#PlayApartTogether – Alex Sangston, Screen Tasmania
#PlayApartTogether
Recognising we all have a role to play in stopping the spread of COVID-19, IGEA is talking to our many industry stakeholders about the entertainment they are consuming and how they are practising self-isolation and social distancing. We know many of our connections love digital games and we love to seeing what they are playing, what they recommend playing and if they have any tips or resources to share with the community as they #PlayApartTogether during
these unusual times
Recently we spoke with Alex Sangston, Executive Manager at Screen Tasmania for our #PlayApartTogether series.
What tasks are you undertaking to keep yourself (and/or your family) occupied during these times of self-isolation, and physical and social distancing?
Dealing with the immediate emergency of the pandemic was more than enough to keep me occupied, and my habits didn’t really change that much as I’m a bit of a home-body anyway. As far as my family goes, I have an 8 year old daughter and we focused on reading, board games, bike riding, building Lego and dancing and singing. She also introduced me to Minecraft, and that became our Saturday morning Daddy-daughter routine.
Why these particular activities?
I’m always happy to introduce her to things I enjoyed while growing up – partly because I’m conscious to make sure that all activities are open to her; hopefully removing as many gender barriers for her that my generation grew up with. But really, I follow her lead and all of the above are her interests. We were trying to make sure she had a mix of indoor and outdoor; screen-based and not.
What games are you playing?
It’s interesting, iso gave me a massive nostalgia hit in the content I was consuming. In the video game world, this meant I ended up playing though a Gears of War game (can’t remember which one), going back into GTA5, and breaking out Just Dance with the family, plus I thoroughly enjoyed the remastered Monkey Island. The big find for me, during iso, though, was a little freebie game called Trickster 500, which lets you play games of 500 with friends across platforms (with in-built video chat) – it was a great way of keeping connected with mates so we could still catch up, have a couple of beers and play cards.
I also played through the legendary Untitled Goose Game a couple of times, and dabbled in Assassin’s Creed Odyssey (but wasn’t loving it so put it aside). I have a mild addiction to the Match-3/RPG Empires and Puzzles on my phone, and of course I regularly boot up Tassie games like Party Golf (non-stop quickfire golf aimed at parties), Party Crashers (similar idea, but a racing game), Shape Rush (a cute casual physics game) and Hive Time (a gorgeous little sim of a bee hive).
Do you play games alone or with others?
I don’t really play online – I’m frankly not a good enough player to be competitive in the big shooters online, but I’ve always loved local co-op, and I really miss it now that it’s far less common. I taught my daughter how to use a console with Snoopy’s Grand Adventure playing on co-op, and there’s nothing better than local co-op on a 3rd person shooter. Thankfully we’ve funded development on a couple of party games: Party Golf and Party Crashers, which are great fun with a bunch of people. However, I largely play by myself at night when everyone else has gone to bed.
What games are your family playing?
My wife isn’t much of a video gamer, although she does join in on Just Dance and professes a love for OG Sonic. My daughter tends to like watching me play (she loved Goose Game), or we co-op on Snoopy or compete in Sonic Racer All-Stars, and she quite likes Halfbrick’s Ruskulls and Fruit Ninja (on Kinect). Most of her gaming is non-competitive mobile-based, though. She loves the Dr Panda series and still breaks out the Play School iOS games (which are Tassie-designed!) even though she’s way too old for them. And then there’s Minecraft, obviously – she’s only interested in Creative Mode and knows she’s only allowed to play locally. She’s really building for the sake of building and showing us what she’s built. It’s quite amazing the stuff she comes up with.
Interestingly enough, my daughter has actually been doing a bit of light coding, too. Her teacher introduced her to the MIT-developed Scratch platform and she’s using it to animate short films and build educational games – entirely self-taught through youTube and tutorials. I’m perpetually amazed what she can do with it.
Are there any games you recommend?
Everything which Screen Tasmania has supported! I’ve mentioned Party Golf and Party Crashers, but we have also funded a lemmings-style puzzler called Squidgies Takeover on the Switch (all three of those are from Giant Margarita), a lovely retro platformer for mobile called Cracked Crusaders (Webbysoft), and out very soon is a narrative adventure called Where the Snow Settles, the first game from Myriad Game Studios.
What resources do you recommend to assist parents and carers manage and monitor game play for their children?
Get to know the parental controls on whatever platform your kids are on – they’re incredibly customisable and powerful. However, the best way to manage and monitor your kids’ game play is to play with them and talk to them about what video games are and why they’re fun – or not.
The other thing I’d say – and this might reflect the age my daughter is – is that she knows what she does and doesn’t want to play. She’s not interested in violence, so I don’t have to place strictures around that. She also understands that most things are not appropriate for her, which she’s fine with because she knows she‘d find them scary or disturbing. Things might change as she hits the teen years, of course, but at the moment it’s going OK.
#PlayApartTogether – Professor Jeff Brand, Bond University
#PlayApartTogether
Recognising we all have a role to play in flattening the curve and stopping the spread of COVID-19, IGEA is talking to our many industry stakeholders about the entertainment they are consuming and how they are practising self-isolation and social distancing. We know many of our connections love digital games and we love to seeing what they are playing, what they recommend playing and if they have any tips or resources to share with the community as they #PlayApartTogether during
these unusual times
Recently we spoke with Professor Jeffrey Brand for our #PlayApartTogether series. You may recognise Jeff as the author of our DANZ research reports
What tasks are you undertaking to keep yourself (and/or your family) occupied during these times of self-isolation, and physical and social distancing?
