D.I.C.E. Awards Submissions Now Open
Deadline to Enter: December 8
The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS), the video game industry’s professional trade organization representing over 30,000 development and creative members, is pleased to announce the opening of submissions for the 30th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards (#DICEAwards), serving to recognize excellence among peers currently working in games.
This year, the D.I.C.E. Awards are introducing a new ranked choice voting system to help determine the winners. The ranked voting system ensures the winning game has broad support among members. In each awards category, rank their favorite nominated games in order of preference. More details can be found in the official rules and procedures.
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.
D.I.C.E. Athens Registration Now Open
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.
Jonathan Smith
TT Games
#gamemakersnotebook
Trent Kusters chats with Jonathan Smith, Vice President, Product at TT Games. Together they discuss his path from the LEGO Company to TT Games and helping define the pillars of a LEGO game; the importance of teamwork and consistency towards their continued success; working with DC to bring the entire Batman universe into a definitive experience with LEGO® Batman™: Legacy of The Dark Knight; and how they balanced the grittiness of the Batman IP with the joy and whimsy of the LEGO brand.
Watch this episode on our YouTube channel.
Jean Nguyen
Team Spino LLC
#gamemakersnotebook
Adam Orth chats with Jean Nguyen, the creator behind the viral hit Dinoblade. Together they discuss his early work in games through animation; the story of his viral animation featuring a Spinosaurus with a sword; deciding to expand on the concept and make it a full game; learning game development through self-study thanks to online sources like YouTube; and how to create a believable sword-wielding dinosaurs.
Watch this episode on our YouTube channel.
Casey Yano
Mega Crit Games
#gamemakersnotebook
Karrie Shao chats with Mega Crit Games Co-Founder Casey Yano. Together they discuss developing the Slay the Spire series which helped kick off the deckbuilder genre; design pillars and an emphasis on clear information; how streamers picking it up led to its meteoric rise; what they added to the formula in Slay the Spire II and how they implemented coop; how they parse feedback; and what happened when they upset a large portion of their Chinese audience.
Watch this episode on our YouTube channel.