About the GYAAR Studio Indie Game Contest | GYAAR Studio Indie Game Contest

ABOUT

What's the GYAAR Studio Indie Game Contest?

The GYAAR Studio Indie Game Contest is a contest for indie game creators hosted by Bandai Namco Entertainment and Bandai Namco Studios. We aim to support indie game creators and the future of the video games industry. The contest is not limited to creators in Japan, but those outside Japan can enter as well.

As of 2024, the contest has been held twice, with a total of 23 games supported. We wish for the winning titles to reach a wider audience, and will provide medium/long-term aid to achieve this.

The contest is also called the GYAARCon.

SUPPORT

Award Winner Support

Development funding

Funding totaling up to 100 million yen is allotted for development support.

*Amount differs depending on the award.

Lending of development equipment

Winners can borrow PCs, monitors, controllers, and other equipment needed to develop their games.

Use of GYAAR Studio Base

Winners have free access to the GYAAR Studio Base development center.

Details here

Participation in online community

Winners gain access to an online community (on Slack) to allow communication regardless of time or location. Winners not only talk between each other, but also to Bandai Namco Studios creators.

Development Support

Dedicated members share development knowledge on technologies, and provide consultation on questions and concerns faced during development.

Marketing support

The contest provides information on the video games industry, a guide on exhibiting at events, effective PR methods, and other marketing info to winners.

*This support is given to winners of both the first and second contests.

HISTORY

Contest history

1st contest

In March 2023, one Platinum Award and seven other Award Winners were chosen out of 209 applications.

Winning titles here

2nd contest

In March 2024, one Platinum Award winner, four Award Winners, and 10 Honorable Mentions were chosen out of 236 applications.
The second contest also featured special support by Supercell.

Winning titles here

Exhibiting at domestic and international events

We exhibit at BitSummit, Tokyo Game Show, gamescom, and more not only to show what we do at GYAARCon, but to advertise the winning titles as well.

Special support by Supercell

Supercell Ltd. provided support to the 2nd Contest award winners in the form of a Helsinki office tour and game feedback from Supercell creators.

Click here to see more of what we do

GYAAR Studio Base

Contest winners have free access to the GYAAR Studio Base game development center, located on the first floor of Bandai Namco Studios' offices.
In addition to being a place to work on their games, creators gather and communicate through demo sessions and other events, acting as a place to create new value.

Development environment

GYAAR Studio Base not only has PCs, monitors, controllers, and other equipment needed for game development, but also has meeting rooms, whiteboards, lockers, and free beverages.

Demo sessions

The winning titles are put on display and feedback is elicited at GYAAR Studio Base once a month. Game creators from Bandai Namco Studios also participate in these sessions, acting as a place for them to interact with contest winners.
We also aspire for these sessions to be a place where creators can inspire each other through knowledge-sharing lightning talks (LT).

Monzen-nakacho Mokumoku sessions

Starting June 2024, we started working with INSIDE SYSTEM Co. Ltd. to use GYAAR Studio Base for these "Mokumoku" sessions. Only during these sessions can non-contest winners use GYAAR Studio Base.