ALT: GAMES

ALT: GAMES is a new festival celebrating the Australian games community and industry. The festival features digital showcases, sessions with industry leaders, and a large-scale interactive game installation. A Powerhouse initiative, presented in partnership with City of Parramatta, Screen Australia and Screen NSW

Key Highlights:

• ALT: PLAY
  ALT: Play is an Australian digital games showcase featuring local works-in-progress and newly released games.
  
  Date: 12–13 April 2025
  Time: 10am–3pm
  Location: PHIVE
  Tickets: Free
   
• ALT: EX
  ALT: Ex will showcase experimental games, exploring the breadth of the medium
  
  Date: 12–13 April 2025
  Time: 10am–3pm
  Location: PHIVE
  Tickets: Free
   

Special Workshops and Talks

ALT: Sessions is a series of deep dive sessions for emerging developers to gain industry knowledge

• Daniel Mullins 
  Join the creator of Inscryption, Daniel Mullins for an informal pitching session with selected developers. To apply to pitch your game: games@powerhouse.com.au 
  Date: 12 April 2025
  Time: 11am–12:30pm
  Location: PHIVE, Civic Gallery, Level 4
  Tickets: $10
   
• GUCK
  Go behind the scenes with the creators of Australia’s first Aboriginal mobile game Blaktasia to learn the secrets of making art for games. 
  Date: 12 April 2025
  Time: 10:30–11:30am (ages 7–13), 12:30–2pm (ages 14+)
  Location: PHIVE, Civic Reception, Level 4
  Tickets: To apply: games@powerhouse.com.au 
   
• Richard Garfield
  Join the creator of Magic the Gathering, Richard Garfield, as he examines the importance of game balance in game design
  Date: 12 April 2025
  Time: 1:30–3pm (ages 16+)
  Location: PHIVE, Civic Gallery, Level 4
  Tickets: $10
   
• JoJo Zhou
  Join JoJo Zhou for a game writing workshop where participants learn how to apply the fundamentals of storytelling to game creation
  Date: 13 April 2025
  Time: 10:30–11:30am (ages 16+)
  Location: PHIVE, Civic Gallery, Level 4
  Tickets: $10
   
• Steph Panecasio
  Deep dive into games journalism.
  Date: 13 April 2025
  Time: 11:30am–12:30pm (ages 16+)
  Location: PHIVE, Civic Reception, Level 4
  Tickets: $10
   
• Daniel Coppen and Tomo Kihara
  Discussion on engaging with play.
  Date: 13 April 2025
  Time: 1:30–2:30pm (ages 16+)
  Location: PHIVE, Civic Gallery, Level 4
  Tickets: $10
   
• Ally Mclean-Hennessy with Richard Garfield and Daniel Mullins
  Ally McLean-Hennessy in conversation with Richard Garfield and Daniel Mullins on deck building and design process.
  Date: 12 April 2025
  Time: 5–7pm
  Location: Parramatta Town Hall
  Tickets: $10 (ages 16+)
   

Installation

• How (not) to get hit by a self-driving car: Interactive installation by Playfool and Tomo Kihara
  Date: 12–13 April 2025
  Time: 10am–4pm
  Location: Parramatta Square
  Tickets: Free