This event has been cancelled.

F*** It, We Ball: Creating Your First Indie Video Game

In this talk, Lodestar director and main artist will walk you through their journey in creating their first game and reflect on the trials and tribulations faced. Lodestar started as a simple visual novel for a game jam. However, through the team's collective passion and hate of deadlines, the game (and timeframe) grew, becoming an hour-long thriller with voiced-out characters, multiple endings, and original art and OST.

Masha Che (Lodestar director, writer & producer)
Masha is a freelance storyteller and event organiser. She works between the gaming and film industries, currently assisting the Professionals department of Cinekid Film Festival, having previously worked for Lemming Film. Separately from that, she develops short films and DIY games, while her background goes back to journalism.

Kico (Lodestar main artist)
Kico is an art student from Rotterdam with a passion for storytelling. They specialise in character design and concept art but illustrate all kind of things. Kico thinks video games are the perfect art form for communicating something to your audience, because it forces the audience to participate and empathise.

For everyone itching to make their first story-driven game, this is an opportunity to learn from other people's mistakes and successes. The Lodestar team will talk about the production and organisational processes, as well as share some WiP and BTS materials. While this talk might be the most useful for students and junior specialists, it can awaken a pleasant nostalgia in seasoned professionals as well.

Claim your free spot now!

Spending Valentine’s Day solo? Join our Night of Free Gaming!

Whether you’re looking for love, a new connection, or just a night of fun, we’ve got you covered.

Join us for Valentine’s Day Game Night on February 14th! Test your luck with our dating games – who knows, you might just meet your Player 2…

Already have a Player 2? Bring them along for a night of unforgettable fun!

Prefer to play solo? No problem. From nostalgic arcade classics to intense PC showdowns and cozy board game corners, there’s something for everyone.

Enjoy live DJs, explore our Game Roomz, and just have a great time. Claim your free spot below! See you there?

What makes the difference between a good workflow and a bad workflow in game making? How can you do more, in less time? How can you have a better day at work with less stress? Let's talk about Tool Design: The User Experience of the software you use every working day.

The speaker of the evening is Robin-Yann Storm. Robin-Yann is a freelance Tool UX & Workflow Designer. In the past he has worked as a full time Tool UX Designer in the AAA games industry, on the Hitman and Horizon series. He has also consulted on Unity asset store level editors and worked at Apple on AR creation tools. Next to that, he created and organises the Tool Design Roundtables, talks at conferences around the world, and has contributed a chapter about Tool Design in the book “An Architectural Approach to Level Design, Second Edition”.

Anime is not niche anymore. It’s huge and it’s a powerful cultural force. Anime is the new “Friends” as it shapes media, fashion, sports and lifestyles globally.

In this deepdive, we will discover how anime’s unique storytelling captivates millions globally and how brands can harness this phenomenon. We’ll look into anime’s cultural influence and the opportunities it offers brands to engage passionate audiences. In Japan, anime has been an integral part of marketing for decades, so what can we learn from their experience? Featuring examples of selected successful case studies, this session provides actionable insights for brands and creatives looking to create meaningful, memorable connections through anime. The speaker of the day is Anastasia Gorelova, the founder and executive producer of Cowboy Anime studio.The main beats for the session:

- What is anime?
- How did it become a global phenomenon?
- What's in it for brands?
- Examples of successful campaigns that leverage anime.
- Recap of opportunities and Q&A.

Secure your free spot below!

Join Us for Casual Commander Play Night!

Hosted by Women+ in Magic!

Elder Dragon Highlander fans, get ready for a night of fun, casual play! Bring your most creative Commander deck and join fellow Magic enthusiasts for Casual Commander Play Night – the perfect chance to enjoy your favorite format in a laid-back setting.

Whether you're a veteran or just getting into Commander, this event is all about having fun and meeting new people. Show off your deck, play unpredictable multiplayer games, and embrace the spirit of Magic without the pressure of competition.Bring your best deck, meet new players, and join us for a night of exciting Commander games!

Secure your free spot below. See you there!

Join us on our bi-weekly Night of FREE Gaming!

Arcade Hall, PC game room, modern & retro consoles, board games, Secret Garden, food, many folks to expand your network with, FREE NFT’S and live music from our resident DJ’s – who are, of course, also DJ-ing in the metaverse.

Sign up now to secure your free spot.

