The Game Dev Walk - January
What is the Game Dev Walk? A monthly opportunity to meet up with other game devs, walk, talk and get out in nature!
Where does it take place? One of London’s many nature spots. This month is at Hampstead Heath, meeting at the Parliament Hill Lido Cafe
Who is this event for? Anyone who works in game development, or is interested in working in games, at any level and in any department, is welcome!
Why? I want to create an alternative to the usual pub and expo meet ups, which often involve large crowds in small spaces. The aim is to provide a more relaxed outside environment for people to meet other game devs.
What to expect on the day? We'll meet at 1pm at the Parliament Hill Lido Cafe. The walk will start at 1:30pm, which will give people some time to arrive and grab a snack/drink before setting off
We'll walk around the route (found below), taking in the views and having a chat. We can go at a pace that will suit the group, so no worries if you're a slow walker.
Like any good walk, it will finish with a drink, location to be discussed on the day.
Details of this month's walk
Route: A route around the edge of Hampstead Heath, just over 7k with some small hills. It should take around 2-2.5 hours.
Meeting point: Parliament Hill Lido Cafe, just outside the entrance. The location is here, it's just around the back of the Lido if coming from Gospel Oak.
How to get there: The nearest tube station is Gospel Oak, which is a couple of minutes walk away from the Lido. You can park at the Lido, but it's very expensive and often full.
Food/Drink: The Lido cafe does excellent food and coffee (The falafel wraps are superb!) There are a few other cafes on the Heath if you get hungry along the way.
Toilets
A map of the Heath with toilet locations can be found here. The Heath isn't that big, so you'll never be too far from a toilet.
Accessibility
Hampstead Heath has accessible toilets and a lot of the paths are paved, full info can be found here
FAQ
What about our glorious British weather? The event will go ahead rain or shine. The route might be shortened a bit, if it's raining, or scorching. I'm ok with walking in the rain, but appreciate that it isn't everyone's cup of tea!
Can I bring a dog? Well behaved dogs are welcome!
How much does this cost? It's totally free, you can't put a price on nature!
RSVP - Please RSVP so I have a rough headcount
Do I need to bring anything? Comfy walking shoes, a bottle of water, weather appropriate clothing, and a snack if you'd like.
Can I join later than the start time? Yes, I will share my location on the day, and you can track the group's movements through that. If you know you're coming later, drop me a message and I can let you know where we'll be roughly.
What happens if I get lost? The live location will be shared before the event, I will also share my phone number as a backup.
Photos/Social Media: We might take a few casual snaps of the group or scenery, please let me know if you’d prefer not to be in any photos.
Code of conduct: Be kind, inclusive, and respectful to everyone.
Who are you? I'm Howard Sinden, a sound designer and engineer working in games & animation for around 10 years. I’ve worked on such games as God of War and Marvel's Spider-Man, as well as the upcoming CCG Doctor Who: Worlds Apart and a bunch of fun indie titles. I started this walk as a relaxed, nature based way for game devs to connect. If you'd like to check out what I do, my website is here https://www.howardsindensound.com/