Game Republic headed to MCM Comic con Birmingham 7th-9th August 2026, joined by 16 members all showcasing games and talent from the network and region. As well as the Game Republic zone, Game Republic hosted two panels held on the Gaming stage, chatting to indie developers demoing at the event about developing games, breaking into the industry and tips for aspiring game developers on getting started. The event formed part of Game Republic’s 2026 programme, supported by official partners supported by Official Partners Red Kite Games, Xsolla, Double Eleven and Strategic Partner Steel City Interactive.
Rezzed Zone, powered by Game Republic
Game Republic members showcased a variety of games, offering visitors the opportunity to discover and play them and enjoy. Throughout the weekend, attendees also had the chance to meet the developers behind each project, giving valuable feedback as well as talk about next steps for the project. It was a fantastic opportunity for developers to gather player feedback, raise the profile of their projects and make new connections, while visitors enjoyed discovering the next wave of exciting games and the talented people creating them. Enjoy a gallery that highlights the games on show over the event.
“So You Want to Make Games?”
Over the course of the event, Game Republic’s Community and Events Officer, Michela Vilinskis hosted two panels around the topic “So you want to make games?” which aimed to provide insights into game development, how to get started and aspects to consider when working on a project.
For all panellists, a love of games, storytelling and creating things was a key part of what first drew them to game development, with inspiration often coming from simply playing games they enjoy, identifying the mechanics or experiences that stand out, and using those elements as a spark for new ideas. HaZ Dulull (Beyond The Pixels) discussed his experience working across film and animation, highlighting the differences between these industries and games, while also exploring how creative skills and working processes can be transferred across different areas of the industry. The discussion also highlighted some of the less visible challenges of making games. Alongside coding and art, developers spend significant time on areas such as scope and time management, marketing, content creation, budgeting and the wider running of a business.
For anyone looking to get into game development, the advice was simple: start making games, keep projects manageable, and learn as you go. Rather than trying to master every aspect of game development at once, breaking ideas down into smaller, achievable steps can make the process much more approachable. The panel also highlighted the importance of the wider games community, with networking and connecting with other developers offering valuable opportunities to share knowledge, gain advice, build confidence and make connections that can support you throughout your development journey.
To find out about this and future Game Republic events and webinars as well as games industry events visit the events page.
If you would like to secure a free ticket and get access to other GR in-person events for free and business support – you can apply to join Game Republic here
If you are developing or supporting games in The North, you can join GaMaYo, other Northern meet-ups and the Great Northern Games Discord for FREE here
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