** Grand Prize ** * Local Star Award powered by Fachgruppe UBIT Steiermark * * Audience Choice Award *
The StyriAn Games Awards – SAGA – give local indie game developers the opportunity to present their games and be rewarded. From all submissions, there will be five named finalists selected by a jury, that will be presenting their games at this years button Festival.
Deadlines:
January 16, Submission Deadline TBA , Award Ceremony @ button Festival
The Phil Gosch Award of Absurd Game Innovations honors the memory of Phil Gosch, who shaped the Austrian game development community with his humor, passion for experiments, and love for the weird, quirky, and creative. This year we award this prize for the first time. Learn more:
Here are this year’s winners! Congratulations to the winners chosen by our jury and the audience!
Grand Prize
Electric Alps by Dirty Paws Studio
Electric Alps is a 2D puzzle game based on real-world electrical engineering. Explore the flow of electricity, design your circuitry, blow fuses and solve logic-based wiring problems. Power up your village and electrify the Alps, one circuit at a time.
Blockfusion is a deceptively simple puzzle game about fusing blocks with each other. With a new twist around every corner, how far can you go? All packaged in a premium mobile game with no predatory monetization.
What would happen if Castlevania: Symphony of the Night and Quake had a baby?
Explore a giant castle filled with monsters. Find new gear, weapons and powerups and fight to grow stronger. End the demon king’s reign and avenge your father.
We are once again organizing a site in Graz for the Global Game Jam this year. It will be held on January 24-26, hosted at Graz University of Technology (TU Graz), at Inffeldgasse 13, HS i8 and i9, 8010, Graz.
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 24
17:00 Start and Theme Announcement; Team-Finding afterwards
~18:00 – 23:00 | working on the games
Saturday, January 25
08:00 – 23:00 | working on the games
Sunday, January 26
08:00 – 17:00 | working on the games
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.
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!!!!🎉
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.
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.
It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that we write this letter to pay tribute and express our eternal gratitude to Philipp Gosch, our vice president and founding member of the association Game Development Graz and an integral part of the Austrian and international game development scene. But most importantly, to our dear friend, who was suddenly taken from our midst.
Phil was known for his contagious enthusiasm, multifaceted talents, extraordinarily kind heart, and his always fun attitude. Not only was he a foundational pillar of Game Dev Graz, but also a driving force behind bringing the community together, spreading knowledge, and organizing events like our local game jams and the Game Dev Days.
Phil was a skilled and experienced technical artist as well as a seasoned software developer. He was constantly striving for innovation, and his expertise seemingly had no boundaries, while also being eager and willing to share his knowledge with others.
Even more importantly however, beyond his professional achievements, he was an exceptional individual who enriched the lives of everyone who met him, from all around the world.
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.
!!! Important Info !!! Due to the current situation concerning the dissemination of COVID-19 and on the instructions of the Austrian Federal Government various events have to be canceled/postponed. The button Festival got **rescheduled** to May 8-9 (preliminary dates).
On 8-9 May 2020, the button Festival will return to Graz for 2 days of gaming culture.
This year with Game Dev Graz will organize many subevents and programme points:
Talking Dev :: Talks from Game Dev Professionals (Friday evening 2nd floor, free entry)
Meet’n’Play :: Local Game and Indie Game Exhibitions -Talk to Local Developers (all day in Game Dev Area)
SAGA Award :: Fourth Styrian Games Award will be presented at Button Festival!
Schedule:
Friday:
15:00 – 03:00 Meet’n’Play – Play local games! – loc::GAME DEV AREA
19:00 – 21:00 TALKING DEV EXTRA EVENT – loc::2nd floor!
Saturday:
10:00 – 22:00 Meet’n’ Play – Play local games! – loc::GAME DEV AREA
20:00 SAGA AWARDS – Main Stage
Talking Dev @ button 2020:
Special Event: Friday, 8.5. 19:00 – 21:00: TALKING DEVS
Free Entry!
Schedule to be confirmed!!!
18:45 – Door opens.
19:00 Official Opening
19:15 Klemens Franz: “The Same Game” – Thoughts on how analogue games based on digital games work.
19:50 Silvia Wipfler (tbc)
20:30 Daniel Pellicer (SAGA Alumni): Developing Kemono Heroes: Journey to mt. Fuji
Speaker: Silvia Wipfler (tbc)
After having worked as a freelance Localization Specialist in the gaming industry for several years, I finally decided to pursue my dream of becoming a Concept Artist. It’s been my wish to learn from experienced industry pros, which is why I founded Carbon Black – Entertainment Design Workshops. I wanted to bring my favorite artists to Graz and to my delight, my talent for event organization proved to be much more sophisticated than my ability to draw straight lines (the solution to this problem are curves, obviously).
