German Developer Award 2022
German Game Industry Christmas Party
Approaching it from the outside the Cologne Flora building always looks impressive, with its intricate details, many windows, and surrounded by a lush garden. With warmed hands from the mulled wine reception outside, I entered the main hall stunned by the high columns, sparkling chandeliers, and Christmas-themed decorated tables. Many hugs and smiles were exchanged with all the people streaming into the room.
Barely being able to contain my mischievous smile and nervousness I found my seat and the one of Casi next to mine. I had kept a secret from her for a while and together with the German Film und Medien-Stiftung NRW we had cooked up a plan to lure her to the award show under false pretenses.
Sponsorship Award for Female Game Developers
Anticipating the moment her name would be called and thinking about all the things Casi had already achieved I felt my heart pounding in my chest when her face turned to me with shock and excitement before she made her way up to the stage
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My face still aches from all the smiling. The joy of seeing Casi accept the award and being appreciated for her wonderful work in the industry, the big waves of applause. Being able to share this moment with her was the best experience. I hope if you haven’t yet you’ll get the chance to hear her talk about 13 Rosas and attend one of the #FemDevsMeetups she organizes.
The Future is Bright
The rest of the evening I went with the flow drifting from one person to the next, catching up with old friends, and meeting new ones. The cocktails were delicious and the dance floor was packed.
With sore feet and a happy heart, I left the event with a feeling of hope. It is slow and sometimes still a little spark but there is a shift happening. A new generation of developers pushing the industry into a more human-focused direction with better working conditions and creating games that dare to be different and bring variety.
Hamburg Game Conference
I’ll be giving a talk about my approach to production leadership. The conference takes place March 1-2, 2023. Would love to see some familiar faces! You can still submit your own talk or get tickets here!
In case you missed it, you can still find the award show stream here. It’s worth watching, all the nominees and winners are fantastic!