Plug In Digital is one of the largest game distributor on the planet. We also offer Publishing Services through our label Dear Villagers.

Hello everyone,

I'm honored to be part of this mentorship program. I've been in this industry for 12 years, worked a big part f my career in Japan. Founded and lead a publishing label, and I'm beyond excited to be able to share what I've learned with new studios.

国内外のゲーム会社で、ディレクター、プロデューサーとして活動。株式会社ソニー・コンピュータエンタテインメント（現ソニー・インタラクティブエンタテインメント）在籍時にディレクターを担当したゲーム『どこでもいっしょ』は、多数の賞を受賞。2008年にあまた株式会社を創業。マルチプラットフォームでのゲームの受託開発を行いつつ、自社オリジナルVRゲーム『Last Labyrinth』『オノゴロ物語』を開発、リリース。両タイトルでは、プロデューサー兼ディレクターを務める。

この度、創風のメンターとして、次世代のゲーム開発者のサポートができることを大変嬉しく思います。
私自身も、まだ現役のゲーム開発者としてチャレンジ中ではありますが、XRの領域で先行してチャレンジした経験から、次世代のゲーム開発者の方々にお役に立てるようなサポートができれば幸いです。

フェドール・ヴァン・ヘルペンは、MeetToMatchの共同創設者であり、年間60回のB2Bゲームイベントで使用されるイベントプラットフォームです。

MeetToMatchグループの一員として、フェドールは2021年にエージェンシーラベル「Representing Games」を立ち上げました。ゲーム開発者がパブリッシャーや投資家を見つけるのを支援し、政府がカスタマイズされたアクセラレーションプログラムを通じて地域エコシステムを育成し成長させるお手伝いをしています。

At MeetToMatch, we are a firm believer of the power of connection. Our founder, Fedor van Herpen, would love to share his knowledge about networking in the games industry with you, so you will be able to feel confident to reach out to potential international partners.Being active in the worldwide games industry for over 15 years, and having seen many indie games from Japan, he feels that it is due time that the world sees more from aspiring indie game developers from Japan!

Nocturne helps indie game creators develop their fan base and maximize revenue thanks to its revenue sharing-based fund and a powerful network of industry veterans. Our goal is to support studios as they independently build community-centric, enjoyable, replayable games, all driven by our Community Validation Framework.

As someone with Anglo-Japanese parentage, I understand the unique challenges and opportunities you face in the industry. I'm Bobby Wertheim, and I'm here to offer my mentorship to help you secure a great publishing partner and ensure you deliver a strong vertical slice. With my experience in production and games publishing, I aim to guide you through the complexities of the early phase of development to reach the securing of a publishing partner, empowering you to make informed decisions and achieve your goals.

PixelAnt Games was created to change the way how games are being created. Our goal is to prove things can be running differently – and that’s what we call Gamedev 2.0, kinder and smarter way of making games. Gamedev 2.0 is how we think and act. We are part of Sumo Digital and together we work on most recognisable, top-tier AAA/AA+ game brands (like Forza Horizon, Hitman & Sackboy) and collaborate with the biggest partners in the game industry (Microsoft, Sony, NVIDIA, AMD, Intel, WB, etc.).

Games are using universal language we all understand. We are using the same tools to delve deep into the virtual worlds, and same platforms. Controllers have the same number of buttons, keyboards and mice are the same. Yet, our approach how we create them, market them, and how we target the audience is different. I do hope I could shed a light on Western events and how to create relationships that will lasts.

中国出身、2009年から2014年まで中国の著名なゲームメディアで記者として活動していた。その後、日本に渡りゲーム開発を学びつつ、プロジェクト管理やゲーム企画の役割で10近くのインディーゲームプロジェクトに参画した。MadeWithUnityブログでの執筆を通じ、中国のゲーム業界を日本の読者に紹介していた。現在はゲームパブリッシャーとして、日本および各国のゲームを世界市場へ導くことに専念している。趣味は旅行とストリートフォトグラフィーで、料理にも自信ある。

メンターというよりは友人として、自分のゲームを中国のプレイヤーに届けたい開発者を支援したいと思っています。Steamユーザーの半数が中国にいることから、是非この急成長している市場にご注目ください。中国のゲーム市場に関する広い範囲の質問でも具体的な質問でも、遠慮なくご相談ください。今後開発者の皆さんと共に成長できますと大変嬉しく存じます。

Cassia Curran (she/they) is the founder of Curran Games Agency, a business consulting agency for indie game developers in the XR space. She specializes in sourcing and negotiating investment for XR games, and has helped 12 studios secure funding for their games in the last 18 months. She also is an expert in market analysis, giving frequent talks on the subject, and produces in-depth market reports on the XR software space that is available for public purchase. Previously, Cassia led WINGS, a fund that invests in games made by women and people of marginalized genders, and prior to that worked in business development roles at Jagex and NetEase.

