Conferences

"Elana and I were at an ACTRA picnic talking about games we weren’t even getting the opportunity to audition for. And we basically said, ‘We need to fix this.’"

Four titles stood out as exceptional examples of the creativity, humor, and pure entertainment currently thriving across the Canadian indie scene.

In an era when technology has forced actors to become their own directors, lighting technicians, and audio engineers from home, a process Gardner admits can look incredibly brutal, she views her role as the ultimate ally.

Behaviour Interactive has created a sustainable, scalable model that serves as proof that a studio can build a global horror empire while keeping its teams resting, refueled, and heading home on time.

XP Game Summit bridges the gap between creative artistry and the harsh business realities of the market.

"In terms of what the team is most proud of, I think it’s the fact that every single person can clearly point to their fingerprints on the game."

"I don’t think the industry needs another GDC. I think people love interacting in a more intimate setting... It’s ultimately the market that teaches us what people want."

There is something magical about the energetic pulse of the Canadian gaming community when it gets together in one room

The true PAX East experience lives in the spaces between the booths. It’s in the rhythmic clicking of mechanical keyboards in the PC area, the clatter of dice in Tabletop, and the spontaneous cheers erupting from the Arcade or PAX Arena.

Between the tactical, dark fantasy of 'Valor Mortis' and the immense tabletop scale of 'Godzilla: The Roleplaying Game,' my Sunday was anchored by two very different, but equally ambitious, visions of what gaming can be.