On November 6, 2009, the Swiss game industry met at a sketchy corner in Zurich: more than 40 people attended the inaugural IGDA Switzerland chapter meeting at the head quarters of Gbanga.

Christoph Brosius from Remote Control productions introduced us to the game industry situation in Germany, highlighting how strong and lucrative browsers games are there. Basil Weber presented a sneak preview of their cutting-edge real-time game Train Fever and Reto Senn from bitforge pitched his top ranked and rated iPhone game Orbital.

Prior to the meeting, the speakers were invited to have a tour to the most exciting studios in Switzerland including visits to GIANTS Software, where Christian Ammann showed a secret prototype of their next production, and to Disney Research Zurich where Bob Sumner received the speakers to show the amazing art work on the walls of their offices (even the walls in the rest rooms are pretty impressive).

The first meeting of the IGDA Switzerland chapter has attracted many important guests from academia (eg. Prof. Margarete Jahrmann from the ZHdK Game labs), from media (Guido Berger from Swiss national radio DRS) and many from the industry.

After two hours of presentations and debate, the crowd moved to Fellini and after that to La Catrina to mingle with professionals and to explore potential collaborations over a drink. But that was just the beginning: it has been reported that certain individuals have returned home around 10:00am the next day.

We’re looking forward to our next meeting in February 25, 2010 about flashy entertainment in Bern. You should join us!