XR is the best sector of the games industry right now for indie game developers to break out. PC, console and mobile platforms are massively oversaturated with high quality games. But on XR platforms, there is much less competition, a lot of opportunities to innovate completely new game mechanics that capture the audience imagination, and XR consumers are more forgiving if your game isn't perfect. Moreover, it's a great time for an indie game developer to release a good XR game and establish their IP with the core XR gaming player base. XR games have an exciting future!

Kepler Interactive is a global game developer and publisher built on a unique co‑ownership model. Kepler gives studios a stake in the business and a leadership role in strategic decision-making, at the same time as preserving their creative independence, enabling them to make fun and commercially successful games appealing to a wide audience.

Kowloon acts as the project financing arm of Kepler and is dedicated to supporting independent developers. We provide project-based funding to talented teams making premium PC and console games, whether they are working on their first game or already well established. We currently have 50+ games in our portfolio which span all genres and come from various parts of the world, including Sifu, Spiritfarer, Sea of Stars and many other amazing games.

Hi everyone! Ever since I was a little kid, I've been obsessed with playing these incredible games from Japan, especially JRPGs. A huge chunk of my all-time favourite games are actually Japanese games 😊 I've also been playing Japanese indie titles and have been thoroughly enjoying them. That's why I'm super happy to be here, connecting with all you incredible Japanese indie developers through So-Fu 😊 Being a part of this community and having the chance to support you in bringing your games to the global market is truly exciting!

Meg is currently a Game Scout for the award-winning British games publisher Team17, helping indie developers secure support and funding for their games as well as providing feedback on ideas and prototypes. Meg has a background working in Games, Audio, and production for nearly ten years working on games such as the Dragons Dogma 2, Demon’s Souls, Forza Horizon 5, Vermintide 2 and Supermassive’s Dark Pictures Anthology.

I’m really excited to be able to help Japanese Indie developers as it was specifically Japanese games that inspired me to want to work in this industry when I was a child.

I think Japanese developers have interesting and fresh ideas so I can’t wait to see what you are all working on.

Rami Ismail is a Dutch-Egyptian industry ambassador & independent games developer with over 20 genre-defining & award-winning titles across PC, console, web, and mobile. His development of tools like the industry-standard dopresskit.com, his prolific & popular public speaking, his work with governments and communities on all continents, and his highly-regarded consultancy and insights have helped shape industry opportunities for game communities & independent game developers of any kind, in any situation, and anywhere.

前職は株式会社カプコンのドイツ支社に勤め、２０２１年からスーパークラウド会社のイベント『インディーアリーナブース』を介して５００以上のデベロッパーを支援してきました。ゲーム作品を世の中の多くの人々に知ってもらうのは必ずしも容易ではなく、また費用もかかりますが、私たちはパートナーと協力して、フルサービスのアプローチによる作品発表を手頃な価格で承っております。
インディーアリーナブース(以下IAB)の目的は世界中の次世代ゲームクリエイターの作品に多くの人々の注目を集めること、そしてチームが求めるサポートへのアクセスをより容易にすることです。
出版社、報道機関、業界の専門家などからなるグローバルなネットワークを活用し、開発者による売り込みやプレゼンテーションのスキルを向上させ、また資金調達やマーケティングサポート、コンテンツクリエイターによる取材など、各種専門家とのつながりを築くことを支援しています。

今回、インディーゲームデベロッパーさんの旅の一員となり、作品を世界に羽ばたかせるためのお手伝いをさせて頂けてとっても嬉しく思っています！
作品を物理的な、もしくはデジタルなイベントで紹介することが大事ですが、その前の準備についてもやるべきことが山ほどあると思います。チームメンバーの人数は多くない場合がほとんどですし、資金提供を受けるための連絡先もまだ多くお持ちではないのではないでしょうか。
これから僕のアドバイスがみなさんのお役に立つことを願っております。どうぞよろしくお願いいたします！

Samantha Low is a Tokyo-based freelance writer, PR and marketing consultant for indie games. She currently has a monthly video games column in The Japan Times, a weekly entertainment column for Tokyo Weekender and is a frequent contributor to GamesHub. As a podcaster, she also co-created the "Malaysia Direct" , the first digital showcase of its kind to feature Malaysian games. She was invited as a guest speaker for gamescom asia 2023 to discuss how game developers can work with media. In 2023, she was inducted into The Game Awards Future Class 2023 for her work championing Southeast Asian and Japanese games at a global level.

Prior to a career in video games, she worked for multinational tech, hospitality and automotive organisations across Singapore, Australia, Japan and the United Kingdom to improve their content and communications.

I'm really looking forward to getting to know all of you and your games! The path of an indie developer is not easy but I believe it is one of the most rewarding. There is something so special and different about indie games made in Japan. Maintain your confidence and never lose what it is that makes you unique. Let's show the world what Japanese indie developers can do.

