At the recent Button Festival from March 8-9 2024, the 7th edition of the SAGA, the Styrian Game Awards, sponsored by Game Dev Graz and WKO, commenced. See here for more details and the full list of finalists. Also, check out the photos of the entire Button Festival.

Here are this year’s winners! Congratulations to the winners chosen by our jury and the audience!

Grand Prize and Audience Choice Award

VR Giants by Risa Interactive

VR Giants is a local coop VR game in which one VR player and one gamepad player work together. The VR player controls a giant and must protect and support the tiny player who is controlled by the screen player. The tiny player can use the body of the giant as an extension of the level.

🥇🥈VR Giants won the SAGA Grand Price and the Audience Choice Award presented by @GameDevGraz at the @button_Festival in Graz last weekend.
Thanks to the jury, all organizers and everyone who voted for VR Giants. 🥳 pic.twitter.com/dfdt5XwQVH

— VR Giants – 🎮 on Steam June 14th 🕹️ (@vrgiants) March 11, 2024

Local Star Award

Sisypush by Centi Games

Sisypush is a 1-bit puzzle game inspired by Sokoban games. Push rocks and other objects to clear the path to the final goal in each level! Play as Sisyphus from Ancient Greek mythology, who got punished to push a rock for eternity in the underworld after having cheated Death twice. While this game does not go on for eternity, you can play over 70 different levels with varying difficulties, each level having the goal of pushing the white rock into the goal tile.

🎉SISYPUSH WON @GameDevGraz 's SAGA LOCAL STAR AWARD!!!!🎉

Thank you so much!! This means A LOT to me!#indieGameDev pic.twitter.com/K2KjGWA3Kv

— Flo | Centi Games (Wishlist Wassermann on Steam) (@CentiGames) March 10, 2024

08. – 09. March 2024 :: Messe Graz

On 08 – 09.03.2024, the button Festival will return to Graz for 2 days of gaming culture.

This year with Game Dev Graz will organize some subevents and programme points:

• Meet’n’Play :: Local Game and Indie Game Exhibitions – Talk to Local Developers
• SAGA :: This years Styrian Games Awards will be presented at button Festival!

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StyriAn Games Awards 2024

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Schedule

Friday:

• 16:00 – 02:00 Meet’n’Play – Play local games!

Saturday:

• 11:00 – 18:00 Meet’n’ Play – Play local games!
• 17:00 SAGA – Award Ceremony – Main Stage 

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Meet’n’Play

Here is a list of games which will be showcased at the game exhibition

– To be announced

We are once again organizing a site in Graz for the Global Game Jam this year.
It will be held on January 26-28, hosted at Graz University of Technology (TU Graz), at Inffeldgasse 13, HS i8 and i9, 8010, Graz.

What is a Game Jam?

A game jam is an event that brings together game developers, designers, artists, and enthusiasts to create games from scratch in a limited time frame (usually 48 hours). Whether you’re a seasoned game developer or just passionate about gaming, a game jam offers an exciting opportunity to unleash your creativity, experiment with new ideas, and connect with like-minded individuals in a fun and inspiring environment.
The goal is to create a game together with others, but due to the limited time frame, the goal is not necessarily a finished game, but the journey; to learn something new, to meet people to cooperate further in the future, and so on.

Schedule

• Friday, January 26
  • 17:00 Start and Theme Announcement; Team-Finding afterwards
  • ~18:00 – 00:00 | working on the games
• Saturday, January 27
  • 09:00 – 00:00 | working on the games
• Sunday, January 28
  • 09:00 – 17:00 | working on the games

More detailed schedule coming soon…

FAQ

Can I participate even if I have no prior experience making games?
Yes! Absolutely. No worries ff this is your first time making games or joining a game jam. In fact, a game jam like this one is a great opportunity to get into game dev and work together with other people.

Can I come with a pre-made team?
Yes! If you and your friends or other folks already come prepared that’s fine with us.

Can I make a game all by myself or do I have to join a team?
Both is fine. We’re gonna have a brainstorming and teamfinding phase at the beginning to help people find a team they wanna join, but we’re not gonna force anyone to do so.

Do I have to make a game for the jam or can I also bring my own and keep working on that one?
Sure you can! While the jam will be focused on making new game from scratch we’re fine with you coming by and use the opportunity, being surrounded by people and all, to keep working on your own game.

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The jam is graciously being hosted by TU Graz and sponsored by HTU and Science Park Graz

Science Park Graz

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Poster illusration and design by Emrah Özbay

Phil’s departure leaves a deep void, and we are still in shock and mourning at this surreal loss. He was a core part of our community; ever helpful, diligent, and kind. Always ready to work hard and get things done for our shared vision, while always enjoying the little things along the way.
Much laughter, many long project hours and drinks were shared with him over the years, fond memories that we’ll forever hold close to our hearts.

We will always remember his legacy, not only through the games and projects he shared with us, but first and foremost by how much he inspired all of us as a person and just being our friend. He touched the lives of so many, and his memory will be a source of inspiration to all of us.

In the end, there is so much more left to say as we are still lost for words.

You were one of us, Phil, and will forever be missed. We are grateful that we could spend time with you, get to know you, and see you accomplish great things. You left us too early, yet you also left us with so much.

We want to express our deepest condolences to the families and all those who have been touched by this loss. We console ourselves with the thought that Phil and Michi have shared the most beautiful time together in their last days as newlyweds, and we know that they will be remembered forever.

In liebender Erinnerung, Game Dev Graz.

Phil and Michaela were also an integral part of the skating community, who share their memories of them with us: https://xn--grb-rla.at/2023/09/wir-trauern-um-phil-und-michaela/