EVENT HIGHLIGHTS: All the fun and games at Melbourne International Games Week & Big Games Night Out
Melbourne International Games Week (MIGW) is back with a huge range of events for families, friends and game enthusiasts to enjoy! Melbourne will become a games wonderland with events including ACMI’s Cult of the Lamb: Live, the Big Games Night Out on 5 October in Fed Square, and a range of exciting events in partnership with Melbourne Fringe, there is something for absolutely everyone this year at MIGW.
Event highlight details below, the full program of events is available here
BIG GAMES NIGHT OUT
Big Games Night Out is a free, inclusive, accessible and all-ages event that welcomes families, casual, social, hardcore and curious gamers from all walks of life to come together and celebrate amongst a spectacle of games, technology and civic ritual.
The Big Games Night Out will feature live performances from Tripod, Montaigne and more, games activations, tournaments, games swap meet, intergenerational games meet, immersive audience participation experiences, prizes and more, including the events below.
Cosplay Parade and Runway Experience
Open to all cosplayers to participate, regardless of skill level, whether you make or buy your costumes – all are encouraged to sign up here now. It’s open to all cosplayers regardless of whether you make or buy your costumes – all are welcome to sign up via the EOI here.
Stray Gods Fashion Show
Stray Gods is an upcoming Victorian role-playing musical game expected to impact the games industry greatly. It’s an epic story about gods, magic, and a thousand-year journey to rediscover one’s purpose in a fantasy world filled with magic, music, fashion, and adventure. To mark the launch of Stray Gods, Big Games Night Out presents a multi-disciplinary event highlighting the game’s incredible blend of games, music, and fashion. Eight Melbourne designers will showcase Stray Gods’ character costumes and creations in virtual and real life.
Cult of the Lamb: The Ritual
Join everyone’s favourite lamb and a cabal of cute and creepy denizens in a spectacular, immersive Fed Square takeover. Presented by ACMI and Melbourne Fringe Cult of the Lamb: The Ritual features jaw-dropping large-scale puppets and performers, a live DJ performance by River Boy and giant animated projections featuring your favourite characters from the hit game. The performance is created by Massive Monster, and features Goldens Scissors Puppets and Jean Poole Projection Mapping.
Cult of the Lamb: The Ritual is supported by Fed Square and Panasonic, and made possible with the support of a RISE grant.
EVENT DETAILS
Running: Thursday 5 October from 5pm til late
Where: Fed Square
Price: Free
More info: gamesweek.melbourne/biggamesnightout
CULT OF THE LAMB: LIVE
Cult of the Lamb: Live projects Massive Monster’s award-winning Melbourne-made game onto the ACMI cinema screen with newly arranged live accompaniment by musicians from Orchestra Victoria, joined on stage by soundtrack designer, musician and composer River Boy (Narayana Johnson).
Join the Lamb, Leshy and other favourite characters in a brand new narrative crafted by the team at Massive Monster that is sure to enthral fans of all ages. Following each of the performances is a discussion featuring the Massive Monster creatives on game, music and sound design.
Presented by ACMI, Massive Monster, Orchestra Victoria and MIGW
EVENT DETAILS
Running: Friday 6 October from 6:00-7:00pm | Saturday 7 October 2023 from 3:30-4.30pm & 6:00-7:00pm
Where: Cinema 1, Level 2, ACMI, Fed Square
Price: Tickets range from $18 to $25 and are available here
More info: gamesweek.melbourne/events/2023/cult-of-the-lamb-live
VOLO: DREAMS OF FLIGHT
Look down from the clouds as you soar through the sky in a da Vinci-inspired flying contraption – all without leaving the ground.
This VR headset experience co-programmed with Melbourne Fringe lets you pilot one of four flying contraptions, transforming a regular playground swing into an exhilarating aerial experience. Feel the flutter in your belly as your swing catches air and you glide over rugged terrain, soar as an ornithopter, or parachute slowly to earth.
Studio Go Go celebrate da Vinci’s fabulous aerial imaginings in this breath-taking work that offers four unique experiences of flight.
VOLO: Dreams of Flight is presented by Melbourne Fringe & Fed Square. It was also supported through the Melbourne City Revitalisation Fund – a $200 million partnership of the Victorian Government and the City of Melbourne.
EVENT DETAILS
Running: 4 October through 22 October 2023 | Multiple sessions from 12pm-7pm every day
Where: Fed Square, Cnr Flinders & Swanston Sts
Price: Tickets start at $10 and are available here
More info: gamesweek.melbourne/events/2023/volo-dreams-of-flight
ACMI AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD
Spanning 13 game categories, the Australian Game Design Awards (AGDAs) elevate and celebrate the diverse and talented local games Industry.
As part of Melbourne International Games Week, ACMI is partnering with the AGDAs to present a playable showcase of the best games Australia has to offer. Drop into the museum and try out a selection of outstanding games, before you vote on which game takes out this year’s highly coveted ACMI Audience Award!
