At Bit Reactor, we know the best ideas and innovations begin with community. That’s why we’re proud to spotlight an upcoming event happening in our backyard: the Game Your Future Conference, hosted at the Baltimore Convention Center from November 14-16, 2025.

Organized by Game4Good with the Baltimore IGDA, the conference unites voices from gaming, esports, education, the arts, music, emerging technologies, business, entrepreneurship and industry veterans to create pathways for networking, training and professional advancement. The three-day summit begins with a Friday welcome mixer and student-focused day, followed by two days of panels, workshops, networking and competitive gaming.

Ryan Griffin, one of our Environmental Artists and President of Baltimore IGDA, has been leading efforts to strengthen Baltimore’s game development community through the conference. Drawing on his dual role as a 3D artist in games and a community leader, Ryan offered his perspective on the event’s vision and how it reflects Baltimore’s vibrant game development scene.

Q&A

How are you involved with the IGDA and the Game Your Future Conference?

I’ve been attending IGDA-Baltimore events since around 2012, right after graduating from UMBC, a local university with a game development track. Over the years, I’ve stayed involved by giving presentations and supporting local universities and the IGDA community since 2018. In 2023, I joined the leadership board, and this year I’m serving as Chair. 

For the Game Your Future Conference, my role has been to help organize and bring in guest speakers for this amazing event. My goal is to showcase Maryland as a tech hub and a hidden gem on the East Coast, home to some of the industry’s biggest studios, IPs, and games. I’ll also be giving a presentation on what it takes to have a successful artist portfolio in the games industry, as well as offering tips and tricks to gain more confidence in your work and break into the games industry.

What makes this event personally meaningful for you here in Baltimore?

I’m really excited to help bring a GDC-style educational event to the East Coast. The Game Your Future Conference brings professional skill development, education, and community to the forefront with panels, workshops, and moments to network locally. It’s the kind of opportunity I wish I’d had when I was in university, and now I get to help bring it to life. We want to keep growing this conference each year and make it a staple for Maryland, one that drives investment in the local economy and strengthens our role as a leader in technology, business, and innovation.

What role does education play in building the next generation of game developers?

Education and professional industry skills are vital to creating fun gameplay and high-quality games that are beloved by all kinds of gamers. Learning directly from local professionals provides students and emerging talent with a clearer sense of how to refine their craft and what skills top tech companies value most.

I remember wanting guidance on how to bridge the gap between graduation and that first industry job, so as IGDA president, I see it as my responsibility to help make that path clearer for others. It’s a competitive industry that lives on the edge of technology, which means there’s always something new to learn, even for industry veterans. 

What panels and talks are you most excited about for this event?

With three full days of presentations, panels, and workshops, the Game Your Future Conference offers something for everyone:

• Friday, November 14 – Focuses on students and education, with sessions in art, music, design, coding and production. 
• Saturday, November 15 – Highlights include Serious and Scientific Games with Melanie Stegman, Going from AAA to Indie with Heather Cerlan, as well as sessions on game design, prototyping, production, and funding. The Women in Games panel is also a must-see.
• Sunday, November 16 – Features presentations on the Steam algorithm, intelligent project design, tools development, cybersecurity, and both Unreal Engine and Unity. The day also includes Bit Reactor founder and CEO Greg Foertsch’s presentation on the art of pre-production.

For the full schedule of panels, speakers and workshops, visit game4good.gg/conference-schedule/. Tickets are available to purchase on the Game Your Conference website. Use promo code IMWITHTHESPEAKER for a 65% discount on general admission tickets.

Disclaimer: Bit Reactor is not affiliated with the Game Your Future Conference and does not receive any proceeds from ticket sales.