- Work, work, study, work.
- Home maintenance, cleaning, updating.
- All five of us are building in Minecraft on PC, creative mode. Even Mum is now playing, finally! Others are in a range of games, kids online with friends, Mum and Dad more single-player on phones.
- Streaming TV series – catching up on popular shows on Netflix, Stan, Apple TV+, Disney+, and Amazon Prime … yep, there is one we want to watch on each service … of course.
- Walks and exercise at home.
Why these particular activities?
- Fewer commute hours.
- Fewer office watercooler chats.
- Fewer alternative activities
- No gym time.
- Resetting priorities, given the opportunity.
What games are you playing?
Minecraft on (PC), I Love Hue Too (iOS), Sudoku 2 Pro (iOS), Wordscapes (iOS)
Do you play games alone or with others?
Minecraft I play with others and the rest I play alone.
What games are your family playing?
Star Wars: KOTO, Mincraft Dungeons, Dragon Quest, XPlane
Are there any games you recommend?
Destroy All Humans! is the game I’m anticipating! What better romp and fun in a global pandemic?
What resources do you recommend to assist parents and carers manage and monitor game play for their children?
Play games with your children. Just do it. Make the time. You’ll bond like never before, and you’ll understand their personalities better!
#PlayApartTogether – Professor Daniel Johnson, QUT
#PlayApartTogether
Recognising we all have a role to play in flattening the curve and stopping the spread of COVID-19, IGEA is talking to our many industry stakeholders about the entertainment they are consuming and how they are practising self-isolation and social distancing. We know many of our connections love digital games and we love to seeing what they are playing, what they recommend playing and if they have any tips or resources to share with the community as they #PlayApartTogether during
these unusual times
Recently we spoke with Professor Daniel Johnson from QUT for our #PlayApartTogether series.
What tasks are you undertaking to keep yourself (and/or your family) occupied during these times of self-isolation, and physical and social distancing?
We’ve had a surreal and hilarious time undertaking our gym classes in the garage via zoom – highlights have included tripping over the dogs and nearly launching a dumbbell into the car 😊 Lots of long walks with the dogs on the floating boardwalk here in Brisbane – though some days you need to be pretty agile to maintain the recommended social distance. We’ve also had a couple of good nights playing the videogame “You don’t know Jack” with friends while chatting on zoom.
Why these particular activities?
Combination of keeping fit (need those endorphins), getting some time outside and staying connected with friends.
What games are you playing?
I’ve been playing COD (badly) to stay connected with my mates in the US and some co-op VR (Gunheart and Arizona Sunshine) with some friends who live closer by. For winding down on my own I’ve been working my way through the Doom Eternal campaign and having my mind blown in Half Life Alyx!!
Do you play games alone or with others?
I need both to stay sane. Lots of connecting with friends but some nights I also just need some downtime and a chance to reset.
What games are your family playing?
My partner Nicole has been enjoying some party games (you don’t know jack) and occasionally I can tempt her into playing some pinball with me. She really liked the VR boxing game (Creed) but came very close to doing structural damage to our home in a moment of extreme enthusiasm 😊
Are there any games you recommend?
All of them. Seriously. Right now we need safe ways to connect with one another and to be immersed and feel joy. Videogame are such a fantastic way look after our wellbeing (even more than normal, right now).
What resources do you recommend to assist parents and carers manage and monitor game play for their children?
First and foremost, play with them as much as possible. It’s a chance to connect and a great way to keep an eye on what they are playing. I’d say more than focussing on the number of hours being played, keep an eye on making sure children don’t accidentally over do it and move from relaxed and enjoyable engagement to starting to feel compelled/fixated. Its an easier thing for us to judge as adults and one of the key skills we need to our kids learn is self-regulation – taking a moment to be mindful of how the game is making me feel right now. Moving forward, we’re going to be producing some resources on this very topic at the Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child – stay tuned!
#PlayApartTogether – Jo Mitchell, Co-founder of the Mindroom
#PlayApartTogether
Recognising we all have a role to play in flattening the curve and stopping the spread of COVID-19, IGEA is talking to our many industry stakeholders about the entertainment they are consuming and how they are practising self-isolation and social distancing. We know many of our connections love digital games and we love to seeing what they are playing, what they recommend playing and if they have any tips or resources to share with the community as they #PlayApartTogether during these unusual times
Recently we spoke with Jo Mitchell, the Co-Founder of The Mindroom in Melbourne for our #PlayApartTogether series:
What tasks are you undertaking to keep yourself occupied during these times of self-isolation, and physical and social distancing?
Other than work, I am walking. A lot. I recently moved to Hobart and live at the base of Kunyani / Mt Wellington, so I love taking every opportunity I can to get out in nature and walk the trails. I usually bump into more pademelons or wallabies than I do people.
I have a 1000 piece puzzle I am diligently working on. And I have started knitting – but have not progressed beyond making a scarf. We also started a weekly quiz night with family and friends joining from Hobart, Melbourne, Burleigh Heads, London and Auckland.
Why these particular activities?
I find they give me a great mix of mental and physical rejuvenation. They help me to keep moving my body and mind, while also staying connected with people and places that matter to me. I really enjoy my quieter, simpler, back to basics life.
What games are you playing?
