IGDN Metatopia Sponsorship 2018
Donation protected
The Indie Game Developer Network (IGDN), in partnership with Double Exposure, is proud to announce the 2018 Metatopia Sponsorship Program!
Diversity doesn't happen by accident in our world and the tabletop gaming industry is no different. With your help, we are going to bring 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 1 - 4, 2018. It's a place where designers can find educational panels, get professional feedback on their game, and develop a larger sense of community.
For 2018 we're expanding the Sponsorship to include a deeper, ongoing, mentorship with current IGDN members. Too many games will never be made because designers get overwhelmed or just don't know the next step to take in the design process. If the recipient chooses to continue to develop their game the mentor will be a valuable resource in offering advice and support during the self-publishing process.
This Year's Goal
If we can get $2,000 of funding, 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: four selected from our traditional application and four directly from our partner organizations across the United States.
These new designers will get to playtest their games and network with designers new and old at one of the best conventions in the world for game design. They'll get to experience all of Metatopia, and they'll walk away with new ideas, connections, and skills that will help them succeed in our industry.
For 2018, we're expanding the Metatopia Sponsorship to include greater and more in-depth mentorship component. Each recipient will be partnered up with a current member of the IGDN who will also be in attendance at Metatopia to help walk them through this amazing weekend, introduce them to others in the field, even make sure the experience remains a positive one. Each mentor will continue to follow up with the recipient after Metatopia to continue developing their game further, should they decide to continue on this path and want to push it further. At the time of this campaign's launch, we are still working out the particulars of the mentorship and will be able to share more information as it becomes finalized.
What Is the Metatopia Sponsorship Program?
The Metatopia Sponsorship Program is an opportunity for amazing, undiscovered talent to gain a better understanding of what it takes to get their games completed and to market in the best format possible with the tools they need to self-publish their dream. Tabletop game designers are a passionate group of people, but it can be a challenge to learn how to publish a game without making expensive mistakes or without the backing of a community who knows who you are. Combine that with other factors like imposter syndrome, income, and a lack of inclusion, it can be a daunting task. Every year we are able to successfully fund our Scholarship Program, the market opens up to a wider array of diverse games written by diverse designers. The Metatopia Sponsorship Program helps create a wider and more inclusive list that will inspire others to put themselves out there and create the next great game.
This year will mark our fifth Metatopia Sponsorship to expand the diversity in the indie tabletop game community. In essence, we bring new designers to Metatopia, securing a badge and a room for them and paying their travel costs to make it affordable to join the largest gathering of tabletop game designers in the country. While previous years have focused solely on attending this amazing convention, 2018 will introduce an enhanced mentorship program pairing up this year's Sponsorship recipients with active members of the IGDN to help bring their games to market. Plus we're reaching out to some awesome publishers and organizations to widen the application process and make our community a better place.
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 2018 application.
Our Partners
We'd like to thank the following companies/organizations for joining us on our mission to bring new voices to Metatopia.
Genesis of Legend Publishing Indie Press Revolution Pelgrane Press The Bodhana Group Ulisses North America Magpie Games One Shot Podcast Network
Our Previous Scholarship Recipients
During the first four years of this program, we have proudly helped 20 designers get to Metatopia and many of them have grown into outstanding members of the community.
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 Richardson
Justin Rogers
Darcy Ross
Jeeyon Shim
Jay Sylvano
Camdon Wright
Jessie Yaternick
Quotes From Previous Recipients
"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 Richardson
"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
Read about Camdon's experiences at his first Metatopia on the IGDN website.
How Can You Contribute This Year?
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. This year we're expanding to create a small design fund that recipients can apply for to help partially subsidize costs of self-publishing.
100% of funds donated go directly to bring designers out 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.
$75 pays for one night in the hotel for one designer.
$100 pays for a lunch for the whole cohort.
$200 pays for half of one designer's travel.
$225 pays for a designer's entire hotel stay.
$400 pays for one designer's complete travel.
$450 pays for hotel rooms for two designers.
Thank you! Your support is making great things possible!
What is the IGDN?
