Overview
Since 2007, the Georgia Game Developers Association has produced the largest video game industry trade show in the southeastern United States. This event is known as the Southern Interactive Entertainment and Games Expo, or SIEGE.As the South’s leading gaming and interactive conference, SIEGE brings together professionals, academics, executives, government officials and more from across the region to celebrate the world of gaming. SIEGE’s speakers include leading figures from a wide spectrum of the industry, including artists, programmers, designers, writers, teachers and business executives. Special events include keynote speeches, dynamic panels, a mini-incubator, parties, networking events, and a student fair for high school students and others looking for colleges. SOUTHERN INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT & GAME EXPO is the definitive center of gravity for knowledge exchange among video game industry professionals and students in the southeastern U.S. In 2019, it includes:
The annual SIEGE Investment Conference, featuring game developers and others pitching to investors and others who can support their efforts; with $1000 going to the best pitch;
The “Excellence in Indie Game Development” award with $500 in prize money;
Five tracks, focusing on game design, programming, art, audio and business;
Ian Schreiber’s extremely popular Game Design Improv; and
The SIEGE Expo Hall, including employers and the Indiecluster of indie game developers;
Taking place in Atlanta, GA, over Columus Day from Oct. 13 – 15, 2019, SIEGE is the largest professional game development conference in the Southern United States. Since 2007, SIEGE has featured leading figures from the industry and has hosted panels reflecting a wide spectrum of the game production industry including artists, programmers, designers, investors, writers, professors and business executives. The event also showcases a College Fair for high school students and a Game Studio Investment Conference.
In addition to the sessions, SIEGE offers a wide variety of networking opportunities for industry professionals, academics and others. Held at the Marriott NW Atlanta-Galleria, the expo is easily accessed from numerous hubs, including the city’s airport, one of the world’s most active.
The convention provides well-structured meet-and-greet sessions, hands-on technical demos and crash-courses, advanced seminars for business executives, access to capital advisors, individual interviews, new studio showcases, and other ground-breaking opportunities to advance your career or business, at a price affordable to both professionals and college students.
SIEGE is a service and registered service mark of Georgia Game Developers Association, Inc., a non-profit 501(c)(6) trade association. All proceeds from the show directly benefit the growth of the industry.
What can you do to help?
Glad you asked! If your company is not listed as a sponsor, go poke your business development director or VP of marketing. Help them understand that they need to set aside at least $500 in their budget each year to support SIEGE. SIEGE provides a venue for professional growth and collaboration, creates business opportunities, attracts attention from venture capital and angel investors, and showcases our southeastern companies.
Main Conference, Sunday Oct. 13
10:30am – 11:30am Game Design Improv 1, Room 400
11:00am – 5:00pm Registration opens
11:00am – 5:00pm Expo Hall Open
11:00am – noon Hi-Rez Brunch
Noon – 1:00pm Session Block 1
1:30pm – 2:30pm Session Block 2
3:00pm – 4:00pm Session Block 3
4:30pm – 6:00pm Nick Laing Keynote, Sponsored by Flexential
6:00pm – 7:00pm Portfolio Review Room 400
Monday, October 14
SIEGE Investment Conference (Open to SIEGE Attendees)
Sponsored by Tripwire Interactive, Crown Castle
9:00am – 12:30pm Investor Pitch Panel
12:30pm – 1:30pm Lunch Break
1:00pm – 3:00pm Investor Feedback
Main Conference
11:00am – 5:00 pm Registration opens
11:00am – Noon IndieCluster Brunch, sponsored by Puzzles by Joe
11:00am- 5:00pm Expo Hall Open
Noon – 1:00pm Session Block 4
1:30pm – 2:30pm Session Block 5
2:30pm – 3:00pm Coffee Break, sponsored by DeKalb Entertainment Commission
3:00pm – 4:00pm Session Block 6
4:30pm – 5:30pm Session Block 7
6:00pm – 7:00pm Game Design Improv 2, Room 400
Tuesday, October 15
College Fair @ SIEGE (Open to Public)
8:00am – 9:00am Exhibitor Registration
9:00am – 1:00pm College Fair
9:30am – 10:30am High School Sessions 1 & 2
11:00am – 12:00pm High School Sessions 3 & 4
Please recycle your badge holders when you leave SIEGE!