THE GAMEDEVS.NRW NEW YEAR'S RECEPTION 2024: FASHION MEETS GAMES

gamedevs.nrw is a privately run, non-profit community organization for everyone who is interrested in game development.No matter if you are a game designer, an artist, a programmer, a business person or something in between; no matter if you are working in a big studio, running an indie outfit, are a student, a hobbyist or someone who is just about to get started with game development and is looking for advice - you are all welcome to join us at one of our meetups in Düsseldorf!

GAMEDEVS.NRW

This year, we are part of the DÜSSELDORF FASHION DAYS and bring together the fashion world and creatives from the games industry

Wacom Experience Center Düsseldorf

GAMEDEVS.NRW Afterwork Meetup

No matter if you are a game designer, an artist, a programmer, a business person or something in between; all are welcome to join us on a Thursday evening in Düsseldorf! Meet other people, exchange thoughts and ideas, get inspired and inspire others!

<h2>GAMEDEVS.NRW presents:</h2><h1>The GAMEDEVS.NRW new year's reception 2024: FASHION MEETS GAMES</h1><p>After the overwhelmingly positive feedback for our first "New Year's Reception" last year, which actually started as a joke, it's no joke that we are kicking off 2024 in style with our second ever New Year's Reception - and it will be bigger, better and brighter!</p><p>This year, we will combine our reception with the topic "Fashion Meets Games" and for this matter, our reception will actually as well as proudly be a part of the Düsseldorf Fashion Days!</p>

<h2>The case for FASHION x GAMES</h2><p><br></p><p>But why fashion and games? Because this is a great fit - even if you might not realize it yet. Indies and Game Publishers can monetize their IPs in a way that enables them to connect with the most engaged and loyal of their players - those who buy merch. The fashion industry, on the other hand, can tap into new customers while being able to draw fresh inspiration and make life imitate art.</p><p>"Examples", you are asking? Sure! There are numerous approaches to fuse games and fashion. You can simply put a game logo on a t-shirt. Or take it one step further and put a game character on it. Or go a bit beyond and put a 2D pixel art sprite on that t-shirt. <a href="https://www.uniqlo.com/ph/en/special-feature/ut-collection/fighting-game-legends" title="https://www.uniqlo.com/ph/en/special-feature/ut-collection/fighting-game-legends" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer"><strong><strong>Uniqlo oftentimes features game IPs in their UT Collections</strong></strong></a>. Luxury Brand Balenciaga went one step further with Fortnite. You could buy physical Balenciaga cothing with Fortnite logos AND <a href="https://www.epicgames.com/site/en-US/news/balenciaga-brings-high-fashion-to-fortnite?sessionInvalidated=true" title="https://www.epicgames.com/site/en-US/news/balenciaga-brings-high-fashion-to-fortnite?sessionInvalidated=true" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer"><strong><strong>you could buy Balenciaga fashion for your in-game characters</strong></strong></a>. But wait, there is more. Do you remember the Deus Ex games? Especially "Human Revolution" and "Mankind Divided" featured a unique sense of what fashion might look like in a Cyberpunk world. And there was Musterbrand, who <a href="https://musterbrand.com/2020/04/09/deus-ex-2012/" title="https://musterbrand.com/2020/04/09/deus-ex-2012/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer"><strong><strong>brought the fashion of the game into reality</strong></strong></a>. Furthermore, not to forget there was that awesome <a href="https://twitter.com/IAMFASHlON/status/1575830213598285824" title="https://twitter.com/IAMFASHlON/status/1575830213598285824" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer"><strong><strong>real-life Pixel-Art fashion at the Paris Fashion Week 2022</strong></strong></a><strong><strong>.</strong></strong></p><p><br></p><h4>A word to Indie developers</h4><p>Now the indies among you might think, that this doesn't affect you - that you are too small for this. Actually, you are not! All you need is a solid understanding of your games as brands. Read up on brand management and utilize your IPs via the magic of merchandising! Doki Doki Literature Club, a free Steam game, made tons of money through its merchandise. You can't pull this off on your own? Find a partner and leverage the art of licensing.</p>

<h4>Special Guest:<br>Knut Jochen Bergel - founder of Musterbrand, Co-Founder &amp; CEO of BRANDBOW</h4><p>We will get first hand experience and insights into the fusion of games and fashion from none other than our special guest <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/knut-jochen-bergel-75433b16/" title="https://www.linkedin.com/in/knut-jochen-bergel-75433b16/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer"><strong><strong>Knut Jochen Bergel</strong></strong></a>. Yes, THE Knut Jochen Bergel - the founder &amp; CEO of MUSTERBRAND as well as co-founder &amp; CEO of BRANDBOW, who is also deeply rooted in the games industry, being the former Sales and Marketing Director Germany Austria Switzerland at EIDOS INTERACTIVE, the VP &amp; General Manager Central Europe at Virgin Interactive Entertainment, the VP &amp; General Manager Central Europe at Codemasters and more.</p><p>So, you are invited to attend our NEW YEAR'S RECEPTION 2024 and get the chance to make new connections in the fashion and games industry as well as how to leverage the fusion of games and fashion!</p><p><strong><strong>Places are limited, RSVP now and secure your spot!</strong></strong></p>