The Indie Game Developer Network is a collection of 80+ small press designers who support indie game developers 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 igdnonline.com
Diversity doesn't happen by accident in our world and the tabletop gaming industry is no different. With your help, we are going to bring 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 1 - 4, 2018. It's a place where designers can find educational panels, get professional feedback on their game, and develop a larger sense of community.
For 2018 we're expanding the Sponsorship to include a deeper, ongoing, mentorship with current IGDN members. Too many games will never be made because designers get overwhelmed or just don't know the next step to take in the design process. If the recipient chooses to continue to develop their game the mentor will be a valuable resource in offering advice and support during the self-publishing process.
This Year's Goal
If we can get $2,000 of funding, 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: four selected from our traditional application and four directly from our partner organizations across the United States.
These new designers will get to playtest their games and network with designers new and old at one of the best conventions in the world for game design. They'll get to experience all of Metatopia, and they'll walk away with new ideas, connections, and skills that will help them succeed in our industry.
For 2018, we're expanding the Metatopia Sponsorship to include greater and more in-depth mentorship component. Each recipient will be partnered up with a current member of the IGDN who will also be in attendance at Metatopia to help walk them through this amazing weekend, introduce them to others in the field, even make sure the experience remains a positive one. Each mentor will continue to follow up with the recipient after Metatopia to continue developing their game further, should they decide to continue on this path and want to push it further. At the time of this campaign's launch, we are still working out the particulars of the mentorship and will be able to share more information as it becomes finalized.
What Is the Metatopia Sponsorship Program?
The Metatopia Sponsorship Program is an opportunity for amazing, undiscovered talent to gain a better understanding of what it takes to get their games completed and to market in the best format possible with the tools they need to self-publish their dream. Tabletop game designers are a passionate group of people, but it can be a challenge to learn how to publish a game without making expensive mistakes or without the backing of a community who knows who you are. Combine that with other factors like imposter syndrome, income, and a lack of inclusion, it can be a daunting task. Every year we are able to successfully fund our Scholarship Program, the market opens up to a wider array of diverse games written by diverse designers. The Metatopia Sponsorship Program helps create a wider and more inclusive list that will inspire others to put themselves out there and create the next great game.
This year will mark our fifth Metatopia Sponsorship to expand the diversity in the indie tabletop game community. In essence, we bring new designers to Metatopia, securing a badge and a room for them and paying their travel costs to make it affordable to join the largest gathering of tabletop game designers in the country. While previous years have focused solely on attending this amazing convention, 2018 will introduce an enhanced mentorship program pairing up this year's Sponsorship recipients with active members of the IGDN to help bring their games to market. Plus we're reaching out to some awesome publishers and organizations to widen the application process and make our community a better place.
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 2018 application.
Our Partners
We'd like to thank the following companies/organizations for joining us on our mission to bring new voices to Metatopia.
Genesis of Legend Publishing Indie Press Revolution Pelgrane Press The Bodhana Group Ulisses North America Magpie Games One Shot Podcast Network
Our Previous Scholarship Recipients
During the first four years of this program, we have proudly helped 20 designers get to Metatopia and many of them have grown into outstanding members of the community.
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 Richardson
Justin Rogers
Darcy Ross
Jeeyon Shim
Jay Sylvano
Camdon Wright
Jessie Yaternick
Quotes From Previous Recipients
"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 Richardson
"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
Read about Camdon's experiences at his first Metatopia on the IGDN website.
How Can You Contribute This Year?
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. This year we're expanding to create a small design fund that recipients can apply for to help partially subsidize costs of self-publishing.
100% of funds donated go directly to bring designers out 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.
$75 pays for one night in the hotel for one designer.
$100 pays for a lunch for the whole cohort.
$200 pays for half of one designer's travel.
$225 pays for a designer's entire hotel stay.
$400 pays for one designer's complete travel.
$450 pays for hotel rooms for two designers.
Thank you! Your support is making great things possible!
What is the IGDN?
The Indie Game Developer Network is a collection of 80+ small press designers who support indie game developers 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 igdnonline.com
Organizer
IGDN Indie Game Developers Network
Organizer
Morristown, NJ