SSU Games @ GDEX Recap
Just wanted to share a quick update on our trip to the GDEX game expo in Columbus this past weekend (Sept 4-7). It's become a real tradition for us at Shawnee State, and this year was one of the best yet.
"I was incredibly honored to be able to represent the university at this very special occasion. It was an amazing learning experience where I could have in depth, meaningful conversations that don’t often take place on campus. And I mean, who wouldn’t leap at the opportunity to meet people in the industry??? Just an amazing experience overall." - Haley Magee, SSU Game Engineering Tech Senior
We shared a big "mega-booth" with our friends from the ShawneeXP accelerator. It was a great mix of our current students showing off their game projects, alumni teams like Gnomad and Wolfsbane Manor showing what they're working on now, and the accelerator folks.
Our students did an awesome job. They talked to hundreds of people about the games they've been building. It was fantastic for them to get that real-world experience and feedback.
"This was my first time at a GDEX, and I was surprised and amazed at how many people shared the same passions and interests as me in making games, and especially in making game music. I had always envisioned this community to be small and limited, but the event opened up my eyes to see how many others share my common goals and desires" - Avery Beaumont, SSU Game Arts Senior
Beyond the booth, our students spent a lot of time in the conference rooms. They went to a ton of panels and workshops to learn new skills and get ideas from people working in the industry right now. They came back to the booth excited to apply what they'd learned.
The best part was seeing so many of our alumni stop by. They caught up with old friends, gave our current students some great advice, and really showed how strong this SSU community is.
"We're super grateful that Shawnee provided JollyWare with a table again this year, because playtesting is absolutely vital. Watching players at GDEX proved that our gameplay and onboarding iterations have paid off. People are picking up Gnomad's unconventional controls much easier. Not to mention the fact that some started speed running the tutorial with movement techniques we hadn't been able to pull off ourselves.
Being stationed by our good friends at Shawnee was fantastic because we could all help each other out. From setting up the tables, to running the games, networking, keeping up the energy, and helping each other in so many little ways, it's clear that we are stronger together. I have to give a humongous thank you to all the fantastic Shawnee alumni who helped us all weekend with running Gnomad and with making this GDEX unforgettable." - Elijah Wickerham, JollyWare CEO, SSU Games Alum 2024
Play as a gnome traversing a magical sunken forest overflowing with ancient magic, odd locals, and weirdo monsters. Chart hidden paths and secret rooms to find your lost pet toad.
Oh, and a cool side note—Mole Maiden, a game from the ShawneeXP accelerator that shared our booth, even won a "Best in Show: Released" award! It was exciting to be a part of that energy.
Want to see what our students are building next?
They're already getting ready for our own event, the Shawnee Game Conference (SGC), right here on campus this November. Come check it out!
Shawnee Game Conference (SGC)
🗓️ Date: November 7-8, 2025
📍 Location: Shawnee State University Campus
🌐 Learn More & Register: https://www.shawneegamecon.com
We hope to see you there!