The Ontario College of Art and Design in Toronto is currently hosting Start, a showcase for independent games that's open to the public late into the evening for the rest of this week. According to show organizers, the goal of the event is to not just draw attention to OCAD's new educational offerings in game design-the school plans to be a primary training ground for industry professionals as Toronto grows into a globally recognized game-making hub-but also the city's deep pool of talented and committed independent game designers.
Visitors can try a variety of games developed by small teams-in many cases just one person-projected onto the walls of the university's Great Hall, with the selection of games changing daily.
I asked Benjamin Rivers, one of the show's co-organizers as well a sessional instructor with the Faculty of Illustration at OCAD University and a local independent game developer, which games he thought were most exciting. "I am personally most excited to see a game like the Lovecraftian Night of the Cephalopods , by Toronto developer Spooky Squid Games, projected large to a smiling crowd," he said. "But I think the biggest draw for shameless indie fun will be noted developer Messhof's NiddHogg -a bizarrely compelling two-player dueling game that defies description. We will be featuring it at the gala event on Thursday for ongoing group play."
Rivers noted another of the show's aims is to illustrate how games are fast becoming a platform for artistic expression. "Games in general are no different than any other medium in terms of potential artistic merit," he explained. "Where indie games have an advantage is that they are often smaller, more personal endeavours, and can maintain that sense of authorial control and direct intent that a larger, triple-A game can't always serve. At The Start Show, visitors get access to dozens of games-most created by individuals-and see for themselves the variety and creativity that's possible. Some are about love, some are about music, but all are unique, and that's what makes them so interesting."
A panel discussion on the 16th dedicated to this topic will be open to all visitors.
If you're in downtown Toronto this week, Start might be worth checking out. Aspiring game makers can get a feel for the school, veteran indie developers can network and become inspired, and the rest of us can just kick back and expand our horizons as we experience some interactive entertainment that's a little bit off the beaten track.
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