Screen Queensland-supported game Unpacking by Brisbane studio Witch Beam has won both Game of the Year and Excellence in Accessibility at the 2021 Australian Game Developer Awards (AGDAs), held virtually on Wednesday night, 6 October.
Part block-fitting puzzle, part home decoration game, Unpacking invites the player into a satisfying zen experience of unpacking boxes to create a calm living space, while learning clues about the life they’re unpacking.
Screen Queensland supported Unpacking through the Screen Finance Program in 2018, as well as Witch Beam’s previous game Assault Android Cactus, which won the 2016 AGDA for Technical Excellence.
Screen Queensland Chief Creative Officer Jo Dillon congratulated the studio on the well-deserved industry accolade.
“Witch Beam are definitely ones to watch on a national and international level, and are a prime example of the fantastic local expertise and fresh, exciting ideas we have in the Queensland games sector,” said Ms Dillon.
“In particular, it is wonderful to have supported a game that provides an exemplary benchmark for other game developers on how to make games more accessible, and this consideration for diversity and inclusion in the screen industry is precisely what we champion at Screen Queensland.”
Unpacking Artist, Designer and Producer Wren Brier said the team is “thrilled” to take home two awards, following years of development on the zen puzzle game.
“We’re super proud of the team, almost entirely Brisbane-based, that let us bring this game to life,” said Ms Brier.
“Queensland game developers punch well above their weight!”
Ms Brier acknowledged the support of Screen Queensland over the past four years to further enable the now national award-winning game.
“Screen Queensland’s funding back in 2018 helped us hire our first artist, and their travel grants assisted us with showing the game in Melbourne Games Week and overseas, which in turn helped us secure a publisher and connect with developers and members of the press.”
Unpacking will be available on Steam and Humble from 2 November 2021. Read more on the Unpacking website.