I just completed a virtual escape room with my nephew, and friends from Melbourne and Sydney. That was a lot of fun – we made it out of the escape room, and saved the World, with 5 seconds to spare. My most regular game of choice is playing Beat Sabre on my Oculus Quest.
Do you play games alone or with others?
Both. That’s why I love Beat Sabre – I can compete against myself or play with others. I also love that I can hold my own at the game against my nieces and nephews. Though that may not last for much longer.
Jo recently conducted a webinar for us about maintaining mental health during COVID-19. It was excellent and we encourage you to watch it here.
#PlayApartTogether – Helen Connolly, South Australian Commissioner for Children & Young People
#PlayApartTogether
Recognising we all have a role to play in flattening the curve and stopping the spread of COVID-19, IGEA is talking to leaders and policy makers about the entertainment they are consuming and how they are practising self-isolation and social distancing. We know many of our stakeholders love digital games and we love to seeing what they are playing, what they recommend playing and if they have any tips or resources to share with the community as they #PlayApartTogether during these unusual times
We spoke with Helen Connolly, South Australia’s Commissioner for Children and Young People for our #PlayApartTogether series:
What tasks are you undertaking to keep yourself and your family occupied during these times of self-isolation, and physical and social distancing?
At the best of times I have a tendency to be a bit of a workaholic, so the blurring of boundaries has made it even more difficult for me to maintain a work/life balance. Couple this with my two adult children being at home – one is working from home while the other had to cut short her work in the USA to reluctantly come home – and life is quite busy at the moment.
My normal work day also involved a lot of physical activity with me walking to meetings all over Adelaide and of course meeting with kids every other day. To fill the physical activity hole, I am walking every day around home and the dog thinks it’s Christmas!
The greatest loss to me is the contact I usually have with SA kids who energise, motivate and inspire me. I have maintained zoom contact with a few groups to keep informed, and have put some of our work online. I’m developing new ways of connecting, but the face to face opportunities are something I really miss. So much so that my go-to movie watching has been some of the Disney classics – Frozen 2 is very funny! I also overhear hours of TikTok and House Party coming from other rooms in our home.
Why these particular activities?
My movie choices are an attempt to keep me grounded in what kids find wondrous and entertaining. They’re also a bit of fun and playfulness.
What games are you playing?
I would not consider myself a gamer as hand eye coordination is not my strongest skill. However I am strongly attached to my phone, so the games I play are on my phone. I have a kind of gaming routine I use to unwind before I go to bed that includes solitaire, word search, jigsaws and crosswords.
Do you play games alone or with others? What games are your family playing?
I am a solitary game player usually, although board games are still quite popular in our family, particularly Scattergories and Pub Quiz. I should add that there is a big competitive streak running through my children, so the playing of these games is not for the fainthearted.
Are there any games you recommend?
One of the activities I’ve been involved in as part of the COVID response, has been to work with State Government and others to establish a school holiday program based around gaming that utilises existing school PC infrastructure. This has involved some hands on research on Lo-Fi website games that won’t be blocked by government IT systems, but which are still interesting enough for 13 – 15 year olds. The two selected were Kingdom of Loathing and Kongregate. Between these two there are thousands of fun, relaxing and competitive games on offer that I’m confident will appeal to a diversity of kids.
What resources do you recommend to assist parents and carers manage and monitor game play for their children?
With education, entertainment and recreation for kids all being done online at the moment, there is a real need for parents/carers to manage and monitor game play. The first part of this is to recognise that we should still be creating routine and structure for kids. We need to maintain safety settings and monitor the ‘Up Next’ videos on YouTube that automatically play. These can be a minefield of inappropriateness, so restricted mode should definitely be switched on! My main message in relation to gaming, however, is to treat it like we would any other activity. This involves discussing the pros and cons of particular games and gaming behaviours with our children and young people. By doing this we empower them while together nutting out joint strategies that address the length of play, the kinds of play and the balance that gaming needs to have with other activities in their lives – both inside and outside the home. Now is the perfect time to embrace some shared gaming too!
Show an interest in what your child is playing. Join them in a game. Have fun and talk through the issues in the game. Try to understand what they like, why they like particular games, and whether what they like is appropriate. Discuss why some games might not be appropriate. The more connected adults and kids are in this space, the easier it will be to negotiate different degrees of access at various ages too. Games are here to stay. It will be best if we try to embrace the upside of gaming, if we are to have any chance of managing the downside.
#PlayApartTogether – Michelle Rowland MP, Shadow Minister for Communications
#PlayApartTogether
IGEA works with a vast array of stakeholders and industry professionals. We’ve all seen the increased popularity, and again 
the power of games in keeping people connected in these unprecedented times. As we navigate unchartered waters in dealing with a global pandemic, we’ve continued working with our games industry leaders and stakeholders on numerous issues. Recognising we all have a role to play in flattening the curve and stopping the spread of COVID-19, IGEA is speaking to our leaders and policy makers about the entertainment they are consuming and how they are practising self-isolation and social distancing.
We spoke with Michelle Rowland MP, Shadow Minister for Communications for our #PlayApartTogether series:
What tasks are you undertaking to keep yourself and your family occupied during these times of self-isolation, and physical and social distancing?
Baking is my happy place – I’ve always found it comforting to get into the kitchen and try my hand at something challenging and delicious. It helps me zone out, and I get the added bonus of seeing my family enjoy my creations (which you can also find on my Instagram @MRowlandMP).
What games are you and your family playing?
