This October, Melbourne International Games Week is celebrating 10 years of industry connection and community culture through games. We go back to where it all began.
From the very beginning, Creative Victoria founded Melbourne International Games Week (MIGW) around a culture of community connection. It only makes sense when you consider the essence of games – whether playing beside someone in person or virtually with someone across the globe, games have always been about fostering connection through play.
The current Director of Economic and Industry Development at VicScreen, and the former Director, Strategy, Screen and Design at Creative Victoria, Michael Hudson oversaw the establishment of MIGW 10 years ago.
He says the sense of community has been central to MIGW’s identity from the start. “[Its] success was rooted in creating a welcoming space for all gamers, no matter their background or interests,” he says, referring to both PAX and MIGW.
Melbourne International Games Week
- October 3 to October 13
- Venues across Melbourne
- Full program here
Find Melbourne’s latest film, TV, literature and gaming news here.
Michael has played an active role in MIGW since its inception. A decade on, both MIGW and its tentpole event PAX – an expo celebrating gaming culture – have evolved into becoming one of the most important events in the country’s games industry calendar.
“When PAX first arrived in Melbourne, it was the largest consumer games exhibition globally,” Michael says. “Despite torrential rain and mud at its first event at Melbourne Showgrounds, strong attendance and support from the Victorian Government convinced PAX to return.”
Melbourne is the heart of the games sector
A city that is brimming with grassroots creativity, it was clear from the start why MIGW belonged in Melbourne. “Melbourne was chosen due to the strength of its game sector,” Michael explains. “Melbourne’s vibrant indie scene, with developers hosting their own events, adds colour and energy to the city during the week. A number of our indie studios now run their own parties and events during the week, which builds on the strength of the games community.”
“The growth over the last decade in the indie games scene is palpable,” Michael continues. “Many publishers note the unique and quirky qualities of Australian games that make them appealing to consumers.” PAX AUS, Michael adds, is the only edition of PAX outside of the US, cementing Australia’s games industry as a global leader.
Nothing can stop MIGW from gaming on
While MIGW has been a phenomenal success over the past 10 years, like any event of its size and magnitude, it hasn’t been without its challenges. COVID, Michael says, obviously threw a spanner in the works of this interactive week of connection.
However, for an industry that is constantly adapting to new technologies and ways of consuming entertainment, if anyone knew how to pull off a virtual event, it was the games sector. “The industry came together beautifully to present some of the best seminars and events we had experienced to date,” Michael says.
Another challenge, he adds, is perhaps the best kind for any event to have to face: venue growth. The popularity of PAX has grown immensely over the last decade, becoming the biggest show on the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre’s calendar. “[It] has continually needed to expand into more halls,” Michael says.
From PAX to the Education Symposium, Big Games Night Out to Play Now Melbourne, new events maybe have been added over the years of MIGW’s evolution, but the purpose of connecting aspiring games creators with each other and industry professionals can be found at the foundation of each and every event.
“The week has created a national and international platform for developers to come together and connect with each other,” Michael says. Not just developers, he adds, but also those participating in the culture that surrounds the industry. There’s an event for games music and sound design (High Score), a free party for games enthusiasts (Big Games Night Out) and a showcase of some of the most incredible cosplay at PAX.
Highlights from a decade of MIGW
“The safe and inclusive environment of games week has encouraged the best in cosplay,” Michael says. “My favourite cosplay moment was seeing a fan in full battle regalia and helmet, carrying a newborn baby in a sling across their chest. That was the best show of commitment I’ve seen.”
Another of Michaels’ MIGW highlights is observing the cosplayers register their battle paraphernalia before entering PAX. “Every year I get a kick out of the ‘weapons’ checkpoint at the PAX registration desk to ensure the spears, tridents, longbows and scimitars cause no actual harm. The work and talent that cosplayers put into their costumes is incredible. Every year they raise the bar.”
10 years is no short stint to be running an events week of this scale. The hard work, determination and complete and utter passion of the team behind MIGW, as well as the attendees, is a testament to the thriving nature of the games sector in this city.
“Seeing that level of engagement is truly inspirational”
The last decade has included its fair share of challenges and successes, peaks and troughs, but one memory that has stuck with Michael from the beginning speaks volumes to the unparalleled enthusiasm that underlines the whole week of events. “My favourite moment was standing inside the empty hall at my first PAX,” he says.
“[It was] one minute before the doors opened on the first day, and feeling the anticipation of 10,000 game enthusiasts waiting for the doors to open [to] let them pour into the venue. [I was] warning the Minister for Creative Industries that he may not want to stand in the centre of the aisle when the doors open…”
It’s this passion of the attendees, Michael points out, that makes MIGW the success it still is today, ten years on. “The community of gamers and game developers in Melbourne is incredibly strong, inclusive and collaborative,” he says. “Seeing that level of emotional and intellectual engagement and knowing that the program continues to draw new and ever-wider audiences is truly inspirational.”
Here’s to ten more years of connecting with community through games culture.
You can find the full Melbourne International Games Week program here.
This article was made in partnership with Melbourne International Games Week.