Becky is a digital marketing expert with over 13 years experience in games and new technology. With both an MBA in Marketing and a BS in Communications & Interactive Media (graduating with high honors), Becky has leveraged her expertise to lead global campaigns for industry giants like Riot Games and Tencent, while also mentoring successful indie titles like The Red Solstice. Becky's a sought-after and highly rated speaker, sharing her indie game marketing expertise worldwide. She now leads Ninth Angel Productions, whose client roster includes companies such as YZY, thatgamecompany, and Gamesight. Outside work, her passions are for sports cars, video games, and her dog, Bandit

The global games market presents exciting opportunities, but navigating its diverse landscapes can be complex. While the path can be challenging, the heart of it remains the same: creating captivating and authentic experiences that resonate with players. Throughout my career, I've seen the power of compelling indie games firsthand and have helped launch titles that found their audiences globally. I'm excited to participate in this program as a mentor, sharing insights on how to market indie games effectively. My goal is to help the next generation of indie developers achieve global success.

1990年に新卒で大手ゲーム会社に入社。以来ゲーム業界一筋で35年間にわたり海外営業、海外マーケティング、ライセンス、ローカライズ、プロデュース、プロジェクトマネジメントなど多種多彩な業務を経験。2021年に独立し、業界各所で発生する”ちょっと足りない””今だけ足りない”隙間を埋める存在として日々活動中。

この度「創風」のゲームプログラムメンターとして優秀なクリエイターの方々と関わる機会をいただけたことをとても嬉しく思っております。デベロッパー、パブリッシャー双方の立場で国内外の様々なプレゼンの場に立ち会ってきた私の経験が、これから海外に打って出ようとする皆様のお役に立つのであればこれほどの喜びはありません。

Spencer has been working in the games industry for 15 years across Media, Business Development, and most recently: Publishing. After starting his career doing community and live streaming, he’s been Scouting for Fellow Traveller and working as an independent consultant in games for years. Though he mostly just likes talking to people. The one constant throughout his whole career: Spencer is great at connecting with people and understanding what makes their projects special. No matter what he’s working on, the people are always the most important part.
Spencer also likes burritos, football, and Japanese denim.

Japan’s history in gaming is undeniable, but through So Fu I’m excited to help show the world the power of Japanese Indies! I’ve loved Japanese indie games since I found Cave Story in the 2000s and it changed my life. I can’t wait to see what everyone is cooking up and learn more about what y’all can do! Let’s bring Japanese Indies to the world!

Fawzi Mesmar is an award winning Game designer, leader, author and public speaker that has been in the gaming industry for over two decades in a career that spanned the middle east, New Zealand, Japan and Europe working for companies such as Ubisoft, EA, Activision Blizzard, Gameloft and Atlus to name a few.. He is also the author of "Al-Khallab in the art of game design" the first Arabic language text book on game design.

夢を信じて、情熱を持って進みましょう。素晴らしいゲームが生まれることを期待しています！

• Since 2005 owner and CEO of Marchsreiter
Communications agency

• International PR expertise in gaming since 1997

• Responsible for successful campaigns for Amazon Games, Bungie, Funcom ,11bit, devcom/gamescom, Scopely, Thrustmaster, Rebellion, Pearl Abyss, SNK, PUBG, Tencent, Microsoft Xbox, Sony Playstation, Playstation, Netflix, BandaiNamco, Riot, GDC as well as many smaller developers, publishers, indies and start-ups

Oscar is an Industrial Engineer with substantial experience in project management and technology innovation.
Thirteen years ago he decided to reorient his professional career towards his passion: video games, so he studied a Master’s degree in Game Design and Development.
He worked in small studios as a Game designer and 3D artist for 4 years.
After participating in an acceleration program, he co-founded a studio, Blowing Minds, where they developed 3 games for mobile devices.
Over the last 7 years he has directed the GameBCN incubation program; he is co-founder of the iGi program; directs other international acceleration programs; he is a production professor at the TecnoCampus university; and advises video game studios.

One of the first memories I have of my life is playing Pong on the Atari console.
I like to define myself with titles: Prince of Persia, Loom, Double Dragon and Diablo among many others.
I was born to play and create games and I love sharing my knowledge and experience with young talented developers who want to follow the same path I took many years ago.

大手ゲーム会社にて13年間ゲームプログラマーとして活動。その後、独立してTECOPARK株式会社を創業。音楽以外一人で制作した多人数協力アクションパズルゲーム『PICO PARK』は全世界累計販売本数500万本越え。マルチプレイだからこその新しい体験作りを軸に活動中。

創風という名前の通り、新しい風を起こせるようサポートできたらと思います。私の得意分野はマルチプレイゲームと考えています。ゲームプログラマーとしてネットワークなどのマルチプレイにおける技術的ノウハウ、ゲームデザイナーとして協力ゲームデザインのノウハウ。これらの経験を活かすことができたら嬉しいです。