My family are enjoying a combination of old school board games and apps to keep ourselves occupied. I love to play solitaire on my phone, while my youngest Aurelia is obsessed with The Shopping Game – a memory-based board game. My eldest Octavia is into playing Roblox online with her friends.
As a family, we play UNO and 5 Second Rule. We also like to challenge the girls to build the World’s Biggest Indoor Cubby using only what they can find in each room.
My daughter downloaded the Simply Piano app to keep up with her lessons and can now play Careless Whisper, We Are The Champions and Timber.
Why these particular activities?
Card games and board games are a great way for us to bond as a family, and for a digital detox every so often. Games like Roblox help kids stay connected with friends and it’s good for their imaginations to build things – whether physically or online.
What resources do you recommend to assist parents and carers manage and monitor game play for their children?
Parents should familiarise themselves with the resources published by the eSafety Commission, which can be found here: https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents and follow the Office on social media to get the latest updates.
I like to use my cooking timer to keep a healthy limit on screen time.
The most important advice is for parents to supervise their kids and understand what games they are playing.
GCAP 2020 Update With a Slight Change of Path
Sydney, 4 May, 2020
Three weeks ago, the team here at IGEA were really excited to be announcing our theme for GCAP2020, Pathways to Success and began sharing some of our plans for this important event. During that time, so much (and so little) has happened due to COVID-19, including our official merge with the GDAA, and we felt it was time for an update on GCAP 2020 plans.
With restrictions on international travel and public gatherings likely to stay in place, IGEA will have to come up with another path to deliver a satisfying conference. The Australian games industry has already let us know that regardless of where they are in the game development cycle, they need connections to their own community, connections to international businesses and connections to funds. The theme we will move forward with now for 2020 is Pathways to Connect.
IGEA will evolve the GCAP 2020 program to ensure the health and safety of all involved and comply with all necessary restrictions. Along with our partners, we are working towards an event that will unite the community, whether that be offline or online, and provide some of the support needed during these unprecedented times.
The AGDA’s will go ahead, but again they may not look like the AGDA’s we’re all used to, but we feel it’s really important to celebrate the successes of the people and businesses within our community, no matter how it looks.
We’d like to provide you with an exact program of events for GCAP and the AGDA’s right now, but so much is likely to change and then change again before October. Rest assured that even though GCAP may look different, it is still our intention to provide as many connection points as possible, providing pathways to education and knowledge, pathways to connection, pathways to community and pathways to growth.
Keep an eye on our website as more information becomes available. For further information please reach out to raelene@igea.net
#PlayApartTogether – Margaret Anderson, Director Classification Board
#PlayApartTogether
IGEA works with a vast array of stakeholders and industry professionals. We’ve all seen the increased popularity, and again the power of games in keeping people connected in these unprecedented times. As we navigate unchartered waters in dealing with a global pandemic, we’ve continued working with our games industry leaders and stakeholders on numerous issues. Recognising we all have a role to play in flattening the curve and stopping the spread of COVID-19, IGEA will be talking to leaders and policy makers about the entertainment they are consuming and how they are practising self-isolation and social distancing. We know many of them love digital games and we’d love to se what they are playing, what they recommend playing and if they have any tips or resources to share with the community.
We spoke with Australia’s Director of the Classification Board, Margaret Anderson about how she is contributing to #PlayApartTogether
What tasks are you undertaking to keep yourself (and/or your family) occupied during these times of self-isolation, and physical and social distancing?
It is important to remember that while we must physically distance ourselves from each other at this time, social proximity, interaction and connectedness are still vital for our mental wellbeing.
In my family, we are using our smartphones and apps to stay connected through regular video calls, allowing us to see each other’s faces while we talk.
When I’m not on the phone, I’m either in my garden or on the lounge, watching the World Movies channel on SBS – they are screening so many great movies at the moment! I’m also watching a lot of the World Food channel and a variety of home renovation shows.
But the lounge has to be limited. Depending upon the particular circumstances of your community’s level of lock-down, you may get a daily walk – which means it is time to play Pokémon Go! I am a devotee of almost 4 years and while you cannot meet up with your fellow Pokétrainers currently, I love that I can continue this game, while keeping a safe distance.
Why these particular activities?
You need to stimulate your senses, and computer gaming is a great way to do that. People game for all sorts of reasons – for the thrill of the chase; for winning a level or a tournament; for keeping your mind agile and your brain engaged. Gaming is so often strategy. It offers a different kind of engagement from sitting passively and enjoying a film, so it’s a great way to mix up your iso-activities.
What games are you playing?
I love playing Pokémon Go and started a fortnight after the game’s release in 2016.
I play other games such as Fishdom, which is really good at luring you in. But parents be warned: in-game purchases are regular and may quickly accumulate, so put strict limits around anyone using your account with a linked credit card!
Other games include: Wordscapes; CodyCross; Word Mocha; Jigsaw Puzzle; and Mahjong. I deliberately do not make any in-game purchases in these games. Instead, I endure ‘lost lives’ (this causes an enforced and temporary end to game play) and advertisements. I do not play games which force me to log in with either Google or Facebook credentials. I keep my gaming and social media accounts separate.
Do you play games alone or with others?
One of the things that I love about Pokémon Go is that it gets you outside and talking to fellow Pokétrainers (something which is a bit trickier at the moment). I’m also part of a Pokémon Go group on Messenger which is an excellent extension of this gaming experience (and which is completely within the current physical distancing restrictions). Groups like these not only allow you to share your gaming luck (or lack thereof) and to ask questions or bemoan certain events, but also to reach out to fellow Pokétrainers and organise boss battles.
