The Hipster Whale team.
A delegation of 57 Victorian game developers, designers and virtual reality pracititioners are heading to San Francisco for the world's biggest gaming conference – Game Developers Conference.
Forty of the participants – also including audio composers, sound specialists and marketers – have received support through Film Victoria to attend.
The participants, including the teams behind global hit games as well as emerging companies, will connect with potential business partners and investors and promote the latest Victorian-made games, game technologies and services to global industry leaders.
The 2016 delegation is the largest yet. Participants include Andy Sum of Hipster Whale, the company behind the worldwide hit mobile game Crossy Road, Ross Symons of Big Ant Studios and Daniel Visser of Wicked Witch – two of Australia’s largest independent studios.
GDC also hosts exhibitions and award ceremonies, including the Independent Games Festival Awards.
Melbourne studio League of Geeks has been nominated for an award for its latest game Armello.
As well as promoting Victorian products and services, the delegation will encourage international participation at Melbourne International Games Week 2016.
Games Week is a celebration of games and technology-focused events that will run from October 31 November 6.
Victoria is home to half of Australia’s digital games industry, with more than 100 game development studios and games industry service providers.
The Victorian Government has led delegations to GDC every year since 1996, generating lucrative partnerships for participants and the state.
In 2015, 27 Victorians took part, resulting in $32 million in projected sales and exports.
The 2016 Game Developers Conference will run from March 14-18.
Creative Industries Minister, Martin Foley, said Australia’s games sector was born in Victoria.
"Today local game developers, designers, technicians and creatives continue to lead the way, with games that top the charts across the globe.
“Our digital games sector is a key part of Victoria’s $23 billion creative economy. Our strong presence at the world’s most important games event will generate opportunities that will take Victorian games to the next level.”
Small Business, Innovation and Trade Minister, Philip Dalidakis said the games industry was worth $86 billion a year globally.
"The games industry is the largest segment of the global entertainment market, and this trade mission is a great opportunity to display Victoria’s gaming capabilities on a world stage.”