Las Vegas. The city of bright lights, high stakes, and endless possibilities. For our fledgling game development company, it was also the stage for our very first industry event: DICE 2025. As two wide-eyed founders, Larry and Patrick, we packed our bags, polished our pitch, and headed to Sin City with one mission: to let the world know we’re here, we’re serious, and we’re ready to make waves in the game industry.
DICE (Design, Innovate, Communicate, Entertain) is one of the most prestigious gatherings in the gaming world. It’s where the brightest minds, the most innovative studios, and the biggest players in the industry come together to share ideas, forge partnerships, and dream about the future of gaming. For us, it was the perfect place to plant our flag and start building the relationships that would help us turn our vision into reality.
The First Day: Nerves, Handshakes, and Hope
Walking into the event on the first day was equal parts exhilarating and intimidating. The buzz of conversation, the sea of badges, and the sheer scale of it all reminded us just how big this industry is—and how much we wanted to be a part of it. Armed with business cards, a solid pitch, and a whole lot of enthusiasm, we dove headfirst into the fray.
We met developers from indie studios and AAA giants alike, exchanged stories with industry veterans, and even shared a few laughs over the universal struggle of debugging code at 3 a.m. The conversations were electric. People were genuinely interested in what we were building, and their feedback was invaluable. It was a reminder that, no matter how competitive the industry can be, there’s a real sense of community and camaraderie among game developers.
The Second Day: Connections and Momentum
By day two, we had found our rhythm. We followed up with the contacts we’d made the day before, and even managed to sneak in a few demos of upcoming games (purely for research purposes, of course). The highlight of the day was sitting down with a group of investors who were intrigued by our vision. While nothing was set in stone, their interest gave us a much-needed boost of confidence.
One of the most surprising takeaways was how many people were rooting for us. Whether it was a seasoned developer offering advice or another startup sharing their own funding journey, we felt supported in ways we hadn’t expected. It was a reminder that every big studio started somewhere—and that somewhere often looks a lot like where we are right now.
The Aftermath: A Positive Outlook and a Lot of Work Ahead
As we boarded the plane back home, we couldn’t help but feel optimistic. DICE 2025 was a whirlwind, but it was also a turning point for us. We left with a stack of business cards, a notebook full of ideas, and a renewed sense of purpose. The road ahead is undoubtedly tough—starting a company in this climate is no small feat—but we’re more determined than ever to make it happen.
We know the next few months will be a grind. There are follow-up emails to send, pitches to refine, and a whole lot of hard work ahead. But we also know that with a little bit of magic (and maybe a few more trips to Vegas), we’ll find the funding we need to bring our first game to life.
What’s Next?
DICE 2025 was just the beginning. It was our first step into the spotlight, but it won’t be our last. We’re already looking ahead to the next event, the next pitch, and the next opportunity to share our vision with the world. To everyone we met at DICE: thank you for the conversations, the advice, and the encouragement. To everyone reading this: stay tuned. We’re just getting started, and we can’t wait to show you what we’re building.
The game industry is a tough arena, but we’re ready to play. And who knows? Maybe next year at DICE, we’ll be the ones everyone’s talking about. Until then, it’s back to the grind. Let’s make some games!