What games are your family playing?
Some of the primary school-aged members of my family are playing games on their Xbox, Switch, iPad and PC such as, Brawl Stars, Roblox, Wings.IO and Idle Army Base – which is especially played with friends who may be on different devices, sometimes in the same room (pre-physical distancing requirements) or otherwise apart.
I do not engage in online chat while playing games, but children and teenagers enjoy doing so. Apps such as Houseparty group video chat is popular with many primary school-aged children. But as with all apps, it’s important to know and understand how it works and how you, as the parent, guardian or care giver, you can and should control access by your child and limit access to your child by others.
Are there any games you recommend?
It’s me you’re asking, so it has to be Pokémon Go! It’s brilliant for all family members. I particularly love the Pokémon Go Community Days (pre physical distancing) when you meet up with Pokétrainers from far and wide as we all madly try and catch certain mons with special moves or the elusive shiny. Although Community Days are postponed for the time being, you can still play this game and share your experiences. The younger members of my family are hugely into Roblox, because they “love the mini-games!”
What resources do you recommend to assist parents and carers manage and monitor game play for their children?
Do your research! Research individual games. Go to your preferred Internet search engine and try questions such as, “How do I play [insert name of game]?” and “Does [insert name of game] have in-game purchases?” The cost of accessories (eg: skins, inventory) can add up. In-game currency often costs real world money. Do not let your children have uncontrolled access to in-app or in-game purchases.
It’s also important to be aware of chat room features in games. You need to understand that there are lots of apps which enable in-game chat during any game (whether or not a game has its own chat room); and you need to understand how you can activate the “parental lock” on your various devices. Anyone can be behind an avatar or online character. Familiarise yourself with the safety features available to parents. You can and should limit access. Ask your friends who are also parents, what things they do. Check out government web pages like esafety.gov.au/parents for tips and resources. Above all, keep open dialogue with your children – so you can rely on them to tell you if they receive messages they are not comfortable receiving.
Games are not baby-sitters. You would not take your 11-year old to watch an MA 15+ film in the cinema, so equally, you should not be allowing that same 11-year old to play an MA 15+ game. Classification is there for a reason and for children, it is there to protect them from material that may harm or disturb them. The legally restricted classification categories (MA 15+ and R 18+) have strong and high impact content respectively and are not suitable for everyone to play.
Now that you have done your research and set up limitations – go forth and play safely and enjoy!
#PlayApartTogether – David Shanks, NZ Chief Censor
#PlayApartTogether
IGEA works with a vast array of stakeholders and industry professionals. We’ve all seen the increased popularity, and again the power of games in keeping people connected in these unprecedented times. As we navigate unchartered waters in dealing with a global pandemic, we’ve continued working with our games industry leaders and stakeholders on numerous issues. Recognising we all have a role to play in flattening the curve and stopping the spread of COVID-19, IGEA will be talking to leaders and policy makers about the entertainment they are consuming and how they are practising self-isolation and social distancing. We know many of them love digital games and we’d love to se what they are playing, what they recommend playing and if they have any tips or resources to share with the community.
We spoke with New Zealand’s Chief Censor, David Shanks about how he and his family are occupying themselves during self isolation and how they #PlayApartTogether
What tasks are you undertaking to keep yourself (and/or your family) occupied during these times of self-isolation, and physical and social distancing?
My lockdown “bubble” (as we call it here in New Zealand) includes my wonderful wife Toni and three children. The ages of the children span 6, 13 and 15 years of age, and we have two cats and a dog in the mix as well. So plenty of scope for trouble there. To help manage things Toni came up with the inspired idea of running a “Survivor Island – Family Pandemic Edition” reality type daily routine. We have immunity challenges, tribal council, all the set-pieces from the venerable reality show. Of course, no-one can actually be “voted off the island” in our case, but you gain ‘immunity’ from having to do chores or tasks – which is all the incentive the kids need to get fully involved. We even have a trophy. It’s brilliant!
Why these particular activities?
Lots of the challenges on our ‘island’ involve games that everyone can play, including Bridie (my 6 year old daughter). It turns out that she is a highly competitive Jenga player. My 15 year old son also convinced us to play Tetris for an immunity challenge – he beat us all pretty easily, but it reminded me of what a great classic game that is!
I’m old enough to associate video games with arcades, and probably the last video game I would say that I mastered was Virtua Cop 2. I was also a ‘House of the Dead’ fan. Arcades were an interesting social melting pot in the ‘90’s, but they have never entirely gone away. I had the opportunity to go along with the whole family to an old-school style arcade in Christchurch recently – it was a lot of fun.
What games are your family playing?
All of my kids play games, with Minecraft probably being the best example of one that spans all ages, and is a game they will play together sometimes. My 13 year old daughter is horse mad and plays something called star stable (the name sticks in my mind because I see it on bank statements quite regularly!). My eldest has built his own gaming computer and spent a significant part of lockdown upgrading it with a water-cooling system, so I guess you would say he is the most dedicated of us when it comes to games.
Are there any games you recommend?
