Games Day at Autodesk Portland 2024

Back in September of this year, Portland Autodeskers Hagen Deloss (Media & Entertainment Industry Community Manager) and Jordan Giboney (M&E Territory Solutions Engineer), alongside Portland Indie Games Squad (PIGSquad), hosted their first-ever "Games Day at Autodesk." Never shying away from an opportunity to play host and serve their local media & entertainment communities, the two jumped at the chance to invite PIGSquad to show off their latest projects.

All ages were welcome—from established M&E professionals to kids just starting to learn what a career in games would look like. Of course, no games night would be complete without pizza and snacks. The first Games Day at Autodesk was a huge hit, showcasing the wide breadth of the city's vibrant, local game design scene. Over the course of the night, 14 PIGSquad members got to show off their games, inviting their peers to play along, give feedback, and brainstorm their next projects together.

There was a great variety of different genres on display, including classic racing-style games, puzzles, and even tabletop designs featuring highly detailed 3D-printed characters. Some of the standout titles showcased included Nightmare Kart, Guess Hue!, Butter Horse, and Whiffle Blasters.

PIGSquad has members throughout the Portland area, and they often participate in the same events that Autodesk is present for (Sciencefest at OMSI, for example), making them an excellent community partner. Games Day at Autodesk was long overdue, and very well received by both Autodesk Employees and external attendees.

Hagen and Jordan always aim to create a welcoming, casual atmosphere where emerging artists and M&E professionals can gather and learn from each other while having fun. While a structured networking environment works for some scenarios, but it is clear that the Portland industry prefers a social setting where making friends is the priority (friends that could eventually turn into coworkers!) PIGSquad shares this vision, which made planning and execution seamless.

The industry is changing, and the lines between creative processes are becoming blurred. We are seeing more unified tool usage between Media and entertainment, Architecture, Product Visualization, Manufacturing, and more. As that story continues to evolve, community events like this are crucial for both M&E and Autodesk as a whole. Cross-industry exploration is also a key vision for Autodesk as we move into new ways of working.

If you missed this event, fear not! Games Day at Autodesk is not the last event that Hagen and Jordan will be hosting in Portland. Connect with them on LinkedIn to stay updated on the latest events in Portland, and nationwide.