LORE DUMPING FOR THE FUTURE OF GAMES IN AUSTRALIA
TG Lightning Talks @ Melbourne International Games Week 2025
The 2024 Australian Game Development survey showed that 56% of the 137 Australian game studios that responded have been formed in the last 5 years. Almost half of the respondents (47%) are working in smaller studios, employing 5 or less staff members.
The Australian games industry has not been completely protected from global economic challenges. Supporting younger and emerging studios is critical to maintaining our reputation of delivering creative and high-quality games and ensuring a sustainable future for games in Australia.
In this thought-provoking discussion, join us as we delve into what intergenerational knowledge needs to be passed down to game developers and how we can do that. Hear why this is important for the future of games in Australia and how we can ensure this support continues.
This panel is facilitated by Kay-Lynn Cavanagh
Maize Wallin
They/Them
@maizewallinMaize works across indie games and big budget AAA, as well as their own experimental work. Maize’s work and expertise has been showcased around the world in museums and galleries, and at conferences and industry initiatives.
Maize cofounded community and industrial initiatives including Nonbinary.Zone, Game Workers Australia, and Sabby Co-op (formerly Sabby Gallery). Since 2012, Maize has been an active part of shaping the Melbourne and Australian game development industry and communities.
Maize received awards and recognition for their community impact, the MCV Pacific Develop 30 Under 30, Games Industry Biz 100 international game changers, among others.
Sarah Pavlich
They/Them
Sarah Pavlich is one of the current Co-Convenors and community organisers of Game Workers Australia. They have been working in the games industry for over five years, primarily as a QA Analyst, and have a lot of passion for both quality assurance and workers’ rights within the industry.
Neil Rennison
He/Him
Neil Rennison began his 25 year games development career as a 3D environment artist working on major racing titles before founding Tin Man Games in 2008. As Creative Director, he has led the development of over 60 digital titles including licensed adaptations of Fighting Fantasy gamebooks, the Warhammer Underworlds board game, and original IPs such as Table of Tales and Choices That Matter. A passionate advocate for the Australian games industry, Neil actively supports indie development through mentoring, funding assessments, and strategic leadership.
Kay-Lynn Cavanagh
She/They
@inkmo_artArtist and creative producer of hybrid and engaging productions, community art events and shows based in Narrm. Kay-Lynn’s illustrative work evokes delight, humor and provocative story-telling.
She is a queer POC creative, passionate about fostering connections and collaboration amongst her community. Kay-Lynn works across projects that activate people and places in ways that are engaging, accessible and inclusive to a diverse audience.
Kay-Lynn is co-founder and art director of Weird Flex Studio, working on the game Bee Major and co-producer and writer for Space Murder, a C31 and YouTube show where comedians roleplay in space.
In 2022, she co-founded Sabby and co-led the initiative that turned Sabby into a 115 member co-op for creatives and game-devs.