About The Lab
The Chicago Game Lab is a members-driven community for project work and collaboration with special focus on game development and creative and technical disciplines. Our goal is to provide a unique project space that can lead to information sharing, serendipitous conversations, and building new connections across projects and disciplines.
Upcoming Events at the Lab
Open Work Day
Thursday, September 12, 2024
10 am - 6 pm
Grab your laptop and come join us for a free, open work day at the Chicago Game Lab! The first Thursday of each month, we'll have up to five spots available for anyone working in games or adjacent fields to come by and work for the day. We've got fast WiFi, lots of coffee and a great lunchtime crowd of Chicago game devs and other creatives.
Sign up for our monthly newsletter to receive the registration link.
Indie City Games - September Open Mic
Saturday, September 14, 2024
1-3:30 pm
Greetings, indie pals! Here's the new meet up! Keeping it simple again with only an open mic. You know the drill: sign up at the start of the meeting, and you'll get 5 minutes to demo your latest game-in-progress! After the 5 minute demo, we allow for up to 5 minutes for questions. When the presentations conclude, mingle with your fellow developers.
Please be respectful of the Game Lab's rules and guidelines and Indie City Games' COVID policy as outlined in the registration.
Indie City Games Yapper Series: Ryan Wiemeyer
Gaming After Dark: The How and Why of Adult Only Games
Saturday, Sept 21, 2024
2 pm - 4 pm
For our fourth yapper we are excited to welcome Ryan Wiemeyer!! Please note this is an 18+ talk!
Are you curious about the "adult-only" side of game development? Why is Steam's front page littered with smut? What do you need to consider when making an adult game? Will the platforms promote or even allow your game? Will your friends shun you? Is "smut" a forbidden realm relegated only to the most depraved of our society? Or can expressing the more sensual side of the human experience be a noble (or profitable) pursuit?
Be regaled with the research, prep and development of the beloved and tantalizing: Max Gentlemen Sexy Business! A game created with the pillars of inclusivity, consent, accessibility and most importantly positive representation of adult relationships.
About Ryan:
Indie darling and occasional hat wearer Ryan Wiemeyer (he/him) is a self-proclaimed pillar of the Chicago indie community. Involved in the formation of many groups such as Indie City, Bit Bash, and much more; he served his time with the community and now focuses on making games in a shed in the woods. Against all odds he's made two profitable and beloved indie games, Organ Trail and Max Gentlemen Sexy Business! He's enviably talented, indisputably handsome, and humble to boot. But can he succeed at his greatest challenge yet? Keeping the attention of a room full of peers while talking about naked fictional characters?!? Yes. I can. I mean... *he* can. An objective third party wrote this... now get out of my shed!
Open Work Day
Thursday, October 3, 2024
10 am - 6 pm
Grab your laptop and come join us for a free, open work day at the Chicago Game Lab! The first Thursday of each month, we'll have up to five spots available for anyone working in games or adjacent fields to come by and work for the day. We've got fast WiFi, lots of coffee and a great lunchtime crowd of Chicago game devs and other creatives.
Sign up for our monthly newsletter to receive the registration link.
Membership Features
As of April 8, 2024, we do not have any available desks.
All memberships include:
Project work space as specified for each membership level
Lab community
Members-only communication tools and resources
Lab After Hours or other events as announced
Lab space
Lounge space for impromptu conversations and knowledge sharing
Kitchen space and equipment, office equipment
Lab resources
Use of high-speed internet via wifi or wired ethernet
Use of shared mailing address (c/o Chicago Game Lab)
Reserved Desks
$325 / month
$325 / month
Includes dedicated project work space (one desk plus desk-side storage)
Located in a shared office with a lockable door
You can leave equipment and items in your office
Unlimited days
Access 24/7 after getting keys (one-time deposit required)
At this time, we have 0 Reserved Desks available.
Email information@chicagogamelab.com if you would like to be placed on the wait list for Reserved Desks.
Drop-in Desks
$210 / month
$210 / month
Includes access to “hot seat” shared project work space
Tables or desks located inside a shared project area
Available daily on a first-come-first-serve basis, except for special events
No storage
Unlimited days
Access during regular work hours, while a manager is present
At this time, we have 0 Drop-in Desks available.
Email information@chicagogamelab.com if you would like to be placed on the wait list for Drop-In Desks.
The Lab is located in North Center in Chicago, near the intersection of Irving Park Road with Lincoln and Damen Avenues. Easy street parking is available on permit-free side streets south of Irving Park Road. It's a short walk to the Irving Park stop on the CTA Brown Line and the 80 Irving Park and 50 Damen CTA buses stop at the corner.
If you would like more information or to schedule a trial work day, please contact information@chicagogamelab.com.