An Eventful Summer!
Hello SIM Community!
We're thrilled to bring you the latest updates, upcoming events, and highlights from our recent gatherings. It's been an exciting time at SIM, and we can't wait to share all the fun with you!
Event Highlights: Ryan Ike's Talk
Our recent event with Ryan Ike, the talented composer, was a smashing success! Ryan shared invaluable insights on navigating the freelance world of the game industry. The session was filled with learning, laughter, and felt like a comedy show! If you missed it, don't worry—the videos will be up soon!
Exciting News!
We are officially recognized as a nonprofit organization by the state of Washington! We’re also filing with the IRS this month for 501(c)(3) status, so get ready to donate and support our growing community!
Also we’re excited to welcome our first volunteer, Emily Rose! We'll be onboarding her and others who have applied soon! so if you filled out your application we are working on it! And if you’d like to help out yourself let us know!
SO MANY EVENTS
Jamie’s Voxel Art Workshop
Date: June 8th
Time: 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Description: Join Jamie Gault game dev and artist extraordinaire for an in-depth voxel art workshop!
Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced artist, this workshop will guide you through the basics and advanced techniques of voxel art. Learn how to create stunning 3D pixel art that you can use in your games or digital projects or just to hang on your wall!
VideCrow 2
Date: June 22
Time: 3:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Description: Celebrate Pride Month by attending our Queer Games Showcase organized by local developer Emily Rose.
This event will feature games developed by local queer creators, offering a diverse range of genres and styles. It’s a fantastic opportunity to support and celebrate the creativity of our queer community. Developers are encouraged to submit their games for presentation. Enjoy an evening of art games and celebrating inclusivity.
JAM ZERO: Communal Chaos
A Local Multiplayer Gam Jam
Date: July 12th - 14th, 2024
Description: The SiM’s first-ever game jam is here! And Its is all about creating fun and chaotic local multiplayer games.
You'll have 48 hours to team up and develop a game from scratch. It’s a fantastic opportunity to collaborate, innovate, and showcase your skills. Don’t miss the showcase event the following month during the belltown ArtWalk where we’ll share and celebrate all the awesome games created!
REMINDER we have weekly open hours every thursday 12-6pm!
Drop by our studio every Thursday for open hours! This is a great opportunity to work on your projects, get feedback from peers, and utilize our resources. Whether you’re working on game development, art, or any other interactive media, our doors are open for you. We’re also looking for volunteers to help staff on other days, so if you’re interested in contributing to the community, please reach out to us!
Stay Connected
Love you all, and thanks for being a part of our community. Stay tuned for more updates and follow us on all our social media channels for the latest news and event announcements. If you want to help out with events, please reach out!
It’s going to be a jam packed Summer!
Terence Tolman
SiM Executive Director
A GRAND OPENING
A GRAND OPENING
Greetings, SiMulators,
Reflecting on a Stellar Start
Our opening day was nothing short of magical—a true testament to the power of our vibrant community. Every laugh shared, game played, and idea exchanged added up to make one unforgettable evening! It was a clear signal that we're not just building a space; we're crafting a sanctuary for creators, thinkers, and innovators alike.
We're still riding high from hat night and we had over 120 attendees throughout the evening!
I'd say it was an absolute smash hit sensation!
Thank You for Making Our Grand Opening a Huge Success!
We are so inspired by the passion and creativity that filled the room, and we're excited to see what we can all create together in the future!
Here's to many more events where we can explore the intersection of technology, art and community, and grow together to build a space where everyone feels welcome.
Upcoming Events to Spark Your Imagination
As we look forward, we have a couple of key events planned that are sure to enrich and inspire. Here’s what you can look forward to:
First up, we invite you to join us on April 26th for our Community Safety and Inclusion Roundtable. It's a foundational pillar of our mission to ensure that The SIM remains a space where everyone feels respected and valued. We want to be as open, transparent and collaborative as possible when it comes to sculpting policies and practices that embrace community safety and foster inclusion.
Your voice is crucial and this is your chance to share your ideas and insights to help us ensure The SIM remains a welcoming and safe space for all. This will be a biannual recurring event as we grow and adapt. It's important to refine and revisit and keep our commitment to you all relevant and up to date.
Next up is a developer spotlight!
INDIE BUSINESS with Ryan Ike
How to survive and thrive as a freelance creative in games
Ryan is an esteemed indie games composer known for his work on titles like “Where the Water Tastes Like Wine” and “Shadows Over Loathing”.
Join us for an evening of insight and practical advice, on the nature of selling your craft and staying motivated in a competitive creative market
This is also a reminder to any developers, creatives or artists out there if you'd like to give a talk or workshop please reach out! We'd love to have you!
Game Jam Alert!
We’re buzzing with excitement as we plan our very first Game Jam! We’re still pinning down the perfect date, (likely sometime in May?) We DO however have a THEME prepared!
“Communal Chaos” a jam focused on local multiplayer games to channel the chaotic energy of starting a new community and celebrating the fact that we have a physical space to use! There’s a real couch for real couch co-op!
So Keep an eye out for our newly launching public calendar right here on the site it will be your go-to for upcoming events!
We’re on the Socials!
We're now active on Facebook Instagram Twitter( or “X” sigh) LinkedIn Twitch YouTube,
We are gearing up content so follow us to stay updated, engaged, and informed about all things SIM. And of course join the DISCORD this is the hub for the online portion of the community and another place to keep track of upcoming events and make friends!
Volunteering at The SIM!
Interested in helping out? We're in the process of crafting a realistic open hours schedule based on community interest and availability of volunteers.
While we fine-tune our volunteer onboarding processes Here's how you can get involved and get your name in the list in the meantime!
Join Our Discord: https://discord.gg/jgueb44DAT and enter the #Participate channel. Drop your name, availability and if you have any additional skills / contributions you'd like to offer! Whether it’s through tech support, event management, creative input, or any other avenue you're passionate about we can use the help and we will try to find a place for you!
This information will help us make sure we have enough folks to make it all work!
We appreciate your patience and enthusiasm as we perfect our volunteer system. Stay tuned for updates, and thanks for your interest in shaping our community!
Looking to the Future-
we’re excited about what’s next for The SiM. with plans to bring even more opportunities for learning, creating, and collaborating.
Along with game jams, hackathons, meet ups and showcases that highlight the incredible talents within our community; In the long term we also are looking forward to hosting many more industry talks and workshops as well as job fairs, mentorship programs, and conference scholarships helping bridge the gap between emerging talents and seasoned professionals. With every step, we aim to foster an environment that supports every member’s growth and creativity. Together, we’re building a vibrant culture of knowledge sharing where everyone has the tools and opportunities to succeed.
A Final Note of Thanks As I write this, I'm reminded of every face I saw at the grand opening—each one alight with the spark of possibility. That spark is what fuels us at The SIM. It's what drives us to make this community thrive!
Here's to creating something extraordinary,
Terence Tolman-
Founder / Executive Director
The SIM