We’re back! Well, most of us didn’t really *GO* anywhere per se, but I mean like we’re back to the grind! How were your holidays? Did you eat a lot of food? Exchange gifts? Boop a cute animal on the nose? Spent too much on cute clothes to keep you warm? Any of those are fine, imo.

Anyways, it’s January and you know what that means… EVENTS AND LOTS OF STUFF! The fun doesn’t stop in December. Let’s do this!

But honestly…..

Don’t forget, there’s Google Calendar, in which you can check out all of the events here in one handy, downloadable place!

WHERE TO JAUNT – EVENTS

January 8

Toronto Gaymers are back at it with their casual fighting game drop-in event, Fight Club, hosted at The Hive! Bee there (I’m so sooo sorry for that pun)

January 9

DMG is starting off the month with a GM (Game Master) Club! Want to learn how to be one in a safe space? You got it!

January 10

Let’s party like it’s 3308 and not 2019! Come party at Digital Nights hosted by Cybeats at 10pm. Yeah, let’s do that! Woo! *puts on dancing shoes* OKAY I’M READY.

January 19

Anime Shogatsu 2019 is here! Yeeeeeeeeah! Go celebrate anime culture and the Japanese new year… in style!

Happy birthday 1999! You’re 20 years old! You’re doing amazing, sweetie! Wait…. *feels old*

July 12 (lol)

TransformerCon. ‘Nuff said.

January 13

Canadian Toycon for y’all who like to collect. As a matter of fact, January seems to be popular with toy-related events. Very interesting…

February 1

It’s cold out there, folks, so check out the Toronto Tea Festival! There’s always time for tea, imo.

WHERE TO HAUNT – SOCIALS

January 4

Long Winter! This time it’ll be at the Gladstone Hotel. A cute home if I do say so myself! Oh, and it’s all-ages and accessible! YES!

January 7

Toronto Top Tiers is back, bayby!! Fighting games for all-a-y’all! Prepare to get STUNNED. Thanks, The Hive! You’ve always BEEn there for us. (lol)

January 14

Friends Play Games #118 (That’s a lot of games)

January 22

Get Even Gaymes Night! Board Game night for all the tabletop lovers out there!

Bonus Stage: January Edition! Sign up below and talk for all of five minutes (OR LESS) in front of a friendly crowd of fellow game devs.

January 23

DMG is hosting a Tabletop Game Night! Go play Monsterhearts 2!

January 28

Friends Play Games #119! Make friends! Play games, discourse and FUN…!

January 30

Torontaru–January 2019 Edition!

COMING AND GOING ATTRACTIONS

Humber College has a new building going live in January called The Centre for Technology Innovation that is dedicated to students solving problems with industry partners. The space will be filled with computers, Cintiqs, VR/AR kits, a maker-space, mo-cap cameras plus heavy industrial equipment from the School of Applied Technology!

MAKE A GAME THIS MONTH PLEASE

#ICYMI

AHHHHHHH Toronto’s Ryan Roth shared this cool gif of a game him and his team are working on!

CONGRATS TO THE DRINKBOX TEAM! #ALLCAPS #

Daniel has a new game! Go play it! Stare at the eyebrows!

A Christmas Peril launched and 100% of proceeds are donated to a local charity in Toronto! Ahh!

BREADWINNER – JOBS/GIGS/OPPORTUNITIES/DEADLINES

Early Bird Post! Next month InterAccess is hosting a workshop! Interactive Writing with Texture: Valentine’s Edition! (Spots Limited!)

Vector Festival’s open call for submissions!

Returning festival curators Martin Zeilinger and Katie Micak are seeking new media artworks for inclusion in a flagship exhibition to be hosted by InterAccess, as well as offsite screenings, performances, and online projects. The deadline for submissions is February 01, 2019 (midnight). The festival will take place in Toronto from July 11-14, 2019.

InterAccess is looking for curators!

InterAccess is currently seeking exhibition proposals from curators with experience developing and presenting exhibitions of new media art. We invite proposals for curated solo exhibitions or group exhibitions that highlight critical approaches to emerging and experimental new media arts practices.

InterAccess is committed to supporting underrepresented voices in new media art. We welcome applications from curators from diverse backgrounds.

Xpace Cultural Centre is looking for submissions!

Xpace Cultural Centre is seeking artworks from student and emerging artists for a group exhibition tentatively titled “The Bald Eagle’s Claw”, curated by Philip Leonard Ocampo. The exhibition will run from July 5 – August 3, 2019.

Deadline January 9th!

MORE SUBMISSIONS LMAO

Hamilton Artists Inc.’s call for submissions!