Did you know that there are over 9 million gamers in the Netherlands? This large group has a lot of hidden talent. Gaming is even more than just fun; it fosters game-derived skills like problem-solving, teamwork, and digital literacy. Moreover, many educational programs are beginning to incorporate gaming elements to engage students and develop critical thinking skills. Unfortunately, many organisations struggle to recognize and integrate these skills effectively. Chris Slotboom, aka Locktree, is an expert on this topic and loves to chat about video games! 

Join us for an inspiring Arcade Talk, in which we will discuss how game skills can make a difference in the workplace and society. Together, we can connect different generations and create new opportunities in various fields. If your gaming skills go unnoticed, then your organisation is missing out on a valuable skillset that can enhance productivity and collaboration.

Meet Chris

We are excited to introduce Chris, co-founder of Gaming@Work and vice-chair of Dutch Esports Association (BEN). Due to his work with Dell Technologies / Alienware, Chris brings deep expertise in cloud services, high-end gaming systems, and employee engagement. His mission is clear: to make sure everyone is digitally skilled by 2030. In his talk, he will share examples of projects in education, healthcare, and business that are already using game-derived skills to improve teamwork, digital knowledge, and strategic thinking.

Join us on our bi-weekly Night of FREE Gaming!

Arcade Hall, PC game room, modern & retro consoles, board games, Secret Garden, food, many folks to expand your network with, FREE NFT’S and live music from our resident DJ’s – who are, of course, also DJ-ing in the metaverse.

Sign up now to secure your free spot.

Swap your usual game night for an exciting Magic: The Gathering evening with women and non-binary players!

Hosted by @women_in_magic

Trade in your regular play pod or kitchen table for a lively night out, dedicated to Magic: The Gathering and community!

Join us for an evening of friendly competition and camaraderie, where women and non-binary players can enjoy their favorite MTG formats in a safe, welcoming space. Meet new friends, share strategies, and experience the game you love with a group that’s all about fun.

Secure your free spot below. See you there!

Join us on our bi-weekly Night of FREE Gaming!

Arcade Hall, PC game room, modern & retro consoles, board games, Secret Garden, food, many folks to expand your network with, FREE NFT’S and live music from our resident DJ’s – who are, of course, also DJ-ing in the metaverse.

Sign up now to secure your free spot.

Join us for an engaging talk on the magic of open-world games!

Open worlds are more than just games with large maps — they are rich landscapes filled with small adventures. Players can journey between these experiences, creating their own unique story of immersion and self-exploration. 

In this talk, we will delve into the intricate level design systems behind these adventures and explore the complexity that allows players to lose themselves in open worlds.

The speaker for the day is Lisanne Bakker. She is a level designer specialising in creating emotional impact through open-world and large map design. Lisanne focuses on narrative and serious games that address mental health, exploring emotionally complex topics through the lens of play. Lisanne has worked as a technical game designer at Liminal Game Studios, where she helped implement the world’s first AI-driven gameplay for human experiences

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from an industry leader and gain insights into the art of designing captivating open worlds!

Sign up now to secure your free spot.

Curious about Magic: The Gathering? Join us for a welcoming introduction to the game, designed for women and non-binary players.

Hosted by @women_in_magic

Have you ever wanted to learn how to play Magic: The Gathering but didn’t know where to start? This is your chance! Join us for a fun and inclusive afternoon dedicated to introducing women and non-binary players to the world of MTG.

Our friendly instructors will guide you through the essentials – no prior experience needed. You'll learn the rules, practice gameplay with new friends, and even take home your own 40-card deck, all included in the ticket price, so you can continue the adventure on your own.

Whether you're aiming to dive deep into the MTG community or just curious to try it out, this event is crafted to make you feel welcome, engaged, and ready to play!

Secure your spot below. See you there!

Join Us for Casual Commander Play Night!

Hosted by Lize Korpershoek, @mtg.lize!

Elder Dragon Highlander fans, get ready for a night of fun, casual play! Bring your most creative Commander deck and join fellow Magic enthusiasts for Casual Commander Play Night – the perfect chance to enjoy your favorite format in a laid-back setting.

Whether you're a veteran or just getting into Commander, this event is all about having fun and meeting new people. Show off your deck, play unpredictable multiplayer games, and embrace the spirit of Magic without the pressure of competition.Bring your best deck, meet new players, and join us for a night of exciting Commander games!

Secure your free spot below. See you there!

Join us on our bi-weekly Night of FREE Gaming!

