Important: new format for the first VIGMA event

Dear friends of VIGMA, we hope you are safe and well wherever you are. As you know, the first VIGMA event, the Video Game Critics Festival, was to be held on 15 Esfand 1398 (5 March 2020) and was postponed to 29 Farvardin 1399 (17 April 2020) because of the coronavirus outbreak. When we made that decision, we hoped strict measures during the Nowruz holidays would bring the outbreak in the country largely under control. Unfortunately that did not happen: the outbreak has not improved and seems to have grown worse as work and social life resume.

Despite months of hard work by the VIGMA team to create a warm gathering for lovers of games and game development, we have now made difficult, different decisions to protect the health of participants, speakers and organisers. Although they bring limits, they also open new possibilities. The changes are:

• Given the outlook for the coronavirus outbreak, with no improvement expected soon, the first VIGMA event will be held online as a live stream.
• Because some costs of an in-person event, such as catering and lunch, are gone, the conference ticket price will drop to 35,000 toman. The difference will be refunded, if they wish, to everyone who has already bought a ticket; buyers will be told the process by email.
• The closing ceremony of the Video Game Critics Festival and the awards will be live-streamed publicly and for free.
• Under the planned format, we unfortunately have to drop the panels from the event. In their place we will try to add at least 2 talks.
• The new date of the VIGMA event is 9 Khordad 1399 (29 May 2020).
• The event's platform will be announced soon, and participants will be given the guidance they need.
• To thank you for your support, the ticket will be free for the first 100 participants. To get a free ticket, go to https://evand.com/events/vigma2020.

As always, thank you for your support, your company and your understanding.