Hamilton Artists Inc. is seeking dynamic proposals from artists, collectives and curators at various stages of their careers for its numerous exhibition platforms and public programs. The Inc. is mandated to exhibit a range of artistic disciplines and career levels, and to exhibit a cross-section of artists from local, regional and national communities.

Disclaimer: This is a monthly compilation of various Toronto game news and events in and around the city — many of which are not organized by Hand Eye Society — and is by no means comprehensive. Always check official links for accurate details and credits, and please send any corrections, additions, or submissions for future months to calendar@handeyesociety.com before the month in which the event takes place.

Snow! Eww gross! It’s everywhere! What? It’s December already? How did we get here? Who did this? I want my money back!

*storms into the Weather Network*

*looks at sign*

[NO REFUNDS, RETURNS OR EXCHANGES]

Welp, maybe we should get the best of it? Let’s check out some of the hot events this month that’ll keep you warm between streetcar rides and taxi stops!

Time to play some VIDEOGAMES!

By the way, egg nog is so gross! How do you even drink that? Is it egg? Is it nog? Who even knows at this point?! 2018 is wild!

IDONTLIKEEGGNOG

Back to VIDEOGAMES!

Don’t forget, there’s Google Calendar, in which you can check out all of the events here in one handy, downloadable place!

WHERE TO JAUNT – EVENTS

December 1

Aquaman (lol) Cosplay contest at Yonge/Dundas! First 10 people to cosplay get an advance screening to Aquaman, so that’s no laughing matter! Plus there will be more prizes! Whoa, what’s a lot of sashimi!  (I hear the movie might even be…good? ) Hosted by EB Games Canada and (Super) Warner Bros.!

December 5

DMG is having a workshop on performance optimization in unity hosted by Greg Puzniak! This BYOG (Bring Your Own Game) and you too can optimize your current project! Linky! (Sold out, but keep an eye out for last-minute openings.)

December 2

It’s KupoCon! Kupo! How rad is it that we have a cute lil Final Fantasy event in Toronto?

December 8

Fan Expo is here…in December? Whaa? It’s their Holiday Show! And I quote “1-day shopping extravaganza.”

Also December 8

Are you 16 to 24 years old and interested in digital avatars and learning Unity? Subtle Technologies‘ 2018 festival program, We++ includes a day-long workshop series exploring virtual landscapes and self-representation in diverse cyberspaces, presented in partnership with Gamma Space and Hand Eye Society. Check out deets and sign up  here!

WHERE TO HAUNT – SOCIALS

December 1 

I know a lot of folks love Blade Runner and its aesthetic, so here’s it playing in IMAX at the Ontario Place Cinesphere! Maybe inspiration for a new game?

December 3

Yay! Queers & More Queers Game Night at TMAC! Hosted by Board Again Games! Looks like a gay ol time! Deets!

December 4

*Movie guy voice* FIGHT CLUB! Bring your sticks, pads and controllers to Toronto Gaymer’s weekly casual fighting game community! No shoryuken skills necessary!

SPINNNNNNING BIRD KICK!

November 30- December 2

Lanwar X! Ontario’s largest LAN party! Dang, seems rad!

December 6

Toronto Game Audio Thing (their title, not mine, hehe) Network and with craft beer, pizza, arcade videogames and great game audio-related conversations. Open to everyone and anyone interested in sound and music for videogames!

December 7

Kawaii for the Holidays (forgive us, Japan) Anyway, it’s a fun party hosted by our anime overlords Crunchyroll and Kawaii Box! Prizes, games, fun!, oh my! This is a 19+ event.

December 8

*inhales* Holidays with Attitude Fan Days After Party! Our friends at Power Up Game Bar has you covered for fun times! This event is 19+.

Super Smash Bros. Fan Meetup at the Toronto Metro Convention Centre during the Toronto Fan Days: Holiday Show! Show Luigi that Kirby is the one true hero!

December 10

Hosted by DMG, Open RPG Gaming Night! If you wanted to get into RPGs, now your chance to go and make new friends, too..!

December 14

Awww yeah! It’s Electric Perfume time! Get jiggy with it! (na na na na na na na) <- if you get that reference then we’re BFFs.

Lots of games, alt-controllers, interactive media and (much much) more!

December 18

Bonus Stage [Eat, Play, Mingle & 13AM Games] Go forth and socialize at Power Up Game Bar! at 6pm sharp!!

COMING AND GOING ATTRACTIONS

Soon…

Humber College has a new building going live in January called The Centre for Technology Innovation that is dedicated to students solving problems with industry partners. The space will be filled with computers, Cintiqs, VR/AR kits, a maker-space, mo-cap cameras plus heavy industrial equipment from the School of Applied Technology!

