2019 IGDN Metatopia Sponsorship

The Indie Game Developer Network (IGDN) in partnership with Double Exposure  is proud to announce the 2019 Metatopia Sponsorship Program!

Diversity doesn't happen by accident in our world and the analog gaming industry is no different. With your help, we are going to bring some of the most talented and diverse group of game designers we can find to their first Metatopia! Metatopia is the largest gathering of game designers in the United States and will take place November 7-10 2019. It's a place where designers can find educational panels, get professional feedback on their game, and begin networking in the community and TTRPG industry.

For 2019, the Sponsorship includes ongoing mentorship with current IGDN members, partner conventions where winners are invited as industry guests, one year free membership to the IGDN if they choose to apply, and full playtesting of their game by industry professionals at Metatopia. Beyond that, Sponsorship recipients will receive travel expenses up to $500, a free shared hotel room at the convention, a food stipend, and free admission to the event.

Too many games will never be made because designers get overwhelmed, don't know the next step to take in the design process, or don’t have the professional contacts they need to produce a game. This is your opportunity to amplify the voices of designers from marginalized communities and give them the tools and connections they need.

What Is the Metatopia Sponsorship Program?

The Metatopia Sponsorship Program is an opportunity for amazing, first time designers to gain a better understanding of what it takes to create and publish games. Sponsorship recipients will gain insight and guidance on the skills necessary for self publishing or working with companies to take a game from idea to print. Whether it’s networking, dealing with imposter syndrome, or having important conversations on how to engage the community and deal with the finances of creating a game, the Metatopia Sponsorship Program mentors are eager to help the recipients thrive within the gaming community. 

This year will mark our sixth Metatopia Sponsorship expanding the scope of voices in the indie analog game community. We bring designers to Metatopia by providing a badge and hotel room, and help cover their travel costs, so they can playtest their games at the best game design convention in North America. By joining with Double Exposure, we help connect them with industry veterans, publishers, distributors, and organizations to increase the impact of their time at Metatopia.

The Goal:

This GoFundMe campaign is only a portion of the money donated to the Metatopia Sponsorship. We want to discover game creators that need a chance to shine and show the world what they have to offer. The IGDN, Double Exposure, and our partners are financially committed to making that happen, but we need your help. 100% of your donation will go to bringing us closer to our goal of helping elevate the visibility of up to eight new designers.

If we can raise $2,000, we'll be able to send 4 new designers to Metatopia.

But, if we can get $4,000 of funding, we'll be able to send 8 new designers to Metatopia this year.

100% of funds donated go directly to bring designers to the convention. If you don't know how much to give, here are some suggested donations based on expected costs:

$25 pays for a checked bag on a long-distance flight.
$40 pays for a day’s meals for one designer.
$75 pays for one night in the hotel for one designer.
$150 pay for one designer’s food stipend for the weekend.
$200 pays for half of one designer's travel.
$250 pays for a designer's hotel stay for the entire convention.
$450 pays for hotel rooms for two designers for the entire convention.
$500 pays for one designer's complete travel.

Submitting Applications:

Larps, RPGs, story games, board games, and card games, we want it all! If you or someone you know would be interested in attending Metatopia as a possible recipient of this Sponsorship, complete the 2019 application here .

Our Amazing Partners: 

Double Exposure 
The Bodhana Group 
Indie Press Revolution 
Pelgrane Press 
Evil Hat Productions 
Magpie Games 
Genesis of Legend Publishing 
Green Ronin Publishing 
GEM: Gnome Stew , Encoded Designs , and Misdirected Mark 
Pandasaurus Games 
Diceology 
Angry Hamster Publishing   
Roll20 
Greater Than Games 
 
Past Sponsorship Winners:

Jeremy Alva
Jacqueline Beckwith
Krissy Bullock
Victoria Caña
Kiel Chenier
Miguel Angel Espinoza
Alex Helm
J. Derrick Kapchinsky
André La Roche
Kimberley Lam
Jefferson Kwan Lee
Roe Nix
Vivian Paul
Sarah Malone
Justin Rogers
Darcy Ross
Jeeyon Shim
Jay Sylvano
Camdon Wright
Jessie Yaternick
Mariam Ahmad
Omari Akil
DC
Alastor Guzman
Mabel Harper
Sarah “Sam” Saltiel
Jabari M Weathers
Iris Xie

Quotes from Past Recipients:
During the first five years of this program, we have proudly helped 28 designers get to Metatopia and many of them have grown into outstanding members of the community.

"I went there with a sense of feeling exposed but left feeling pretty comfortable. And apply for the IGDN scholarship! I honestly thought I had no chance of winning. I figured there would be someone with more experience, better games, something. A real game designer, if you will, but that was nonsense. I had a game to playtest, and had an incredible experience.”
- Sarah Malone

"As someone new to gaming, gaming conventions, and game design, Metatopia was an entirely new experience. It was an honour to be chosen as a sponsorship winner. My favorite part of winning the sponsorship was spending time with my cohort- I loved the opportunity to bond with a diverse group, and I hope to see all of them again in the future. I learned that I really enjoy being on panels, which is something I never would have had the opportunity to explore without Metatopia. The playtesting provided some very helpful feedback for developing my game, but the best part of the convention was meeting so many wonderful people and being part of so many engaging discussions- which I never would have been able to experience without the Metatopia sponsorship program."
- Krissy Bullock

"The IGDN, my mentor, and the staff of Metatopia helped me believe that there was a market for my game and point me in the direction so I could actual get it made. They showed me that the world really does want to hear my voice." - Camdon Wright

What is the IGDN?

Founded in 2011, the Indie Game Developer Network is a collection of 80+ small press designers who support indie game developers committed to diversity, making, publishing, and promoting fantastic games. The IGDN brings together a wide variety of developers–-including pen and paper, card game, and board game designers-- to share resources, sharpen ideas, and take collective action. You can learn more about us at http://www.igdnonline.com/