The Level Up Tasmania Video Game Showcase Looks To Spotlight The Island’s Growing Development Scene

Tasmania’s Minster of Arts, Madeleine Ogilvie, has announced the Level Up Tasmania Video Game Showcase, set to run between September 27-29 at Princes Wharf No 1.

Run by Screen Tasmania, the debut event looks to provide a platform for local developers to present their projects and “raise the profile of Tasmanian-made video games and their developers in the community and on the national stage.” The Tassie game-developed scene is a small one, and it very rarely gets any sustained attention, so it’s a great opportunity for teams and individuals in the industry to show their talent.

Living in Tasmania myself (Hobart even), it’s amazing to see an event like this being organised. We are a small island, and opportunities in the creative arts don’t exactly grow on trees here, so any push to highlight the talent we have on offer down here is a welcome one.

About to be on with Kaz and Tubes on @mmmHobart talking about our upcoming Tassie Video Game Showcase! #GameDev pic.twitter.com/uMlFuQQDDc

— Screen Tasmania (@ScreenTasmania) July 9, 2024

This is all part of a larger push from the Tasmanian Government to foster video game development, with the 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania’s Future featuring $500,000 of funding going towards the sector. Some of this funding will be used towards this event, while much of it will be “used to provide grants through Screen Tasmania’s Games Development Program.”

These grants have already proven to be beneficial, with the Hobart-based studio Giant Margarita, the team behind Party Poppers, being a recipient of government funding. Any devs who would like to be part of the Level Up Tasmania Vidoe Game Showcase can register their interest at info@screen.tas.gov.au.

Are you a Tassie native? Will you head to PW1 for the event? Let us know in the comments or on our social media.