Global Game Jam is an attraction, right? RIGHT?

#ICYMI

Hurray! LongStory has launched on the Nintendo Switch! Congrats to the Bloom Digital team!

Below is coming out next week. Yeah, I got nothing witty to say. This game is IT.

Gabby is on a roll! (not a cinnamon one, mind you!)

https://twitter.com/gabdar/status/1067462967657062401

https://twitter.com/gabdar/status/1062359933272948736

THIS TRAILER IS VERY IMPORTANT

This real talk by our friends at the Toronto Public Library lol. Hey, maybe someday we’ll see videogames on that list!

…and last but certainly not least, we had WORDPLAY! Our 6th annual festival of writerly games saw hundreds of attendees at the Toronto Reference Library, and included — among many other things — an impassioned case for de-colonizing punctuation and grammar, an intimate look into the romantic lives of queer elderly folk, and 2-hour Nicolas Cage-themed LARP in one of the computer labs (you had to be there).

https://twitter.com/gregbuchanan/status/1061621200793858049

BREADWINNER – JOBS/GIGS/OPPORTUNITIES/DEADLINES

Vector Festival’s Open Call for Submissions!

Returning festival curators Martin Zeilinger and Katie Micak are seeking new media artworks for inclusion in a flagship exhibition to be hosted by InterAccess, as well as offsite screenings, performances, and online projects. The deadline for submissions is February 01, 2019 (midnight). The festival will take place in Toronto from July 11-14, 2019.

Capybara Games is searchin’ for a Gameplay Programmer!

Get Set is looking for Programmers! Also, it seems that they’ve also partnered with Gearbox Publishing! A secret project, huh? Hmm…

Ubisoft is looking for a Level Designers as well as a bunch of other careers! Also…..*drumroll*

Ubisoft Indie Series is Back: Submissions Now Open!

The Ubisoft Indie Series presented by National Bank is an annual competition for independent game development studios in Ontario. The Grand Prize Winner of this year’s competition will receive a $50,000 cash prize, mentorship from Ubisoft Toronto, and creative, marketing and financial tools to help support the development of their game.

The application deadline is December 15, 2018 11:59 p.m. EST. Enter at http://toronto.ubisoft.com/indieseries

NEW FOR THIS YEAR’S COMPETITION: In past editions of the competition, eligible entries were limited to games that were developed on PC, in addition to other platforms. The requirement that games must be developed for PC has been removed.

Uken Games is on the prowl for a bunch of various folks!

Code for Canada is hiring a couple of awesome people to help post flyers all over Toronto for the next several weeks!

We think this a great short-term job for students on winter break, or really anyone who wants to get out there, explore different parts of Toronto and help launch a really cool new civic tech program.

Details: 10 hrs / week for ~4 weeks, $14/hour, TTC reimbursement

Start: Monday, December 10th

If you or someone you know might be interested, please email marisa@codefor.ca.

Humber College is looking for game programming instructors for courses starting January!
Contact Umer.Noor@humber.ca for more details.

Intro to C# and Unity
Wed 1:30pm-3:15pm
Thur 1:30pm-3:15pm

Obj. Oriented Analysis and Design
Wed 2:25-6:00
Tues 1:30-5:00

3D Game Physics (using C++)
Fri 2:25-6:00
+ 4hrs online

NarraScope is an interractive games games conference (EXCUSE ME?? THIS IS A THING?)

Anywho, they’re looking for talks, panels, etc. If you’re the narrative type, you should do a thing and submit! Check it out! might be something you’re lookin’ for!

Disclaimer: This is a monthly compilation of various Toronto game news and events in and around the city — many of which are not organized by Hand Eye Society — and is by no means comprehensive. Always check official links for accurate details and credits, and please send any corrections, additions, or submissions for future months to calendar@handeyesociety.com before the month in which the event takes place.

*Turns away from the campfire*

*Puts down my 3DS*

Oh, hello. Didn’t notice you there! I’m Royel! Most of you may know me as Rokashi, and ICYMI, I’m the new Communications Manager here at Hand Eye! Don’t worry, I’ll spare you the Sonic memes and references… for now. Anyway, it’s nice to meet ya and I’m looking forward to getting to meet more of y’all! Let’s be friends!

I don’t know about you but anything less than 25ºC is cold and let’s be honest, I don’t think November has any surprises for us in that regard, BUT there are tons of events and socials to attend to keep those buns as warm as possible in our chilly climate!

Let’s do our best to November a less-cold one by coming together for VIDEOGAMES.

