This discussion will be led by game designer Richard Franke better known as Miss Kitty Powers. Richard’s 20 years as a designer along with his unique personal experience in the industry put him in the perfect position to chair this conversation. Come share your “T” with Richard and other industry professionals about the ups and downs of our industry and how we can all work together to improve it.

Large teams, small teams, global teams – there are so many different ways that studios are organised these days.  And, the world has changed enabling teams to work remotely around the clock in London and Singapore on the same project. We’d all like to see crunch time becoming a thing of the past, so this roundtable discussion will dive into different company cultures and explore new ideas for killing crunch without killing your studio’s soul. 

Recent events in the world have helped the continued changes in the landscape – resulting in increased diversity, but there’s still a way to go!  This discussion is for anyone wanting to discuss helpful, productive and interesting ways to encourage more inclusion and less prejudice in our industry.

Mental health is just as critical as our physical health to our well-being as creative professionals, and yet a heavy stigma exists that continues to make people reluctant to openly discuss and address. The silence around the issue is deafening, and further compounds the negative perception. This session aims to have an honest and confidential discussion about mental health in the game industry, how it affects our craft, and what forms of support are available (or not!). In this session, you'll be invited to share your own experiences with others (only if you're willing and able - no one will be asked to do so) and talk about strategies for improving support, plus find out what changes some studios have introduced.

The way games are made has long since changed, and the days of developing projects by a full in-house team have been replaced by teams of contractors, freelancers and even outsource companies coming together to create games quickly and more efficiently. Yet in a world where you’re not all operating from the same office, how do you make staff feel valued and part of the team? Plus capable of bringing their own style and personality to projects? As part of the new GamesIndustry.biz Academy online portal, James Batchelor will discuss with leading game creators about ways to effectively integrate, communicate and get the most out of a creative team that's scattered across different locations, companies and time zones.

Inclusion of gamers with disabilities is easiest to achieve when it is tackled from the start of development. But to be able to do that you need to know where to start and how to think about tackling these issues. Whether you're just starting out on your accessibility journey or an experienced practitioner wanting to share experiences, come and join this discussion about how to plan for and implement accessibility.

This discussion will provide a forum for you to talk about best practice when dealing with trolls – learn how to engage professionally and stay in control of your message online.  Plus, share war stories and experiences – good or bad - with other developers to avoid costly mistakes and improve your community management.