Record year for Digital Dragons in Kraków

Organised by the Kraków Technology Park (KTP), the conference become a permanent fixture in the calendar of key events in the global gamedev sector. Late in May the eyes of the industry focus on Kraków. Being key event of the type in Europe, this year’s Digital Dragons attracted a record number of people, businesses, and exhibitors. The conference attracted nearly 2000 participants, representing 650 companies, who planned nearly 1700 meetings in the course of two days. Best Polish games released in 2018 were presented with the Digital Dragons Awards. The contest is especially important for the industry, as nominations come directly from the gamedev world, and the final decision belongs to the jury composed of the journalists of Polish key games titles. Frostpunk from Warsaw-based 11 bit studios proved the greatest winner, and took two statuettes home.

The 2019 winners:
Best Polish Game of 2018: Frostpunk (11 bit studios)
Best Polish Mobile Game of 2018: Hexologic (MythicOwl)
Best Polish Game Design of 2018: Frostpunk (11 bit studios)
Best Polish Game Art of 2018: Book of Demons (Thing Trunk)
Best Polish Game Soundtrack of 2018: Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales (CD Projekt RED)
Best Foreign Game of 2018: Red Dead Redemption 2 (Rockstar Games)

Another regular element of the Digital Dragons is the Indie Showcase competition for independent game developers. Selected from nearly 100 applications, 60 projects competed for the title of the best mobile indie game. Besides game studios from Poland, the productions came from Ukraine, Germany, and Turkey. Despite the very high and even level of this year’s competition and a great number of wonderful games, the awards gala was dominated by two productions: Wanderlust from Different Tales studio and Tsique by Smile. Honourable mentions from the media were presented alongside the main prizes, and the full list of the winners is presented below.  

The 2019 winners:
Community Vote: Wanderlust (Different Tales)
Graczpospolita.pl Editor’s Choice: Hungry Baby (Digital Melody)
Ustatkowany gracz Editor’s Choice: Shing! (Mass Creation)
tvgry.pl Editor’s Choice: Inkulinati (Yaza Games)
Best Indie Mobile Game: Wanderlust (Different Tales)
Best Indie Game: Tsioque (Smile)

One of the most important moments of this year’s edition of the Digital Dragons was the presentation of interim results of the Polish Gamers Research designed by the Kraków Technology Park in cooperation with the Polish Gamers Observatory. This year the detailed analysis of Polish gamers and their behaviours was for the first time expanded to cover people in the 55–65 age bracket. The complete results will be presented late in June.

Another regular element of the Digital Dragons conference is the VC Pitching Session, which gives beginner game developers an opportunity to present their games to a throng of experienced investors. This year, 15 projects took part in the pitching sessions. Organisers did remember about the students as well, and ran another Students’ Talent Show: a competition, whose prizes include a two-month residency with 11 bit studios. This year’s winner was the Pixboy Team. The HR Zone opened again to people seeking employment in gamedev.

Next year’s Digital Dragons are planned for 18 and 19 May 2020. The main partner of this year’s event was the Małopolska Region.