Digital Dissent in Discussion | presented by Canberra Game Developers
Mark Schramm, Lachlan Herbert, Ricky Vuckovic, Kai Clark, Robert Wiggett, Solomon Inyang, Leah King + more
7 November 2026
Day + Time | Saturday | 11am – 2:30pm
Location | National Film and Sound Archive of Australia, 1 McCoy Circuit, Acton ACT 2601
Entry | Free | Registration required
Access | Wheelchair accessible, accessible parking, accessible bathroom, assistance animals welcome
Digital Dissent in Discussion is a talks series presented alongside Digital Dissent, an interactive showcase of innovative microgames by some of Canberra’s best game designers.
Each microgame in Digital Dissent has been commissioned by CanDev, co-curated with the support of the National Film and Sound Archive’s curators and crafted in consultation with some of Canberra’s most experienced games industry mentors. The works invite visitors to interactively explore a range of perspectives on Dissent through play.
Digital Dissent in Discussion extends this conversation beyond the screen. Local developers will dissect and reflect on the works presented and the evolution of Canberra’s game design scene, exploring how Canberra’s games industry has blazed a trail and how the games made here continue to break the mould.
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Canberra may be small, but it has a thriving game development scene. CanDev supports and brings together this diverse community to share knowledge, showcase projects, playtest games, share constructive feedback, and create conversations, connections and opportunities for making better games. 
CanDev launched on 16 April 2014 with Canberra's first Pizza and Pixels game developer networking and playtesting meetup and has since become the primary game development industry community group in Canberra. 
Online membership has grown to over 800 members, with regular meetups drawing between 40 and 90 attendees, including students, hobbyists, industry professionals, studio heads and developers from emerging and well known studios, as well as playtesters and industry supporters. 
SEE WEBSITE HERE -
Jarrod Farquhar-Nicol is a multi-award-winning contributor to the Australian game development industry, primarily known as the President of CanDev and Games Administrator at Screen Canberra. Jarrod has worked on digital titles including Ascending Inferno and ACT Fast, as well as releasing various tabletop games. For over a decade, Jarrod has supported numerous teams across Australia by providing feedback and consultancy in the areas of playtesting, narrative, game design, business, events and community management. 
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Chris Arneil is the Digital Games Curator at the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia, where he leads the development and preservation of the nation’s collection of digital games and related materials. His work centres on safeguarding Australia’s playable media heritage and supporting research into the country’s game-making history. Chris has presented at conferences in Australia and overseas on game preservation, curation practice, and the cultural value of interactive media, and collaborates widely with developers, scholars, and collecting institutions. 
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Ruqiyah Patel is an award-winning independent narrative game designer based in Canberra. Under the studio name ub4q Ruqiyah designs, directs, programs, and writes innovative narrative games with a small group of collaborators. Her work centres on interactive fiction and branching narratives with a focus on characters and relationships. Her 2023 game Amarantus received Screen Canberra funding and was critically acclaimed, receiving multiple awards. Ruqiyah has spoken at national game development events and was nominated for the Writing + Narrative Game Dev Hero award in the UK in 2020. For the past four years she has been involved with CanDev as a co-organiser and presently serves as Vice President. 
Presented by CanDev in partnership with the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia and supported by ACT Government City of Design funding
Images
Canberra Game Developers Pizza and Pixels Event 2026 | Photography by Cassie Abraham
Digital Dissent Artwork | Courtesy of Canberra Game Developers