A few years ago I found Portal to be a fascinating game for its premise, visual aesthetic and complicated challenges. I also thought Life is Strange had a really interesting premise and gameplay. I am interested in the forthcoming release of ‘The Last of Us 2” both professionally (the pre-release promos appear quite over the top in terms of violence and cruelty) but also personally because I found the original game to be extremely well crafted. We get the opportunity to assess many big game releases for classification well ahead of their public release, and I find it fascinating to see how the industry is evolving.
What resources do you recommend to assist parents and carers manage and monitor game play for their children?
I think games can be a fantastic pastime, and a lot of people (including parents) will be finding them something of a lifesaver at the moment! In my job running the Classification Office I need to have regard to the potential implications for children and vulnerable people from media that is becoming increasingly realistic and engrossing. One important resource I always remind people of are the official ratings and classifications – these are one of the best indicators you can find to help inform choices about whether a particular game might be suitable for your child. We take a lot of care to ensure that the right sort of warnings and guidance is provided for consumers.
In our research and engagement with both parents and young people it is increasingly clear that parental oversight, filters and locks can also provide an important role in keeping younger children safe, but there is a transition point when the technical capability of the child starts to exceed that of the parent, and filters become less applicable. That transition point varies with different children and families but often it is somewhere in the mid-teens. At that point, staying engaged with your child, taking the opportunity to play games or watch films with them, and letting them know that they can approach you for help and guidance when they need support becomes key. We have good resources at www.classificationoffice.govt.nz to help parents manage both sides of that divide.
#PlayApartTogether – Kylie Munnich, Screen Queensland
#PlayApartTogether
IGEA works with a vast array of stakeholders and industry professionals. We’ve all seen the increased popularity, and again the power of games in keeping people connected in these unprecedented times. As we navigate unchartered waters in dealing with a global pandemic, we’ve continued working with our games industry leaders and stakeholders on numerous issues. Recognising we all have a role to play in flattening the curve and stopping the spread of COVID-19, IGEA will be talking to leaders and policy makers about the entertainment they are consuming and how they are practising self-isolation and social distancing. We know many of them love digital games and we’d love to se what they are playing, what they recommend playing and if they have any tips or resources to share with the community.
We spoke with Screen Queensland CEO, Kylie Munnich about the activities her and her family are undertaking to #PlayApartTogether
What tasks are you undertaking to keep yourself (and/or your family) occupied during these times of self-isolation, and physical and social distancing?
We are digital natives in our family – so we’re enjoying a range of activities including gaming, TV streaming, podcasts, learning French from an app, meditation from an app, music streaming in amongst reading, watching too much news, and some daily exercise and fresh air. And we are certainly eating well – lots of great home-cooked meals, as well as supporting local cafes and restaurants that are still trading.
Why these particular activities?
We’re trying to have a balance in our lives, to keep us healthy and sane.
What games are your family playing?
Madden 20, Fortnite, Counter Strike: Global Offensive, Horizon: Zero Dawn, Resident Evil 7, No Man’s Sky, Beat Sabre – these are all being played by my son and husband. And for me, a little old fashioned Tekken.
Do you play games alone or with others?
Some of these are solo pursuits, some on line, and some VR
Are there any games you recommend?
Valorant, Hearthstone, Brawl Stars
What resources do you recommend to assist parents and carers manage and monitor game play for their children?
Be interested, be aware, be alert. Ask questions and show some interest in what your kids are playing. You might learn something new and find you will love gaming as much as they do!
IGEA and GDAA Merger Complete
The Board of the Interactive Games and Entertainment Association (IGEA) is delighted to announce that the formal merger with the GDAA is now final. In addition to ensuring IGEA’s lobbying and advocacy work continues to represent the wider video game industry, this results in the IGEA team expanding to include Ceri Hutton and Sav Emmett-Wolfe, the management rights to The Arcade, a collaborative working space for game developers in Melbourne and taking over responsibility for delivering GCAP 2020.
Ron Curry, CEO of IGEA said, “We are delighted to merge our two Associations and thank the Board of the GDAA for ensuring the process was smooth, professional and efficient. I’d like to also acknowledge IGEA’s Board for their support along the way as well and their commitment to the local industry.
“IGEA takes our mission seriously and given the large amount of issues we currently have under management, a unified voice that represents the entire ecosystem will be beneficial to the local industry on the work we complete both locally and abroad.”
Further to that, Ron noted, “We are thrilled to have two new Melbourne based staff members join us, each of whom have contributed significantly to the local industry already. Ceri and Sav have already made a huge and positive impact to our existing team and will ensure the voice of independent developers continues to be heard. We are well resourced to deliver for the local industry and once we’ve had our strategic review, which was unfortunately delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we look forward to sharing our vision with all of our stakeholders.”
IGEA would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone that our door is always open to discuss opportunities and concerns, so please don’t ever hesitate to contact the IGEA team who will do their best to help.
#PlayApartTogether – Julie Inman Grant, eSafety Commissioner
#PlayApartTogether
IGEA works with a vast array of stakeholders and industry professionals. We’ve all seen the increased popularity, and again the power of games in keeping people connected in these unprecedented times. As we navigate unchartered waters in dealing with a global pandemic, we’ve continued working with our games industry leaders and stakeholders on numerous projects and issues as they’ve arisen.
Recognising we all have a role to play in flattening the curve and stopping the spread of COVID-19, IGEA will be talking to leaders and policy makers about the entertainment they are consuming and how they are practising self-isolation and social distancing. We know many of them love digital games and we’d love to se what they are playing, what they recommend playing and if they have any tips or resources to share with the community.
