(from the keyboard of a “young veteran”)
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(from the keyboard of a “young veteran”)
After ten years of roaming between GDC, Gamescom, and China Joy, I’ve seen all kinds of ecosystems. Yet, rarely have I felt that “spark-in-the-air” moment like the one that happened on June 5th at the Science and Technology Park of Montenegro. Over a hundred designers, programmers, and pixel enthusiasts—from high school students to seniors—filled the GameDev in Montenegro meetup organized by ICT Cortex through the CBC GAIN project (Interreg VI-A IPA 2021-2027), with support from the European Union and the Ministry of Regional Investment Development and Cooperation with NGOs.
To cut the story short: European funds have enabled us to launch a completely free GameDevHub space with over 20 state-of-the-art workstations, mentorship, and a training program designed for indie teams. The Montenegrin game development scene is finally getting the playground it deserves.
Imagine a group of students from university, sketching out a game they’ve been dreaming about since high school over espresso in Bokeška Street. Give them top-notch PCs, a network of mentors who freely share their knowledge on Unreal, Unity, Blender, marketing, and publishing—and you’ve got our GameDevHub.
Our plan is clear:
We break down barriers to zero – equipment, software, and education are free for everyone, from high schoolers to veterans.
We connect the industry face-to-face – need a 3D animator or advice on how to raise your next funding round? You’ll find them at the next meet-up.
We open the market – partnerships with publishers from the EU, USA, and Asia bring funding, QA, and go-to-market expertise.
“Opening the center will be a milestone for our gaming ecosystem; our goal is for young people to create, network, and build careers in the fastest-growing segment of IT,” say the team at ICT Cortex.
If you’ve ever heard me speak at a conference or shared a beer with me, you know how much I believe in local potential. I’ve worked with teams from fifteen countries, but nowhere have I encountered such a unique blend of creativity and stubborn, crazy persistence. Today’s global audience craves authentic, author-driven “I quit my job, divorced my wife, and sold my kids to make this game” stories. Just look at the explosion of indie titles like Balatro, Blue Prince, or the upcoming Expedition 33.
Montenegro has what “AAA” has lost: freshness and the courage to take risks. GameDevHub, the MonteGames conference, and our game jams will become the launchpad for the next generation of indie stars.
Whether you’ve never written a single line of code or you already have ten published titles — if you love games, you’re welcome here. It doesn’t matter where you come from or what language you speak; what matters is that you believe Montenegro can become a hotspot for game development. See you soon at GameDevHub!
For more information about the CBC GAIN project and GameDevHub activities, follow the official ICT Cortex channels. See you at the next meet-up!
✍🏻Miloš Šćepanović, Game Manager on the CBC GAIN project
