Social Games and Social Applications on platforms like Facebook are drawing developers and artists in like never before. There's good reason. Like mobile games devlopers don't necessarily need enormous budgets and backing. Small teams can and do make innovative and popular games and applications.

The Social Game Fest provides a forum where you can work with or find other developers, artists, game or application designers to start, build or finish your social game or application. If you are new to social games and want basic background there are sessions that help with that. If you are an old hand and realisically understand you need to put the time aside and/or find additonal talent, this is also a great place for you. An application server, an onsite system administrator, instructional sessions on the technical basics for those that desire it are included.

For full information go to the http://www.socialgamefest.net/

All sessions are open for to the general public

Sessions 1 and 2 provide basic technical background information about building a social game or application as well as provide time to get started

Sessions 3 and 4 are oriented towards actively building a social game or application

Are you one or more of the following types of people?

A developer, visual artist, sound artist, game designer or student who would like to set aside time to make a social game or application for a platform such as Facebook

Want a good place to find a team to build a game

Interested in having some fun and learning about social game technologies

Already knows what they are doing and could use some disciplined defined times away from interuptions to work on a social game

A savvy C, C# or C++ developer or 3d Artist who wants to know what is going on over there with those web-heads doing casual social games

A social networking maven longing to find some people to make your social game or application idea a reality

Social Game Fests are game making festivals held over a series of a few weeks where participants can range from professional developers to students who share the desire to set aside some time to make a social game and connect with other talented creative people.

Depending on who you are you can use the Social Game Fest to:

Build a Social Game or App

Get some thoughts on how to monetize or market your Game or app

Get the basics on the technology of how to build a social application

Meet some people with complementary talents to form a game team

Spend a cheaper, more creative evening than going out to most restaurants

Set aside a disciplined time to excecute your experienced pre-existing team's idea

Submit a game for awards

Hang with fellow game geeks and artists

Eat cookies

How do the Social Game Fest sessions work?

Usually there are four sessions available to attend over a period of four weeks. The first two are offered for those who wish to gain technical background for making social games. The last two sessions are oriented towards actively making a game with a team of one or more people. FAQ's and registration info here.

What exactly are social games anyway? Here's one pretty decent explanation.