During the video game week in Skolkovo, they will offer to test the latest products and communicate with developers.

The Moscow International Video Game Week, which will take place from November 27 to November 30, will bring together developers, publishers, investors and gamers. Skolkovo Innovation Center (VEB GroupThe Russian Federation) will become a platform where a gaming exhibition will open and a business program will unfold, the Foundation's press service said.

Guests of the event will be able to test the latest games and communicate with developers, as well as learn about measures to support the industry and promising startups.

Studios that have already received ecosystem support will present their projects at the exhibition, which will run for three days. Among them are residents of Skolkovo — studio WATT, Blokseli, Game Art Pioneers and Voltep.

An important event of the business program will be the discussion "Money in the game: who and how finances game dev in Russia and what comes of it?", which will be held on November 29. The moderator will be Alexey Kalenchuk, Director of Digital Creative Industries at the Skolkovo Foundation. Together with representatives of the Institute for Internet Development, private studios and investors, the panelists will discuss government support mechanisms, including grants from Skolkovo and the Institute for Internet Development (IRI), the role of private and corporate investments in the development of game studios using the case studies of Skolkovo residents, as well as risks and prospects for new investors.

The session will announce the start of accepting applications for participation in the accelerator for game studios "Sk Games". Leading industry experts will provide mentoring support to the participants. Networking is also organized for them. Applications are accepted until December 8th. The winners will be able to apply for a grant of up to 7 million rubles. There will be three nominations in total: a promising indie game, an indie game in a space setting, and a secret nomination. The partners will be the WATT Studio, the OnlyGames platform, Roscosmos Group of Companies and the Agency for Creative Industries.

Alexey Kalenchuk, Director of Digital Creative Industries at the Skolkovo Foundation and Head of Sk Games, noted that the Russian video game industry demonstrates great potential for growth. "At Video Game Week, we will show how this ecosystem works in practice and announce the launch of new developer tools. The main task of our Sk Games accelerator is to create a sustainable ecosystem in Russia for the growth of high—quality gaming projects," said Kalenchuk. The goal is to encourage investment in the early stages of development, when the team has a bright idea and prototype, but lacks the resources and expertise to enter the market, continued the director of Digital Creative Industries.

"Figuratively speaking, we help teams go from the "vertical slice" — that is, from that first, beautiful, but limited element of the game that proves its potential — to a full-fledged, ready-to-release product. This is the most difficult stage at which many promising projects stop, and we are grateful to our partners for their willingness to help such teams," Kalenchuk emphasized.

Esports tournaments, including competitions and playtests of the latest games, are also organized for Skolkovo guests. They will be able to play with famous streamers and esports players.

The first Moscow International Video Game Week is organized by the Moscow Creative Industries Agency under the Moscow Department of Culture.

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