The State of NYC Indie: Developing a Better Games Community
A panel discussion between local gaming organization leaders about how we can elevate the NYC game development scene.
Date and time
Location
370 Jay St
370 Jay Street Brooklyn, NY 11201Refund Policy
Lineup
About this event
- Event lasts 1 hour 30 minutes
New York City has become a hotbed for pioneering independent game developers whose unique artistic expression rarely gets the spotlight it deserves. We can change this by finding new ways to work together, creating a more cohesive and inclusive community in the process.
Our panel of four community leaders are passionate about this goal. Each has long-standing roots in the NYC game development scene yet brings a diverse set of perspectives that cover both the professional and academic realms. This meeting of the minds will discuss why NYC is a great place to make games, the ways we can better support NYC game developers, and how we can mend community fractures.
Our Panelists:
Yiyi Zhang (GUMBO)
Kyra Wills-Umdenstock (EGD Collective)
Jess Haskins (NYC Indie Games Social)
Mattia Sicuro (IGDA NYC)
The panel is moderated by Tim Rattray, a games journalist leading production on a documentary project about the NYC game development scene. A sneak peek from his team’s ongoing work will be shown here.
We thank the NYU Game Center for graciously hosting this independently run event. Come early to check out their Playtest Thursday event!
Event Details:
Date: Thursday, October 9th, 2025
Time: 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Place: NYU Game Center Theater (370 Jay Street, Brooklyn, NY)
Price: $10
Our Partners:
NYU Game Center
Playcrafting
Game Devs of Color Expo
Produced By:
Tim Rattray, Nicole Papadopoulos, & PolyMedia Productions
After paying off the expenses for running this event independently, the remaining profits will be split among the organizations of panelists (15%/per), and 40% will be offered to other NYC-based gaming organizations of the moderator's choosing. We'll make the distribution of this 40% public.
Following the panel, we’ll move nearby offsite to socialize and network at Sound + Fury Brewery and Kitchen.
For any questions and inquiries, email Tim Rattray (tim.rattray@me.com).
Also, a huge thank you to Krysti Pryde (Playcrafting) for creating the poster and banner art!
Frequently asked questions
Our goal in having "partners" is to provide community unity beyond what we can represent on our panel. NYU Game Center helped in offering its venue for the event, and Playcrafting helped in creating the event poster. Partners also help with promotion if they choose (e.g., inclusion in newsletters).
No, they are not. This event is run independently, and the moderator and panelists will jointly decide on the topics discussed. If you'd like to submit a topic for consideration, please email the moderator Tim Rattray (tim.rattray@me.com). We highly encourage this!
As we're running this event independently, we have operating costs required by NYU to cover. After covering expenses, the orgs of panelists will receive 15%/per, and the remaining 40% will be given to other NYC-based orgs of the moderator's choosing. We'll make the distribution of this 40% public.
If you're a student or unable to afford the event, please contact the event organizer (tim.rattray@me.com) and arrangements can be made. Everyone who wants to attend should be able to, and we understand these are difficult times for many people.
Our intention is to livestream the event for free. More details to come.