EVENT DETAILS
Running: Friday 6 October: 12pm-5pm | Saturday 7 & Sunday 8 October: 10am-5pm
Where: Swinburne Studio, Level 1, ACMI, Fed Square
Price: Free
More info: gamesweek.melbourne/events/2023/the-agdas-acmi-audience-award-2023
MARIO KING OF KART TOURNAMENT
The thrilling Mario King of Kart Tournament is back for 2023 – an action-packed evening that will pit 32 competitors against one another as they play Mario Kart Deluxe 8 on the Nintendo Switch and vie for the coveted title of ‘King of Kart Champion’.
EVENT DETAILS
Running: Friday 6 October 2023 from 5.00pm-10.00pm
Where: The Edge, Fed Square
Price: Free, registrations essential
Register here: gamesweek.melbourne/events/2023/mario-king-of-kart-tournament
GAMES DUNK PRESENTS A STICKY SITUATION!
Peak behind the veil of tabletop roleplay design in this hands-on workshop. Indie game designers Lee, Paddy and Helen will guide all participants through constructing a game zine from scratch.
In this hands-on workshop, participants will dive into a small mountain of pens, glue, art assets and prompt games to emerge with a unique game zine of their very own. All materials will be provided. Bring yourself and we’ll show you how to do the rest!
EVENT DETAILS
Running: Saturday 30 September 2023 from 1pm to 5pm
Where: The Sticky Institute Location 2, Botanical Gardens
Price: Included with Scienceworks admission ($15 Adult, children under 16 free)
More info: gamesweek.melbourne/events/2023/game-dunk-presents-a-sticky-situation!
THE EDGE ARCADE
Immerse yourself in a journey through the world of classic arcade games, as Fed Square’s The Edge is transformed into a retro-gaming paradise with all the classics. The space will be filled with all the classics including Street Fighter, Pac-Man, Donkey Kong and Space Invaders to name just a few, all available to play for free!
With a mix of old-school arcade machines and screens to play multiplayer Switch games, there’s a huge selection of retro and nostalgic games available.
EVENT DETAILS
Running: Thursday 5 October 2023 from 5.00pm-10.00pm
Where: The Edge, Fed Square
Price: Free
More info: gamesweek.melbourne/events/2023/the-edge-arcade
Note: No bookings required, all are welcome to come to the space anytime from 5.30pm and 10.30pm and play as much as you like.
MONSTER FRIENDS POP-UP ARCADE
Monster Friends is a pop-up gaming arcade within Melbourne International Games Week, presented by Massive Monster. Come and explore our carefully curated selection of the best up-and-coming and new local indie games. Featuring premiere demos and exclusive merch, Monster Friends gives games enthusiasts and creators the chance to play, connect and get exciting behind-the-scenes insights into the titles. Whether you’re swinging by on your way to PAX or kicking off your PAX weekend early, it’s a must-see.
Games playable at the arcade will include Boomerang Fu, Cult of the Lamb, Gubbins, The Drifter, and The Dungeon Experience.
EVENT DETAILS
Running: October 3rd – October 8th (Tuesday-Friday 12pm to 5pm & Saturday-Sunday 11 am to 6pm
Where: 256 Brunswick St, Fitzroy, Melbourne
Price: Free
More info: gamesweek.melbourne/events/2023/monster-friends-pop-up-arcade
Note: Teen or PG, Games Classifications will be displayed
PLAY CAPITOL ARCADE
Discover a street arcade hidden in the middle of the Melbourne CBD at the Play Capitol Arcade. Follow a trail of five playable arcade machines embedded in shops and cafés starting at The Capitol.
Made by Melbourne artists, designers and musicians, each arcade machine has been transformed into a playable artwork featuring games that will have you race to catch a tram, learn indigenous language, make music from emojis, battle it out with Jukebot or head down the Yomeci Hole. Featuring work by Jarra Karalinar Steel, YomeciPlay, Troy Innocent, tiasu, Honeysmack, and Ranjit Nijjer. Members of RMIT’s Future Play Lab will also be appearing in the arcade looking for challengers if you’re game to put your skills to the test!
EVENT DETAILS
Running: Tuesday 3 October 2023 from 10am-8pm
Where: Capitol Arcade, 113 Swanston St, Melbourne
Price: Free
More info: futureplaylab.io
EDGAR RICE PLAYGROUND
Edgar Rice Playground is a hybrid physical-digital game where 1 to 4 players work together to surmount challenges in a jungle of hanging PlayStation Move Controllers.
Free to play, the game invites teams to navigate a jungle of vines as they change colours. You’ll need to communicate and work together as a team in order to survive each level. How far can you make it, and will you uncover the special twist ending?
Edgar Rice Playground has been designed and programmed by Douglas Wilson and Thomas Perl, co-produced by Melissa McGlensey, with interactive sound and music by David Kanaga.
EVENT DETAILS
Running: 4, 6, 7, 11, 13, 14 October from 7:00pm – 10pm
Where: Trades Hall Garage, 54 Victoria St, Carlton
Price: Free tickets are available here
More info: melbournefringe.com.au
Note: Recommended for ages 13+
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