<h2>OPTIONAL DRESSCODE:</h2><p><br></p><p>Last year, just for fun, we came up with the idea of an "optional dresscode" - after all, it was meant to be a fancy reception. And many people came dressed up, making last year's reception officially the best dressed games industry event of 2023 (proof to be found below ;-)<br><br>Because of the very positive reception (pun intended) of this optional dresscode AND because this year's reception will be all about fashion, we HAVE to repeat this! So, again, don't feel pressured or obligated to, but you are welcome to come as best dressed as you can and/or want. Black tie, white tie, super fancy, dress to impress - everything is possible and acceptable. Also as fashionable, haute couture - whatever you want to show off with; you are invited to do so!</p>

<h2>CAN'T ATTEND IN PERSON? WE <em><em>MIGHT</em></em> HAVE YOU COVERED!</h2><p>Covered as in "live coverage". We are currently seeing if we can livestream the event. If so, you will be able to find the link to the livestream inside our <a href="https://discord.gamedevs.nrw" title="https://discord.gamedevs.nrw" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer"><strong><strong>Discord server</strong></strong></a> .</p>

<h2>ABOUT OUR AFTERWORK MEETUPS IN GENERAL:</h2><p>No matter if you are a game designer, an artist, a programmer, a business person or something in between; no matter if you are working in a big studio, running an indie outfit, are a student, a hobbyist or someone who is just about to get started with game development and is looking for advice - you are all welcome to join us at on this Thursday evening in Düsseldorf!</p><p>Meet other people, exchange thoughts and ideas, get inspiration and inspire others!</p><p><br></p><h3>• MINGLING, SHOWCASING, CHATTING, NETWORKING:</h3><p>After our program part, you can stick around for mingling. Grab a free drink, have a chat. If someone brought something to show to the others, look at it. Play it. Give them feedback. And if you brought something to playtest or showcase, just set up your laptop and show it to the others. Be inspired, inspire others and just have a good time!</p><p><br></p><h3><strong><strong>And this time only: People from the games industry can meet people from the fahsion industry!</strong></strong></h3>

<h2>WHAT TO BRING:</h2><p>Feel free to bring what you are working on. This community depends on exchange and inspiration! So, if you recently made a game (not matter if it is a gamejam game, a small prototype or a full-scale production), bring it along and maybe also a laptop. We have much space available for you to set up your game after our program part and showcase your game. Others will gladly give you feedback.</p><p>Artists, you should bring your portfolio, so you can show it to others! Maybe someone would like to work with you in the future.</p>

<h1>GOOD TO KNOW:</h1><p>Free parking might be a challenge but there are paid parking-garages around.</p>

<h2>THANK YOU, KNUT AND BRANDBOW:</h2><p><strong><strong>We would like to deeply thank Knut for visiting us in Düsseldorf and sharing his insights!</strong></strong></p><p><strong><strong>About Knut's company brandbow:</strong></strong></p><p>THE BRANDBOW TECHNOLOGY SOLUTION HELPS BRANDS, IPS, AND RETAILERS IN THE FASHION AND APPAREL INDUSTRY TO TRANSITION INTO A MORE SUSTAINABLE AND AGILE BUSINESS MODEL.<br>OUR FULLY DIGITALIZED PLATFORM CONNECTS ALL MARKET PLAYERS, CREATES EFFICIENCIES THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS, AND AVOIDS OPPORTUNITY COSTS. For further information, please visit <a href="https://brandbow.com/" title="https://brandbow.com/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer"><strong><strong>https://brandbow.com/</strong></strong></a></p>

<h2>THANK YOU, WACOM EUROPE:</h2><p><strong>We would like to thank our partner Wacom Europe for making this event free to attend and even supply us with drinks!</strong></p><p>The Wacom Experience Center Düsseldorf aka WacomXDUS is the living room of the creative, tech and start-up community in Düsseldorf's Medienhafen.</p><p>It is an innovative meeting place for creative minds of all kinds and welcome everyone who wants to take their creativity to the next level.</p><p>Wacom Experience Center Düsseldorf hosts various events such as meetups, workshops, talks and more on the topics of creativity, design, software &amp; game development, startups, AI, VR and of course digital ink technology.</p><p>Wacom Experience Center Düsseldorf, Zollhof 11-15, 40221 Düsseldorf</p>

<h2>THANK YOU, DÜSSELDORF FASHION DAYS:</h2><p><strong><strong>We would like to thank the DÜSSELDORF FASHION DAYS for letting us be a part of them.</strong></strong></p><p><a href="https://www.fashion-net-duesseldorf.de/de/duesseldorf-fashion-days-307.html" title="https://www.fashion-net-duesseldorf.de/de/duesseldorf-fashion-days-307.html" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer"><strong><strong>WEBSITE</strong></strong></a></p>

<h2>THANK YOU, CITY OF DÜSSELDORF'S OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT:</h2><p><strong><strong>We would also like to thank our partner, the City of Düsseldorf's Office of Economic Development for their support!</strong></strong></p><p>The Office of Economic Development offers a range of services - from supporting foreign companies with residence permit questions to assisting with the relocation of an industrial company within the city area – it is the central point of contact for all companies.</p><p>From the formation of a company to its expansion or the question of company succession – their experienced specialists would be happy to advise you on the way forward at any stage of your company’s development.</p><p><a href="https://www.duesseldorf.de/int/office-of-economic-development/business" title="https://www.duesseldorf.de/int/office-of-economic-development/business" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer"><strong><strong>WEBSITE</strong></strong></a></p>