Victoria is the buzzing heart of gaming studios and talent in the country. Games created in our vibrant state, like the Untitled Goose Game and Cult of the Lamb, have have been played by millions across the globe. 

The Melbourne International Games Week (MIGW) 2023 is rolling out from 30 September to 8 October, showcasing the lively and robust gaming industry. Developers, publishers, educators, studios and businesses are all invited to be part of the action. 

Exciting flagship events are lined up, with the Games Connect Asia Pacific (GCAP) industry conference creating a platform for our local studios and developers to mingle with global gaming leaders. The much-loved PAX Aus, Australia’s biggest gaming event, is also set to light up the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from 6-8 October. 

With the multitude of activities at MIGW, we got in touch with Claire Osborn-Li, the host of the Women and Non-Binary Gamer club, and Kate Lemke, the Public Programs and Education Coordinator at ACMI and a gamer & admin of ACMI Women & Non-Binary Gamers Club (feel free to join their Facebook Group here), to pick their top events during MIGW. 

Claire Osborn-Li’s MIGW picks   

Host of Women and Non-Binary Gamers Club at ACMI 

“Obviously, I am also going to say the Women and Non-Binary Gamers Club (WNBGC) at ACMI, but not because I'm host - because it deserves the hype! Before I became host, I was a regular participant, joining for the first time during lockdown and hardly missing one since. I think the WNBGC represents the core of what games are about, which is about finding community.   

For those who can't make it to our games club, I highly recommend they see An evening with the directors of Stray Gods, which is the very game we're playing that week. I love seeing creatives talk about the things that inspired the work they've made, and connecting those dots, so I'm eager to hear what film, television and musicals have influenced Stray Gods.  

I'm really looking forward to seeing Year of the Robot: Three Machinima Shorts. I'm a big fan of anything that finds a way to bring art and videogames together, and each of these three short films sit somewhere in that lovely little intersection.  

Like everyone else after watching The Queen's Gambit, my friends and I were enveloped by a chess craze that had us joining chess.com, buying chess clocks and hosting chess parties (where you sit around at someone's house doing nothing but playing chess). I'm hoping Computer Chess (2013), a documentary about an annual computer chess convention, will reignite this enthusiasm in me.  

Finally, I'm very, very keen for this year's Parallels event, run by Freeplay's Independent Games Festival.” 

Kate Lemke’s MIGW picks   

Public Programs and Education Coordinator at ACMI 

“Well for myself it would have to be the Women & Non-Binary Gamer Club session (obviously!) happening at 6pm (on Zoom) on the 4th of October – we will be exploring Stray Gods, guided by our host Claire, so it should be a fun one! Anyone who identifies as female or non-binary can join simply by registering to the event on the ACMI website.

Another event would be the MIGW Immersive Arcade also happening on the 4th of October in the Swinburne Studio at ACMI. This free event is available for anyone to drop by between 10am – 3pm, and focuses on the potential of video games for positive social impact. This platform gathers innovative studios showcasing creations designed to tackle real-world challenges and inspire collective action. It will be a fantastic opportunity for game developers, industry professionals, educators, and the public to engage in meaningful conversations about the role of gaming in social change.  

Cult of the Lamb: The Ritual taking place on Thursday the 5th of October in Fed Square. This will feature a live DJ set, giant puppets and large-scale animated artworks amongst all the other cool games week events happening in the square that night! It will be a fantastic family-friendly event celebrating the power videogames have in bringing people together and helping you to forge your own path in life. 

I am also looking forward to the Cult of the Lamb Live event at ACMI on the 7th of October. Just the concept of a live orchestra playing the soundtrack to gameplay sounds so intriguing and creative – I’m keen to see how they will pull it off!"

For more info on Melbourne International Games Week (MIGW) head to https://dif.vic.gov.au/event/20658855-a/migm2023-melbourne-international-games-week