D.I.C.E. Athens Early Bird Registration Ends Soon
Early Bird Rate Ends August 3
Registration for D.I.C.E. Athens is now open. Mark your calendars now to make sure you attend this premier networking event taking place September 21-23, 2026 and take advantage of early bird pricing.
2026 Game Maker's Sketchbook Collection Revealed
Game Maker’s Sketchbook, the annual celebration of artistry in interactive entertainment, powered by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS), iam8bit, and fortyseven communications, has revealed the official selections for its fifth annual showcase. Honoring the imagination, craftsmanship, visual storytelling and creativity in the beautiful interactive surfaces and game worlds that players love, this year’s collection invites fans and collectors alike to celebrate the enduring power of art in and around games. The works are now available to view through the Game Maker’s Sketchbook online gallery and will also be exhibited during Summer Game Fest: Play Days from Saturday, June 6 through Monday, June 8, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA.
Sean Velasco
Yacht Club Games
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Trent Kusters chats with Yacht Club Games' Founder Sean Velasco. Together they discuss Yacht Club's follow up to the Shovel Knight series, Mina the Hollower including what they wanted to do differently from their previous titles; working within the Game Boy Color aesthetic and how that affects game design; the dangers of scope creep and importance of guiding principles; balancing combat complexity; and what's next for their studio.
Watch this episode on our YouTube channel.
Hakan Abrak
IO Interactive
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Trent Kusters chats with Hakan Abrak, CEO & Co-Owner of IO Interactive. Hakan is also the Game Director on IOI's take on the Bond legacy with 007 First Light. Together they discuss how IOI met with MGM and the Ian Fleming estate to first pitch the project; the responsibilities they felt to stay true to the Bond IP; balancing dialogue and humor and how that differs from film to games; the casting process of finding a new Bond; and what they learned from the Hitman series that informed the design of a 007 experience.
Watch this episode on our YouTube channel.
Allen Murray
ZA/UM Studio
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Adam Orth chats with Allen Murray, Studio Head of ZA/UM Studio and Head of Production on ZERO PARADES: For Dead Spies. Together they discuss the legacy of the studio and the pressure of following up a beloved debut in Disco Elysium; the deliberate choices they made around the setting and themes; how they implemented over 700,000 words of dialogue; making every decision and moment impactful to avoid ludonarrative dissonance; and balancing their creative vision while deescalating risk.
Watch this episode on our YouTube channel.
AP Thomson
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Trent Kusters chats with AP Thomson, creator of the surreal strategy-puzzle game, Titanium Court. Together they discuss his path into games and meeting his long time collaborator Jenny Jiao Hsia; working together on the award winning Consume Me; the development of Titanium Court including creating modular systems for faster development; creating the narrative and his advice on becoming a better writer; winning back to back Seumas McNally Grand Prizes; and subverting player expectations to create engaging experiences.
Watch this episode on our YouTube channel.