First up, we spoke with the eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman-Grant and she shared some advice on how we can all safely #PlayApartTogether
What tasks are you undertaking to keep yourself (and/or your family) occupied during these times of self-isolation, and physical and social distancing?
When I’m not working, I like to do crossword puzzles and I quite enjoy playing Just Dance with my kids. It uses an Xbox controller that picks up your movement. You become an avatar onscreen and the best dance wins. My kids also quite enjoy Kahoot which we use as part of their school work. We’ve been watching a few family movies together, too.
Why these particular activities?/Do you play games alone or with others?
We try and play family fun games that involve everyone, rather than everyone being on their separate devices. Just Dance is great for this and I get to show my kids my killer moves, basically show them how it’s done.
What games are you playing?/What games are your family playing?
I was never a big gamer. I figured given my addiction to caffeine, if I started playing Fortnite I might never get off it. As I have mentioned, I do enjoy Just Dance. My 13-year-old doesn’t really play games, but my 8-year-old twins like Minecraft and Roblox. I’m always so amazed with what they can build.
Any games you recommend?
Kahoot which we’ve been doing for geography school work is fun and educational. Just Dance is great for the whole family to enjoy together and doubles as exercise. Minecraft and Roblox are great, but it’s important to sit with your kids when setting them up. My kids have friends only chats and only with people they know.
What resources do you recommend to help parents and carers manage and monitor game play for their children?
Most games now are interactive and fun, but this also makes them a risk, especially when they are co-mingled platforms. We really advise co-viewing and co-playing with your kids. It’s important to learn from them and engage with their online world and it can also be fun for both of you.
With most of us at home right now, it’s also a great opportunity for parents to talk to their kids about online safety and let them know they can always come to you for help if something goes wrong.
It’s also important to set some boundaries. We have a family plan for our kids which says when they can have devices and for how long. We have a bit of a roster going for school work, physical time, family dinner time, and one hour of device time.
I would encourage parents to have a look at our website esafety.gov.au and specifically our guide for parents. It gives helpful advice about the benefits and risks of different games, platforms and apps and how to set security settings properly. The guide can also help you recognise apps you might see your kids using on their devices and gives you useful information about them. We also have specific online safety advice for parents on our website which deals with the increased time kids are spending online while home from school during the COVID-19 pandemic.
For tips and tools to keep your children safe online, visit esafety.gov.au/parents and esafety.gov.au/key-issues/covid-19
GCAP 2020 Update
With the ink all but dry on our recent merger with the GDAA, IGEA has cautiously been working on Games Connect Asia Pacific (GCAP) 2020, pending a resolution on the current state of affairs around health, safety and public gatherings.
This year, GCAP enters its 15th year, headed by IGEA for the first time. This highly renowned, internationally recognised conference is a professional development and networking event, run over 3 days as part of Melbourne International Games Week. GCAP 2020 is still scheduled to take place on 5-7 October 2020 in Melbourne
GCAP features talks, panels, and workshops from skilled game developers both local and international. The highly curated content is tailored towards intermediate to advanced developers, with focus on upskilling, education, industry growth and connections. GCAP 2020 will also feature GCAP Loading, a curated track for people starting their journey forward in the industry.
The theme for GCAP 2020 is Pathways to Success.
The Australian games industry has achieved many things over the past decade, and weathered storms we never imagined we could overcome. Our success in rebuilding after the last global financial crisis proved our resilience, and in the time since we have repeatedly proved our ability to succeed and grow through challenging situations.
There are numerous ways we can achieve and define success. Some routes are marathons; long and enduring. Others are sprints; short and intense. We may follow the proven route, as many have before us, or choose to forge our own pathway instead, diverting into something entirely new.
Whichever path we tread, we hope to achieve satisfaction and reward, both personally and professionally.
The pathway IGEA wishes to follow for GCAP 2020 is to support and grow the Australian games industry and prepare the people and the businesses working in the space for that growth; ultimately providing the many pathways to success.
Please join IGEA on our GCAP 2020 journey as we share knowledge, share experience and share best practice, providing pathways for knowledge, pathways for education, pathways for connection, pathways for community and pathways for growth.
As we mentioned in our previous update, Liam Esler has joined us as our Director of Content. To help inform us, we have surveyed the local games industry and the results are clear on the type of content the community wants to see and hear. Speaker submissions will be open soon.
Joel Van Daal of www.ingames.com.au is our Sponsorship Manager and is open now to discuss how you can become involved in supporting this important event for the local community.
Keep an eye on our website as more information becomes available. For further information please reach out to
Please tell us how COVID-19 is affecting your games business
The outbreak of COVID-19 has led to an unprecedented change in the way businesses operate, including those in the games industry. It is crucial that we understand the impacts the situation is having on our industry, how you believe it may affect you in the mid to long-term and what support measures we can assist you with.
Please note: all information provided will be treated in strict confidence and will only be used in an anonymised fashion in our work with government departments.
The Power of Games by our CEO, Ron Curry
About 18 months ago, our team started preparing for our consumer research reports, Digital Australia and New Zealand 2020 which we launched July and August last year. When the team adopted the theme, the Power of Games, little did we realise just how especially meaningful this particular theme would be in the current global environment.
DA20 and DNZ20 explored how games have the power to entertain, transform, create, connect, communicate, live well and educate. And here we are, experiencing these outcomes firsthand as we navigate totally unexpected and unprecedented societal conditions.
