Michigan Level Up | IGDA2

August Addition! First Quarterly Playtest!

Author

Corbin Reeves
August 23, 2025

Hello Everyone! Better late than never, I always say… So the Quarterly Playtest took way more effort than we had expected, but hey, everything worth doing is challenging, right? Now that we have that beast tamed, I wanted to update you all on the space and the awesome updates across the space. So let’s get into it!

👾State of the Michigan Games Industry

So the last month has been eventful to say the least. With Game Camp in full swing and well over a dozen reported teams, it should be interesting to see what is created! While there is an NDA in place, so we won’t be able to deep dive into the ongoing at Game Camp, it’s public knowledge that teams are paired with mentors to help guide them through the development process. With many devs aiming to become commercial-focused, we are so excited to see what comes out once the camp has ended and people are sharing their games!

In July, we had an awesome talk by the wonderful Cubicorn Games duo that highlighted the value of feedback and participation in events such as Pax. I think the biggest news on that front is that getting your game in front of people drives wishlists and gets you feedback. A two birds, one stone situation for sure. That said, cost is absolutely something you should keep an eye on. The team stressed that the costs are something that people tend to underestimate, so leverage the community, chat with people, and make sure your plan is solid!

While this month is nearly over, we still have some action-packed weeks ahead of us with the Quarterly Playtests first run tomorrow, IGDA Ann Arbor with Reddit Art Director speaking, the new semester kicking off across the state, and a special announcement for September’s IGDA coming at the end of the month.

Keep your eyes on the community and keep on building!

💡 Quarterly Playtest!

IGDA Ann Arbor & Detroit Quarterly Game Playtest is Sunday, August 24, from 12:30 to 3:00 pm.

We have an incredible number of teams coming to participate in this upcoming event, showcasing some incredible games. If you are available and interested in support, we would love to see you at the Canton Public Library!

We currently have 15+ teams locked in with the Canton Library’s support, we are expecting a decent crowd of people to come through and check out the games available for testing. Some of the games that will be at the event are:

Superspective

RPSSUMO

Echoes of Astra

Merp in Merpworld

Boogie Bashers

Murphy's Mayhem

Super Cucumber

Treat Team

COCOBOY

Oceaneye

Forked Up

Tonic Melodic

Beaux-Arts

Tonic Melodic

Volley Guns

Ravenwood

Eternal Enigma

🚀 Kickstarter & Fundraising Spotlight

Echoes of Astra TCG by Parhelion Studio (Launching Soon!)

Echoes of Astra is a new trading card game that combines tactical elements with world-class illustrations from top anime illustrators around the globe. Developed locally by Parhelion Studio in Ann Arbor!

lovebyte.exe by Nochi Studios (Launching Soon!)

A chat dating sim game inspired by Mystic Messenger, VTuber communities, and internet spam. Experience internet fandom cultures and parasocialism and discover who's real and who's not real in chat, eventually unveiling & romancing characters' irl-selves and unlocking media content in this PC game.

  • Follow the project here!

  • Wishlist early on Steam!

  • Check out some bigger indie VTubers having a great time with it so far!

Congrats to the teams! Get out there and support them!
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🎮 Game Launches (Michigan Devs)

Gadget Blaster – VectorSource

Gadget Blaster offers a balance of mastery and zen. Whether you're solving puzzles at your own pace or reaching for the top of the leaderboard in Infinity mode, every moment is a chance to unwind, think creatively, and have a blast!

Checkout Blitz: The Shopping Dead – Birdtek Games

An arcade roguelite where you complete shopping lists during a zombie apocalypse. Solo, co-op, or versus, bash your way through randomized stores with power-ups, classes, and chaos.

Mischief – Tavern Rat Studios

A delightful and imaginative action/adventure video game where you step into the paws of a courageous rat, navigating through a captivating world within the nooks and crannies of a typical home and a bustling backyard, solo or with up to four local players!

All recently launched and ready to play. Congrats to these teams!
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🧪 Demos & Wishlists!

Check out these playable demos, send feedback if you have a chance!
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📅 Upcoming Events

  • Quarterly Playtest!: August 24th 12:30 pm - 3 pm @ Canton Public Library – Come playtest games and give feedback to help shape the games growth and success!

  • IGDA Ann Arbor - Art / Visual Style Development: Thursday 08/28 6-10 pm @ Ann Arbor SPARK Central – Step into the world of art styles and the business of art as IGDA Ann Arbor welcomes Reddit's Senior Art Director, David Carr, for a talk on how to research, select, and iterate an art style for your next game.

Discover ArtLab at the Ann Arbor Art Center

ArtLab at the A2AC is where creativity and innovation meet!

Explore and discover how to use emerging technologies, such as stop-motion animation, digital illustration, 3D modeling & printing, graphic design, and more–all intended to develop in-demand skills for 21st-century jobs.

From gaming to manufacturing, ArtLab offers digital art classes in Ann Arbor that marries software and hardware to create; for our teen and adult students alike, ArtLab inspires future potential backed by real-world knowledge and skills. Our ArtLab programs are ideal for learning and growing in a fun, supportive environment.

Registration is now open for our Fall Term courses! You can find our current ArtLab offerings HERE!

⚡ Stay Connected & Get Involved

A special thanks to every local team who’s building, demoing, and launching! Your hard work makes this community shine, and makes putting together supports like this worth it!

— Corbin John Reeves, IGDA Ann Arbor Co-organizer 🕹️

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