For an indie developer, attending GDC is a significant investment, not only on a financial level but also with the time invested in travelling, preparing demos and pitches – all in hopes of meeting key partners, learning and sharing with industry peers. GDC’s postponement due to COVID-19 health concerns will strongly impact that investment.
To help alleviate that burden, new games label WINGS Interactive has teamed up with a host of companies in the games industry to create the GDC Relief Fund, already raising USD in the space of a few short days. Supported developers will be selected according to the estimated impact of the postponement on their organisations and the financial hardship they are experiencing. Developers are invited to apply via the GDC Relief Fund website: http://wingsfund.me/gdcrelief
More sponsors are joining the cause, so far including:
- Redbeet Interactive
- Landfall
- Raw Fury
- Modern Wolf
- Warhorse Studios
- Versus Evil
- 11 bit studios
- Those Awesome Guys
- United Label
- Triband
- Makers Fund
- gamedev.world
- The Games and Online Harassment Hotline
“The postponement of GDC at such short notice is completely unprecedented, and we’ve been blown away by how quickly the games industry has come together to help independent game developers suffering hardship as a result,” said WINGS co-founder Cassia Curran. “More companies are donating to the GDC Relief Fund all the time, and gamedev.world is moreover launching a fundraiser between March 27th and April 3rd with all donations going to the fund. Our hope is that the GDC Relief Fund will make it easier for individuals and small teams that have been disproportionately impacted to deal with the recent developments.”
Beyond the initial financial costs, GDC being postponed means missed opportunities for indie developers hoping to pitch their games. WINGS Interactive and certain fund partners are also offering online and distance meetings and pitch sessions. We are inviting indie developers to pitch via the application form at the GDC Relief Fund website or directly as follows:
- contact@wingsfund.me for WINGS Interactive
- rebelrebel@rawfury.com for Raw Fury
- hello@modernwolf.net for Modern Wolf
- you@vsevil.net for Versus Evil
- GDCaid@11bitstudios.com for 11 bit studios
- Chris@thoseawesomeguys.com for Those Awesome Guys
- dferrier@cigames.com for United Label
WINGS would also like to highlight a new resource for impacted developers. The Games and Online Harassment Hotline is an upcoming free service, launching early to provide emotional support to developers in the United States affected by GDC‘s cancellation. People can text SUPPORT to 23368 to get started with a trained hotline agent.
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