Don’t forget, there’s Google Calendar, in which you can check out all of the events here in one handy, downloadable place!

November 10

IT’S WORDPLAY! Our annual festival dedicated to the world of wordy games! We’ve got speakers from all corners of the world, including Brazil, the UK, and of course right here in Toronto. From Southern Gothic anthologies to elderly romance and anti-Brexit interactive fiction, we bring the best in contemporary writerly and narrative games for one day only to the Toronto Reference Library.

You can find details of our speaker lineup here and our list of games here! Oh, and don’t forget to RSVP to WordPlay on Facebook!

November 13

DMG is hosting their second tabletop night with *dramatic echo-y voice* Apocalypse World~. Should be fun! Deets here.

November 14

Want to make a game controller that can be squished, stretched, stroked, or smooshed? Heck yeah you do! Check it!

November 16

Join Hand Eye Society and TMAC for a cozy evening with the Snapchat team, as we explore the new Lens Studio Augmented Reality platform! Meet a Snapchat developer as they demonstrate the process of importing your artwork, crafting your interactive experience using Lens Studio templates, and finally publishing your finished Lens to Snapchat. There will be a Q&A, followed by drinks, mingling, and a chance to talk with the Snap Lens Studio folks; possibly even a Lens scavenger hunt!

This event is FREE, but spots are limited and we’re over 50% booked at the time of this posting. Reserve your place here!

November 28

Always wanted to learn how to use Unity? DMG is hosting an intro session! If you want to make games using a different engine, now’s the time!

December 4 (Okay, okay, it’s not November, but close enough!)

OCAD is hosting a student-run artist’s alley! If you’re still looking for a gift for someone, maybe you can find it here?

December 4

Storytelling with Twine! (Brentwood) (A great intro to using the Twine engine to make games!) An amazing experience, especially if you’re going to our WordPlay event on Nov 10.

WHERE TO HAUNT – SOCIALS

November 8

Speed networking! Finally, an event for me! But seriously, There’s an Indie Mixer happening and if you want to meet other indie friends to befriend and/or make a game with, this is it!

November 10 & 11

Next Level is another Canadian videogame convention! (I’m glad we’re getting so many! Take THAT PAX!) Engage with like-minded folks and compete in eSports tournaments featuring various games with prizes of $5k+!

November 12

Friends Play Games No. 115! Play games with friends over at TMAC!

November 20

Power Up Game Bar is hosting Bonus Stage–hosted by Eat Play Mingle and 13AM Games! Come out and meet some new like-minded friends! Starts at 6:00pm and goes till 9:30pm. Everyone is welcome, students encouraged!! Bonus: (see what i did there?) It’s their 2-year anniversary!  And they’re looking for folks to do a 5-minute talk. The theme? The future!

~

Dames Playing Games No. 7 is here! Tons of games, activities and refreshments await you!

COMING AND GOING ATTRACTIONS

November 5

Vintage Tech Hunters premiers on Discovery Canada at 8pm! Co-hosted by the lovely Shaun Hatton and Bohus Blahut! I wonder what kind of tech they’ll find…

November 12 & 13

If you’re near Montréal, perhaps MIGS (Montréal International Games Summit, fyi)  is up your alley?

#ICYMI

Kait Tremblay released a new Twine! If you know how I feel about Twine games, you already know how excited I am for this one! Also, all October proceeds are being donated to a women’s shelter! Kait is amazing!

https://twitter.com/kait_zilla/status/1053721830597558272

Jonathan Levstein has a new game! Go play! Go go go!

We were at this year’s EGLX! Check out some tweets from the show floor!

https://twitter.com/Mr_Tedders/status/1056709108101976064

Local indie company Laundry Bear Games has their game Mortician’s Tale featured in a ~spooky~ bundle with other rad devs!

BREADWINNER – JOBS/GIGS/OPPORTUNITIES/DEADLINES

Capybara Games is searchin’ for a Gameplay Programmer!

Get Set is looking for Programmers! Also, it seems that they’ve also partnered with Gearbox Publishing! A secret project, huh? Hmm…

The Really Serious Game Company is looking for a Junior Background Artist!

Ubisoft is looking for a Level Designers as well as a bunch of other careers!

Uken Games is on the prowl for a Software Developer!

IM EXCITED FOR JOBS! JOBS! JOBS! JOBS!

Disclaimer: This is a monthly compilation of various Toronto game news and events in and around the city — many of which are not organized by Hand Eye Society — and is by no means comprehensive. Always check official links for accurate details and credits, and please send any corrections, additions, or submissions for future months to calendar@handeyesociety.com before the month in which the event takes place.