Arcade Hall, PC game room, modern & retro consoles, board games, Secret Garden, food, many folks to expand your network with, FREE NFT’S and live music from our resident DJ’s – who are, of course, also DJ-ing in the metaverse.

Sign up now to secure your free spot.

Explore how architect Dafne Wiegers blends gaming & design, creating spaces that are both playable & inspiring.

Step into the world where architecture meets gaming with Dafne Wiegers. Dafne is an architect known for her work on gaming & architecture, including Esports HQ's for Liquid and Mouz, and educational projects such as the Colegio Americano de Quito. Dafne’s vision goes beyond creating spaces to play games—it’s about making the space itself playable. In this creative talk, she’ll reveal how Liquid HQ is filled with hidden Easter Eggs, blending digital games with physical environments. Dafne will also explore the fascinating parallels between game design and architecture, showing how architects can learn from game designers and vice versa. Discover how thoughtful design not only boosts player well-being and performance but also inspires new ways to experience space, both digitally and physically.

Enjoy free gaming afterwards!

Sign up now to secure your free spot.

Join Dr. Max V. Birk to explore how video games impact mental health, well-being, and ethics through design and player experience research.

Pop culture has explored mental health for decades – and games are no exception. But interactivity, the pull of games, and games’ capacity to engage us emotionally and cognitively go far beyond storytelling about mental health and themes that are mental health inspired.Dr. Max Birk has studied video games for more than 14 years. In his talk, he will discuss the connection between games and mental health from a design, public health, and scientific perspective. Max worked on research projects focused on understanding player experience, behavioural design, and cognitive measures in games.

He is passionate about game design and methodologies to learn about people and their behaviour and experiences in games. His work contributes to designing and developing interactive systems supporting physical, social, and mental well-being.Independent of your own journey playing and learning from video games, Max will broaden your understanding of how games and mental health are intertwined and provoke conversations about ethical considerations in game design.

Enjoy free gaming afterwards!

Sign up now to secure your free spot.

Join us on our bi-weekly Night of FREE Gaming!

Arcade Hall, PC game room, modern & retro consoles, board games, Secret Garden, food, many folks to expand your network with, FREE NFT’S and live music from our resident DJ’s – who are, of course, also DJ-ing in the metaverse.

Sign up now to secure your free spot.

Join us on our bi-weekly Night of FREE Gaming!

Arcade Hall, PC game room, modern & retro consoles, board games, Secret Garden, food, many folks to expand your network with, FREE NFT’S and live music from our resident DJ’s – who are, of course, also DJ-ing in the metaverse.

Sign up now to secure your free spot.

Join us for the opening of the REBORN Expo by Blackrockstar, featuring six captivating visuals displayed on the gallery walls.

Experience the exclusive first listen of Blackrockstar's powerful new single, "Power," which intimately narrates his journey of coping with kidney disease. The event also marks the official kick-off of the auction for limited-edition REBORN merchandise, including unique T-shirts and tote bags.

Enjoy an evening of drinks 'n bites and a fun gaming area – blending art, music, and entertainment into one unforgettable night.

Join us on our bi-weekly Night of FREE Gaming!

Arcade Hall, PC game room, modern & retro consoles, board games, Secret Garden, food, many folks to expand your network with, FREE NFT’S and live music from our resident DJ’s – who are, of course, also DJ-ing in the metaverse.

Sign up now to secure your free spot.

Looking to kickstart your career in game music composition?
Join us for an interactive Workshop!

Do you want to learn how to use adaptive music in your games? Join us for an interactive Adaptive Music for Games Workshop! In this workshop, you will explore the concepts of adaptive music and how you can use it in your game designs.

In this workshop you will:

• Dive into the world of adaptive game audio and learn about how music can dynamically respond to gameplay.

• Learn how adaptive music can improve your game designs. Gain hands-on experience and insights into the process of creating and using adaptive music.

The workshop will be wrapped up with a closing drink!

About QuestBeat

The workshop will be given by game composer Sonya Vos who has composed for multiple games over the last 10 years (Cat Cafe Manager, Tracks of Thought and more) and has played in many bands. (Amber Arcades, Lakshmi) She graduated from the Conservatory in Amsterdam in 2019 and this year she started QuestBeat with three other game/music industry professionals. QuestBeat is a company specialising in music for video games. They provide music supervision and sell readymade compositions online for game prototypes.

Secure your spot and get your tickets now!

