Submissions
2020 PAX East and GDC Submissions are now closed. Subscribe to our mailing list to be notified of future submission dates and keep up with IMB news!
| GDC 2020 | PAX East 2020 | PAX West (Typical; dates TBD) |
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| Submissions Accepted | October | October | April |
| Notifications Sent | January | Late December/ Mid January | June/July |
Click here to access our submissions system.
FAQ
What is the Indie MEGABOOTH?
The Indie MEGABOOTH is a curated traveling showcase of independent game developers working together to bring indie games to the forefront of the gaming community and conference-goers’ minds. We aspire to give indie dev teams exposure to new audiences by creating a support network – while connecting them with fans, publishers, platforms, and individuals in mutually beneficial partnerships.
What are some benefits for showing with Indie MEGABOOTH?
Teams selected to exhibit with Indie MEGABOOTH will receive some of the following benefits (caveat: devs will need to provide the appropriate info and assets by the assigned deadline):
- Inclusion in IMB’s showcase lineup press release, blog post(s), and newsletter
- Inclusion in the lineup announcement trailer
- Inclusion in the gameplay montage video
- “Indie MEGABOOTH Official Selection” laurel images to use on your social media channels, Steam/online storefront pages, website/marketing materials, trailer end slates, etc.
- Mentions on the official IMB social media channels (primarily Twitter, Discord, and Facebook)
- Access to an IMB PAX-specific support network via Google Group mailing list to ask other IMB exhibitors for advice, best practices, vendor contacts (i.e. print materials, swag, etc.), recommendations on travel to Seattle or Boston, etc.
- Access to the GDC or PAX press pre-reg list plus a PR resource guide on best practices for booking your press appointments
- Two invites to the Indie MEGA Mixer (PAX showcases), where you’ll get to mingle with the IMB exhibitors and meet representatives from IMB sponsors
- Access to professional quality photos captured by the IMB team and hired photographer (Please note: we try to take and upload as many photos as possible but can’t guarantee that we’ll get shots of every single game)
After a team has exhibited within an IMB showcase, they’re added to the Indie MEGABOOTH Alumni mailing list – a supportive network to stay in touch with indie dev peers. This list stays active year-round, providing a forum to participate in discussions, give and solicit advice, and keep connected with IMB. Even after the show floor closes, the conversations and connections you made at the event continue.
The Indie MEGABOOTH team works directly with conference organizers to help streamline logistics, paperwork, and communication so that you can continue to focus your time on development and how best to showcase your game.
We partner with companies to implement various indie developer grant programs to help support teams that develop on their platforms and offset the cost associated with participating in big conventions. We also have some additional funds made available through the generosity of our Alumni Community to enable us to support teams who are helping make the gaming industry more inclusive. Interested in learning more? Reach out to contact@indiemegabooth.com.
Participation in PAX or GDC provides exposure to tens of thousands of fans and industry peers that can give real-time feedback and provide critical insight into your development process. It’s a great way to capture highly engaged fans that are attending to find their next favorite game. Being at the event is an opportunity to connect with peers in the gaming industry in-person and to become part of the ever-growing Indie MEGABOOTH community.
How much does it cost to submit for consideration?
Submissions are $50 USD per game, per event. Late submissions have an additional late submission fee of $50 USD, for $100 USD total. To avoid paying the late fee: Please ensure you complete your submission before the deadline has passed.
When will I know if my game is accepted?
See the dates for our current cycle at the top of this FAQ. If we require additional information or materials, you will be contacted during the judging process. Teams are notified in waves. If you have not heard back about the status of your entry past the indicated time frame, please contact us using the Q&A section on your entry link.
I have more than one game to submit – How do I do that?
You may submit as many games as you would like for us to consider – but they must be submitted as individual entries. Return to the submissions page and create another entry for each additional game.
Note that only games that are selected by the Indie MEGABOOTH jury are allowed to showcase at the event.
What if I’m an indie publisher?
Indie MEGABOOTH aspires to connect development teams with their fans and the indie community. While teams are welcome to have their publisher assist with their submission and logistics, member(s) from the core team are ultimately responsible for ensuring they (the core development team) are represented in their submission and are required to staff their booth at the event. Publishers and their employees are not eligible to join the alumni email list.
In general, we do not host publisher booths within the Indie MEGABOOTH. However, if you think you have a compelling set of games that would mesh well with us, drop us a line: contact@indiemegabooth.com.
Does the Indie MEGABOOTH accept tabletop games?
Historically, IMB had a small area dedicated to tabletop gaming; however, due to funding and sponsorship constraints we do not host Tabletop teams at this time. We are working to find ways to make this area more robust and hope to have it return in the future. If you’re interested in sponsoring or discussing ways to support an IMB Tabletop showcase, please reach out to us at contact@indiemegabooth.com.
However, like everything in life, there are exceptions to the rule! If you believe your tabletop game is a good fit for a regular MEGABOOTH space, contact us and we’ll see if you should submit it for consideration.
How much does it cost to show at each event?
It varies depending on the event/city. Besides travel and lodging, here are some costs to consider:
GDC: $300 for the Shared Dev fee, which supports the MEGABOOTH. The event organizers provide a turn-key solution so that teams can focus on showing their game.
