IGF 2024: A Festival of Gaming and Community
Spending a week in Jakarta was the perfect way to set the tone for our next adventure. After an exciting time at Lapakgaming in Balai Kartini, we packed our bags and headed to Tangerang for the Indonesian Game Festival 2024 (IGF 2024) at ICE BSD. The energy was already palpable, and it was clear this would be something special.
We stayed in a cozy apartment just a short walk from the venue, which made it so easy to jump right into the excitement. It didn’t take long to bump into old friends from Bali — fellow participants in the same program, thanks to support from the Indonesian Ministry of Industry. The moment felt like a reunion, as we shared stories with Trilogi, Git, Nexvel, and Intera. The support from the Ministry was a reminder of how far the Indonesian gaming scene has come, and how much potential there is to keep growing.
The three days at the festival were a whirlwind of excitement. There was never a dull moment, from the buzzing tournaments to the insightful panel discussions and fun cosplay competitions. But the real magic came from watching people experience the games. Seeing their faces light up as they tried new titles, hearing their candid feedback, and just feeling the raw excitement in the air — it was one of those moments that made everything we do worth it. There’s something incredibly special about witnessing others enjoy something you’ve worked hard to create.
If I had one suggestion for next year, it would be about the venue layout. With everything happening in one big hall, the noise from the tournaments sometimes made it a bit hard to follow some of the panel talks. It might help to have separate spaces for quieter events, like the discussions, so people can immerse themselves in those conversations without the distractions of the tournaments. It’s a small change, but I think it would make a big difference in how people experience the event.
Despite that, the festival was an absolute success. Watching the crowds gather around booths, eagerly trying out games and grabbing freebies, was a reminder of how much passion there is in the gaming community. It felt like a celebration of everything gaming stands for — creativity, connection, and shared excitement.
Another highlight for me was the B2B meetings. It was such a valuable opportunity to meet with other businesses, stakeholders, and media, and explore potential collaborations. It’s not every day that you get to connect with such a diverse group of people, and I left feeling excited about all the possibilities ahead.
Looking back on it all, IGF 2024 wasn’t just a gaming festival — it was a statement. With the theme #AccelerateIndonesiaGaming, the event showed that Indonesia is ready to take its place on the global gaming map. I left feeling inspired and grateful to have been part of such a vibrant and forward-thinking event. This is just the beginning, and I’m excited to see where it all goes from here.