Reflecting on the research now (and confirming a lot of which we already intrinsically knew), games are inherently social. Our DA20 report showed that only 17% of people always play games alone. In a world where we need to physically isolate more than ever, the world is increasingly turning to games for entertainment, education, well being and social experiences, especially when they aren’t available elsewhere. Around the world this week, people may not be connecting with each other in the streets anymore, but they’re certainly doing it in Animal Crossing.
We know games foster connection within families, with 43% of parents playing games with their children. Games foster community with 41% of people watching livestreams of gameplay and 41% of players watching esports. Games are used in the classroom to motivate students and inspire creativity. With education moving into a virtual space as it has in the last few days, it is likely we are seeing kids engage even more with gamified content such as Reading Eggs and Mathletics through to Minecraft which has a specialised education version.
Games are also being used to manage health, both mental and physical depending on the type of game you like to play. We have just seen this week the World Health Organization’s recommendation that people play actives games while self-isolating at home. Further to that, many people, especially us more mature folk, play mainly for mental stimulation.
It will be interesting how the statistics will change (or not) for our DANZ22 reports, especially as games are currently providing one of the few authentic connections to the outside world right now. We are always encouraged to see parents being involved in game play with their kids, while utilising parental control tools and classification systems to monitor and manage responsible game play. There are plenty of resources if you are still unsure, try this link as a starting point.
As we move into further physical isolation and games offer some solace, remember, as one of our members EA best said: Stay Safe. Stay Home. Play Together.
IGEA Industry Resource – Overview of COVID-19 Government Stimulus Packages
IGEA has compiled a list of key business support programs as part of the government’s effort to combat the economic fallout of COVID-19.
- Find an overview of federal programs here.
- Find an overview of state-based initiatives here.
- Find an overview of city-based programs here.
Please note that these tables are a work in progress. They reflect government programs available as of the 1st of April 2020. Some of these programs have only been announced recently and are often lacking detail. We will keep checking for further information and update this document on a regular basis.
Submission to The Australian Government Consultation on a New Online Safety Act
IGEA recently made a submission to the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications consultation on proposals for a new Online Safety Act.
We have responded to a consultation paper outlining some high level proposals for reforming the current online safety framework. Key points from our submission include:
- Video games are the part of the digital sector that have arguably implemented the most significant range of safety features to provide a safe and fun online environment, all industry-led, comprising safety features across both consoles and devices as well as in-game.
- We support well-designed and evidence-based online safety reforms. We think further consultation is needed to understand why such significant and broadly-scoped reforms are needed and the impact they will have.
- The proposed reforms take a “one size fits all” approach that treats video games sector like an extension of social media and messaging services, despite being completely different sectors. The reforms also impose the same regulatory burden on small businesses (such as an indie studio making its first game) as it does on major multinationals.
- Our views on some of the specific proposals include:
- There is potential for confusion and regulatory overlap between the Online Safety Charter, the Safety by Design framework and the proposed new Basic Online Safety Expectations.
- There is a lack of clarity around the expectation that games marketed to children default to the most restrictive privacy and safety settings, which sounds uncontroversial in principle but may result in some negative unintended consequences.
- The cyberbullying framework and particularly the takedown scheme is not well-suited to video games, for reasons including that communications on gaming platforms tend to be highly restricted, ephemeral, automatically filtered, easily reportable, based on pseudonyms and able to be deleted and even turned off entirely.
- The proposed reform of the online content scheme retains some of the double-regulation of the current framework where games need to comply with both the classification and online content schemes for the same content, potentially causing confusion for industry and consumers.
- There is a strong focus on increasing the eSafety Commissioner’s powers, despite the fact that some existing powers like those under the cyberbullying Scheme have never been used. As per the findings of the Briggs review, we believe there should also be a reform focus on prioritising and strengthening the eSafety Commissioner’s education and awareness-raising functions.
Given the high-level nature of the discussion paper and the significant scale of the proposed reforms, we expect further discussions will be needed following this consultation process, including on precise legislative design.
Our full submission can be downloaded here.
Further details on the review and copies of the Department’s consultation paper and fact sheets can be found here.
IGEA’s GCAP2020 Preparations
Following on from our recent announcement that IGEA and GDAA are joining forces to form one association, IGEA is now responsible and very excited to be delivering GCAP 2020, which is now in its 15th year.
Since its reboot in 2010, GCAP has been an important source of networking and professional education for the Australian games development industry. As a key part of Melbourne International Games Week, GCAP, together with PAX, has been an valuable vehicle to attract international guests and speakers to Australia and to provide them connections and relationships with our local community.
It is IGEA’s intention to continue to build on the success of GCAP that has been created and established by the GDAA and their past teams. We aim to deliver an event that has focused and detailed content streams relevant not only to your business needs now, but your needs in the future. To help us achieve this, we have contracted the services of Liam Esler, who will be our Director of Content, and Joel Van Daal, who will be our Sponsorship Manager for GCAP 2020.
Both Liam and Joel have incredible relationships with both international and local publishing and development communities, so are well placed to assist the current IGEA team with GCAP2020. We are thrilled to be formally working with both Joel and Liam and no doubt they will be speaking to many of you soon.
To ensure GCAP2020 delivers the focused and detailed content streams that the industry needs, we have created a survey to seek your feedback on the sessions you would like to see. Please take the time to fill it out and help us with our 2020 direction:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GCAP2020
In the interim, if you have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact raelene@igea.net