Japanese indie event BitSummit partners with Indie Megabooth

Japan’s little indie event gets a mega-boost.

BitSummit, a budding Kyoto, Japan-based indie game festival, gets more support with the announcement of a partnership with independent game showcase group Indie Megabooth. Its dedicated presentation and organization of indie games gave creators a chance to be noticed alongside high-budget, top franchise games at huge trade shows like PAX Prime and PAX East, and now its event planning experience and credibility will help BitSummit in its goal to be Japan’s leading indie games event.

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The formation of the Japan Independent Games Aggregate (JIGA) was also announced this morning, formed of BitSummit and Japanese independent developers 17-Bit, Vitei Inc., Q-Games Ltd., and Pygmy Studio Co., Ltd. JIGA will oversee the planning and execution of BitSummit, which will now relaunch as a conference organizer. The group will also work to expand the worldwide reach of Japanese independent games. Indie Megabooth president and CEO Kelly Wallick will join JIGA’s board of advisors.

North America has events like PAX and Indiecade to promote independent games, but Japan has nothing even close. The country’s most promising event, BitSummit, kicked off three years ago, with a small group of developers and companies supporting it. Indie Megabooth’s curated showcases have become popular enough in recent years to become of a focal point at Western trade shows, so BitSummit stands to benefit from the group’s experience.

The result of these partnerships will be on display at BitSummit 3, set for July 11 in Kyoto, Japan, at the Miyako Messe convention center. Attendees can expect games showcases, networking events, musical acts, and an awards ceremony.