Local News: Gamers unite

Minister for Creative Industries Martin Foley visited Australia’s games development hub ‘The Arcade’ in Southbank last month to announce the program for the first Melbourne International Games Week.

The Arcade, located at 71-75 City Rd in Southbank, is home to Australia’s first not-for-profit, collaborative workspace created specifically for game developers and creative companies using game technologies.

The Games Week announcement coincided with the international launch of the new mobile PAC-MAN 256, which was developed by Victorian games company Hipster Whale in partnership with Japanese games giant and original PAC-MAN creator Bandai Namco out of the Southbank centre.

Bandai Namco approached Hipster Whale following the worldwide success of the locally-made game Crossy Road, which has been downloaded more than 100 million times since its launch in November 2014.

Mr Foley said the launch of the inaugural International Games Week in Melbourne was a reflection of the strength of the games industry and the contribution it had made to the Victorian economy.

“Victoria is home to half of Australia’s digital games industry with companies ranging from major multinationals to boutique independent developers that, like Hipster Whale with Crossy Road and PAC-MAN, are developing global iconic products,” he said.

“Melbourne International Games Week is a celebration of strength of a sector of the creative industries that contributes significantly to the economic life of our state.”

Running from October 23 to November 1, Melbourne International Games Week 2015 would bring together a host of games, gamification and technology events to celebrate Victoria’s leadership in the games sector.

The week will culminate with PAX AUS, a major international games festival – the only PAX event outside of the USA – that is expected to attract more than 55,000 games enthusiasts to the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre in Southbank between October 30 and November 1.

Established in September 2013 with the assistance of Creative Victoria, The Arcade on City Rd provides a range of facilities and workspaces for developers including permanent desks, meeting rooms, kitchen facilities and a theatrette.

For more information on The Arcade and International Games Week visit