PAX East and West: A 10×10 booth typically costs around $2,500, so we suggest teams budget around $5,000 depending on the setup, merchandise and other expenses.
A MINIBOOTH set-up is usually around $1,500 and includes all your equipment and one badge.
The following detailed write-ups explain what your expected budget could be, including potential hidden costs, for PAX. The budget for these write-ups was based on a three-day event, so you’ll need to adjust your budget accordingly. MEGABOOTH teams showcase all four days, while MINIBOOTH teams showcase for two days.
Should I choose MEGABOOTH or MINIBOOTH?
It entirely depends on a few different factors and boils down to your budget, availability, and goals.
Do you have the resources/staff and finances to show for FOUR (4) full days? Are you and your booth staff able to commit to arriving one full day before the event for booth set-up and can stay through the end for the breakdown? Are you nearing launch (i.e., less than 6 months to shipping)? If so, MEGABOOTH could be a good option. For the MEGABOOTH, you must be in attendance for all four days. You cannot hire someone or use outside marketing/PR to cover your booth.
If your answer is no, then MINIBOOTH is likely better suited for your needs. MINIBOOTH may also be a good option if you are super early in your development cycle. It is also a more cost-effective option if you do not have the financial resources or bandwidth to commit to a full booth. If selected, you would also showcase for two (2) out of the four days. Here are some details about each option:
MEGABOOTH: Full booth spaces are bought and run by your team within the Indie MEGABOOTH showcase area. The typical booth size is 10 ft. x 10 ft. and we offer a very limited number of 10 ft. x 15 ft. and 10 ft. x 20 ft. booths. PAX will invoice you for your space and be individually responsible for all logistics such as booth design, set-up, merchandise, etc. IMB will work with you to streamline the process to order electricity, rental furniture, and AV equipment if needed from the conference vendors. A 10 ft. x 10 ft. MEGABOOTH comes with (3) exhibitor badges for all four days, and larger booths have historically included more badges. Additional badges are available for purchase through PAX. We provide information and guidance along with group packages and sponsorship opportunities, but you have ultimate ownership over the space.
MINIBOOTH: This is an opportunity for developers with limited resources to show their game. We provide a smaller kiosk space, basic PC hardware and AV setup, and some PR, as noted above. You may submit non-PC titles for the MINIBOOTH, but in that case, you will need to bring your hardware if accepted. You’ll also be included in the mailing list, networking events, parties and any qualifying developer grant and hardware sponsorship opportunities. IMB handles all conference logistics, so you do not need to worry about things like ordering electricity, for example. MINIBOOTH comes with one (1) exhibitor badge for all 4 days. One thing to note is that the MINIBOOTH space rotates halfway through the show, meaning if selected, you’ll only be showing for 2 days out of 4. The layout/look of MINIBOOTH varies from year to year but will have the same amount of space.
I’ve shown with Indie MEGABOOTH before – May I show again?
Absolutely! We have a limit of three showings per game, but you’ll still need to go through the submission process, fill out the paperwork, and submit the standard payment. Showing at a previous Indie MEGABOOTH is not a guarantee that you will be accepted for the next show.
As a team/company, you may submit new games as often as you like – this limit is for each individual game.
Can I share my booth space?
We do not allow groups to purchase booth space to host other games to ensure we retain control over game curation. This enables us to ensure a diverse collection of high-quality games.
What happens if my game doesn’t get space?
There are other indie showcases, both onsite and offsite, during PAX. It doesn’t hurt to have a back-up plan. Shop around for the best-suited showcase for the type of game that you’re creating.
We also highly recommend volunteering to help run the MEGABOOTH. This will give you an opportunity to meet developers, see what types of games are there, and attend the show. More information is available here: https://indiemegabooth.com/about/volunteer
Criteria & Selections
Our goal is to provide a ‘snapshot’ of the current indie scene and gaming community at large while building a community that provides support, mentorship, and networking opportunities to developers. We review all of the materials submitted. Our criteria includes not only your game, but also your involvement in the indie community, how participation could benefit your team (and vice versa), what your goals are, and how you apply these to your game and company philosophy.
Things We’re Looking For
We require the following materials:
- Game/company information.
- Build of your game.
- Three-minute gameplay video. This must be three minutes of raw gameplay footage, not an edited trailer.
Your submitted game may be an already-released title, completed work, or even a beta or alpha build, as long as it provides an enjoyable, playable experience for attendees.
There are a couple of open-ended questions in the application form, and you’ll want to use those fields to tell us why you, your team, and your game should be considered. Tell us your origin story! Ask yourself some of the following questions and relay the answers to us:
- Does the game present a unique, interesting, or thoughtful design or mechanic(s)?
- Is the aesthetic style compelling or different?
- Does the game address a social issue or offer a unique perspective or philosophy on game design?
- Does your game represent a larger genre in a compelling way or an under-represented genre?
- Is the game or developer able to contribute positively to the indie community?
- Are you an active member of your local community or an advocate for indie game devs?
We don’t make selections based solely on your game. We also take a look at how participating in the Indie MEGABOOTH could help your team, and how you can contribute to the community.
The core team involved with organizing the Indie MEGABOOTH review the submission information with the help of hand-picked judges. If we have questions or need additional information, we’ll request items from your team before making a final decision.
If you have any questions, please contact us at submissions@indiemegabooth.com!