Speaker: Klemens Franz
“The Same Game” – Thoughts on how analogue games based on digital games work.
Klemens Franz was born in Graz. He studied at the University of Applied Sciences, Graz „Information Management“ and at the University of Tampere, Finland „Digital Games Research and Design“. For six years he worked as an Assistant for New Media at the FH Joanneum. In 2007 he started illustrating and designing analogue games. Since then he has worked on more than 250 games. He’s married, has 5 children and lives in the south-east of Austria.
Speaker: Daniel Pellicer (Mad Gear Games, SAGA Alumni): Developing Kemono Heroes: Journey to mt. Fuji
Daniel Pellicer is composer and programmer for Mad Gear Games. Since he was a kid he has been playing video games and now he enjoys also making them. His favourite console is Super Nintendo as he enjoyed a lot playing games like Terranigma, Chrono Trigger, Secret of Mana and Megaman X. He likes Sekiro.
Meet’n’Play:: Here is a list of games which will be showcased at the game exhibition @ button 2020:
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SAGA Finalists:: These five games will be exhibited in the Game Dev area as well @ button 2020:
SAGA Award :: Fourth Styrian Games Award will be presented at Button Festival!
You can vote for the finalists to get the Audience Choice Award at the Game Dev area. The awards will be announced on Saturday at 20:00.
The game is primarily a real-time multiplayer PvP experience in a Sci-Fi setting for iOS. It offers two interesting layers, the strategic layer (card management and deck building) and the tactical layer (PvP old-school RTS combat).
Players collect spaceships and create a deck of 8 ships, then test their strategy against other players in a fast-paced multiplayer real-time online experience. During the match, players earn resources (minerals) they can use to build ships from their previously created deck and try to destroy the enemy planet while defending their own.
Games yield rewards that can be used to improve the player’s fleet. They can unlock new ships or improve the ones they have already unlocked.
B.i.t.Lock is a 2D puzzle game where you move different blocks in a grid-based system. These blocks can be shifted and shaped to create certain patterns, which are required to solve the puzzle. All blocks move at the same time in the same direction and interact with their environment. A puzzle is solved when the movable blocks fill out the required shape with a certain pattern.
You navigate through six different worlds with their own themes and mechanics and free the world bit by bit with each level solved. Each world has its own style of gameplay and requires different ways of thinking to solve the puzzles.
Vintage Story is an uncompromising wilderness survival sandbox game inspired by Lovecraftian horror themes. Find yourself in a ruined world reclaimed by nature and permeated by unnerving temporal disturbances. Relive the advent of human civilization, or take your own path.
Start out empty-handed and learn to survive by foraging, hunting, crafting, and fighting. Enter the stone age by knapping primitive stone tools and sculpting clay for essential pottery. Advance further by smelting copper for more powerful tools, creating bronze alloys, learning to work iron, and ultimately mechanizing common tasks.
Enter a vast open-world populated by a range of cute, strange, dangerous, and outright horrifying creatures. Vintage Story utilizes a great deal of procedural technology to create immensely diverse landscapes, climate conditions, and geological features to always keep exploration fresh and exciting.
Take on the role of a lost being in the body of a tall blue creature and discover the remnants of civilization. There is no linear storytelling; it is up to you to piece together who you are and what has happened from the little evidence that remains. During your journey, you will encounter wayward creatures, find old stories, battle temporal instability, and endure temporal storms.
Weaving Tides is a charming single-player adventure set in a world of magic and textile. Ride on the backs of your carpet dragons and explore the stunning landscape soaring above and diving below the weave.
Call your Weaver and set out on a journey to explore ancient dungeons, solve puzzles, challenge quirky creatures and unravel the great mysteries of a long-forgotten past!
• Dive into an enchanting, woven world and reveal secret pathways.
• Stitch and cut your way through the textile landscape and wrap up your foes using your Weavers unique stitching abilities.
• Solve tricky textile puzzles that are scattered across the world.
• Conquer Zelda-like dungeons but beware of their fearsome guardians!
• Befriend different Weavers, choose the one that fits your playstyle.
• Outfit your Weavers with mystic embroideries to enhance their abilities.
• Uncover hidden mysteries packed in a charming story.
Pixel Soldier is a fast-paced game about fighting frantic bosses, while quickly dodging their attacks. Disregard gravity while walking on walls and jumping from one side of the room to another. With a minimalist yet dynamic 4-color aesthetic that doesn’t distract from the pure arcade action gameplay.
Get to know the five SAGA finalists of the previous year 2019. here: SAGA 2019
Daniel Pellicer is composer and programmer for Mad Gear Games. Since he was a kid he has been playing video games and now he enjoys also making them. His favourite console is Super Nintendo as he enjoyed a lot playing games like Terranigma, Chrono Trigger, Secret of Mana and Megaman X. He likes Sekiro.
