wolff Games, Twisted BrainZ, LUAL Games
• Global Play Showcase: Mac n Cheese Games
• Pocket Gamer Connects: Whimsical Wolff Games, Twisted BrainZ, Studio ZB, Kipwak
• Eurpean Game Showcase: Kipwak Studio, Whimsical Wolff Games, Disco:very Studio