Join us on our bi-weekly Night of FREE Gaming!

Arcade Hall, PC game room, modern & retro consoles, board games, Secret Garden, food, many folks to expand your network with, FREE NFT’S and live music from our resident DJ’s – who are, of course, also DJ-ing in the metaverse.

Sign up now to secure your free spot.

Join us on our bi-weekly Night of FREE Gaming!

Arcade Hall, PC game room, modern & retro consoles, board games, Secret Garden, food, many folks to expand your network with, FREE NFT’S and live music from our resident DJ’s – who are, of course, also DJ-ing in the metaverse.

Sign up now to secure your free spot.

Join us on our bi-weekly Night of FREE Gaming!

Arcade Hall, PC game room, modern & retro consoles, board games, Secret Garden, food, many folks to expand your network with, FREE NFT’S and live music from our resident DJ’s – who are, of course, also DJ-ing in the metaverse.

Sign up now to secure your free spot.

Introduction To Game Composing For Musicians, by QuestBeat!

Looking to kickstart your career in game music composition?
Join us for an interactive Game Composing Workshop! In this workshop, you will explore the concepts of adaptive music/audio and its applications in games.

In this workshop you will:



-Dive into the world of game audio and learn the intricacies of creating music that dynamically responds to gameplay.



-Learn valuable tips on how to find work opportunities and also sell your compositions online. 


-Bring your own composition and learn how to adapt it to seamlessly integrate into a game environment. Gain hands-on experience and insights into the process of composing for games.


So how will we do that?!


We’ll start by diving in a little bit of history and listen to some examples. What were the old game music hero’s doing and why? What options are available to us now, how can we use them in the best way possible. Composing for games needs a little bit of a different musical approach and there are new things to consider. Such as:

What is the difference between good music and good music for games? How do you develop the right mindset for making music that supports and amplifies the setting and story of a game? What are technical aspects to consider? How do you export music in the right ways and how does the implementation of your music work


Next we’ll talk about implementation, how do we map out what pathway our music might take and how do we translate that to the people we’re working with. Also, what might happen musically when the player doesn’t play the game in the way we expected them too. 


After the first part of the workshop we’re going to get our hands dirty, let’s make our own piece of adaptive music, you get to create and we’ll walk around to assist you and give feedback.

The workshop will be wrapped up with a closing drink!

TIP: If you want to participate in creating some music or adjusting your composition to an adaptive format, make sure to bring a laptop with your music software and some headphones.

Secure your spot and get your tickets now!

Sonya Vos of QuestBeat


The workshop will be given by game composer Sonya Vos who has composed for many games over the last 10 years (Cat Cafe Manager, Tracks of Thought and much more) and has also played in many bands. (Amber Arcades, Lakshmi) She graduated from the Conservatory in Amsterdam in 2019 and this year she started QuestBeat with three other game/music industry professionals. QuestBeat is a company specialising in music for video games. They provide music supervision and sell readymade compositions online for game prototypes.

Join us on our bi-weekly Night of FREE Gaming!

Arcade Hall, PC game room, modern & retro consoles, board games, Secret Garden, food, many folks to expand your network with, FREE NFT’S and live music from our resident DJ’s – who are, of course, also DJ-ing in the metaverse.

Sign up now to secure your free spot.

Join us on our bi-weekly Night of FREE Gaming!

Arcade Hall, PC game room, modern & retro consoles, board games, Secret Garden, food, many folks to expand your network with, FREE NFT’S and live music from our resident DJ’s – who are, of course, also DJ-ing in the metaverse.

Sign up now to secure your free spot.

Happy Independence Day! Join us for our bi-weekly Night of FREE Gaming and celebrate the 4th of July with us 🇺🇸

Arcade Hall, PC game room, modern & retro consoles, board games, Secret Garden, burgers, hot dogs, many folks to expand your network with, FREE NFT’S and live music from our resident DJ’s – who are, of course, also DJ-ing in the metaverse.

Please be aware that this isn't our only event page. We have numerous exciting gatherings in the works, and there will be a larger turnout than what is currently shown here.

Sign up now to secure your free spot.

Join us on our bi-weekly Night of FREE Gaming!

Arcade Hall, PC game room, modern & retro consoles, board games, Secret Garden, food, many folks to expand your network with, FREE NFT’S and live music from our resident DJ’s – who are, of course, also DJ-ing in the metaverse.

Sign up now to secure your free spot.