A New way to help!
Hey ATX Game Makers community!
We’re excited to announce the launch of our new Patreon page – but before you worry about anything changing, let us be crystal clear: nothing about how ATX Game Makers operates will change. Our events, resources, mentorship programs, and community support will remain exactly as they are, completely free and accessible to everyone.
What This Patreon Actually Is (And Isn’t)
This Patreon is purely a donation platform – not a content subscription service. We’re not hiding anything behind paywalls, we’re not creating exclusive content, and we’re not changing our open-door policy. Every workshop, meetup, resource, and opportunity we provide will continue to be available to all community members, just as it always has been.
Think of this as a more convenient way to support ATX Game Makers if you’re already inclined to do so, similar to having a donation jar at events – except this one doesn’t get knocked over during game jams!
What Your Donations Will Fund
Your contributions will directly support community initiatives that benefit everyone:
📚 The Annual Book of Talent Our version of a yearbook highlighting the incredible talented diverse members of the community. This resource helps our community members get discovered by potential employers, collaborators, and industry connections. Production costs for design, printing, and distribution add up quickly, and donations help us make this a high-quality publication that truly represents our community’s talent.
🎉 The Annual SXSW Party Our biggest community celebration during SXSW, bringing together local developers, industry professionals, and Austin game enthusiasts. From venue costs to food and drinks, hosting a memorable event that welcomes everyone requires funding, and donations help us throw a party worthy of Austin’s amazing game dev scene.
🤝 Monthly Meetups and Events Our regular meetups, workshops, and networking events require ongoing support for venues, refreshments, and materials. While we work hard to keep costs minimal, donations help us secure better spaces, provide snacks and drinks, and ensure our events run smoothly for everyone in the community.
Why We’re Doing This Now
As our community has grown to over 1600 members, so have the costs of supporting everyone effectively. Rather than charging for services or creating membership tiers, we’d rather keep everything free and accessible while offering an optional way for those who can and want to contribute to do so. Please think about this, if each of you donated $1.00 a month that would be more than enough to help with all of our current programs and allow us to expand and offer more!
Nothing Changes for You
Whether you choose to support us on Patreon or not, you’ll continue to have access to:
- Monthly meetups and networking events
- Resume reviews and portfolio feedback
- Mock interviews and career guidance
- Game jams and community challenges
- All workshops and educational content
- The same welcoming, supportive community you’ve always known
A Simple Thank You
If you’ve ever benefited from an ATX Game Makers event, connected with someone at our meetups, or simply enjoyed being part of our community, this Patreon is just another way to give back – but it’s completely optional. We’re grateful for every form of support, whether that’s participating in events, mentoring fellow developers, spreading the word about our programs, or now, if you choose, contributing financially.
The Austin game development community is special because of all of you. This Patreon is simply a tool to help us continue supporting that community in the ways that matter most.
Ready to check it out? You can find our Patreon page here. And remember – supporting us financially is just one way to help. The most important thing you can do is keep being part of this amazing community.
Thanks for making ATX Game Makers what it is today, and here’s to what we’ll build together tomorrow!