DIGIC, RealityScan, FAB and SoWhen? – we reveal the full program of the Unreal Day conference
The premiere edition of Unreal Day, a one-day conference dedicated to Unreal Engine, was held in 2022, and last year we hosted over 700 UE enthusiasts! The event is organized by the Serbian Video Game Industry Association (SGA), and is sponsored by Epic Games and 3Lateral. This year, DIGIC Pictures joined the sponsors, which speaks volumes about the impression the event made on them in 2024.
Where to start and where to end the story about Unreal Day? This year, we decided to give the floor to the main organizer, Kristina Janković Obućina, Senior Ecosystem Manager at SGA, who will now also be your textual guide through UED!
SGA: In case anyone hasn’t been to Unreal Day yet, give us a TLDR about the event.
Kristina: We have a nice tagline for it, which I love. All things Unreal. All day long! A balanced mix of formats and themes that covers the now really wide range of things that can be achieved in the Unreal Engine and related tools from the Epic Games universe.
SGA: And for those who have been, what makes this year’s Unreal Day different?
Kristina: This year, we put a little more emphasis on the MetaHuman family of tools. This summer, MH officially left the early access phase and by now, the community has already become familiar with the new features. However, here they can get first-hand knowledge of the functionalities, as well as a first-hand look behind the scenes. Usually, we follow how a game was developed. Now we have the opportunity to see how a tool that is the standard in the industry was developed.
SGA: Who would you recommend to stop by?
Kristina: Here, too, we tried to strike a good balance, because we have a diverse community. In the broadest sense – everyone who is interested in a career in gaming or is already in the industry. In terms of seniority, part of the program is for those with more experience, and part is for those who are learning. In terms of the application of UE tools, the most common are gaming, advertising and VR. But I promise that there will be interesting topics even for those who are, for example, in the mobile part of the industry or are involved in gaming education.
SGA: Who can we meet on October 2nd?
Kristina: Among the guests arriving by plane or a slightly longer car ride, I would like to single out Mo and Freddy, founders of the French studio SoWhen? who are actively working in UEFN for major brands. A team of 12 members from DIGIC Pictures is coming from Hungary; you have surely seen at least 10 of the over 60 trailers they have made for AAA titles (Warhammer, Darksiders, Assassin’s Creed, Mass Effect…). Enis Čišić, a 3D wizard and a big gaming enthusiast, is coming from the Sarajevo part of the Mad Head Games studio. Ivana Horvat is a Producer on the MetaHuman project, Elena Dimopoulou from Greece is a certified UE instructor and Women in Games ambassador… All the speakers are listed here, so no one gets mad that I didn’t mention them – we can’t wait for them all equally.
SGA: What can we expect in general in different parts of the program?
Kristina: Here’s the scoop! The masterclasses bring 90 minutes of serious knowledge on these topics: MetaHuman (character work and tech art), how Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Revival trailer was made (!), XR and VR applications for brands, and production scaling with roadmap examples. Of these six, everyone can choose two.
Keynotes are the most interesting lectures covering work on the MetaHuman tool, there’s a lecture on the first hybrid experience that combines culture and gaming, specifically ARTE, Fortnite, and VFX in cinematics.
The Creator Summit and Showcase are a series of lectures on other UE applications and projects. I wouldn’t want to leave out Geekout, a place where everyone can show what they’re working on, if they have any bugs, and get help and feedback on the spot from colleagues and lecturers.
There is also an Expo zone, where we are preparing these booths: FAB, RealityScan, DIGIC, PackDev Interactive (for the first time, you will be able to play their new game SOS Incident, but also do a portfolio review), and 3Lateral / MetaHuman, where you will be able to try and see in action that real-time facial animation really works from a phone camera.
SGA: What is the difference between free and paid tickets?
Kristina: The free part of the program, which is available to everyone, includes the Creator Summit, Keynotes & Showcase, and Expo, while the masterclasses and Geekout (with lunch, coffee and snacks) are only available with paid tickets.
The number of tickets for both types is limited, so I advise you to decide quickly and head to the Unreal Day website.
SGA: And finally, why is it okay to have FOMO when it comes to Unreal Day?
Kristina: Because it’s an opportunity to show what you do, see what others do, meet people who may be important for your career in the future, and get a big dose of enthusiasm for the winter days. This is the only event of its kind in the region and beyond, and it would be a shame to miss it.
Wait, wait… didn’t I say the after party is at Sprat in Cetinjska Street? See you all there after a great day!