Farset Dojo is back this Friday from 6pm to 8pm, and will be continuing on the 1st and 3rd Fridays of the month until the end of August.
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Global Game Jam at Farset is back again in 2017, in partnership with Northern Ireland Screen. The Game Jam will run from Friday 20th to Sunday 22nd, and is a chance to meet some great people and develop a fun game in a weekend. With a party atmosphere from Friday night, there will be plenty of people there to team up with, create something interesting and, most importantly, to have fun!HOW DO I ENTER?
We ask that you reserve your seat at Farset Labs using our Meetup.com page at meetup.com/Farset-Labs-Events – entry is free for everyone!
You can then complete your Global Game Jam registration at globalgamejam.org on (or before) Friday 20th January.
Global Game Jam is always very popular; so to avoid disappointment, book early!
The event is free, and all meals are catered! The game jam’s theme will be announced at 5pm on Friday 20th January so we recommend all participants to be in Farset before that time, or send word if you will be arriving later on. We look forward to seeing you all, as it will be a great weekend!
Global Game Jam Belfast 2017 download poster link UPDATE 2016/12/28: You can now download our event poster for #FarsetGGJ17 via the image on the right – print out and keep, or post it up for all to see!
WHAT DO I NEED?
There is no required skill level or barrier for entry; we welcome programmers, artists, musicians and anyone else who might be interested in being involved! Bring yourself and your equipment – the organisers recommend that participants wait until the beginning of the event to form teams. We have found that this worked well in the past and gives interesting results.
Please note: You must be over 18 on the 20th of January or be accompanied by legal guardian in order to participate.More information will be provided in the run-up, but please feel free to contact events@farsetlabs.org.uk or ask us questions via Facebook or Twitter with the #GGJ17 hashtag.
Brought to you to in partnership with Northern Ireland Screen.
WHAT IS GLOBAL GAME JAM?
Global Game Jam is a hackathon focused on games of all sorts, from full-scale console productions to mobile, web-based and embedded games, as well as non-digital productions like board and card games. Some will be frivolous, others developed for solid causes, such as social impact in the case of the Games For Change movement. There are already a number of large sponsors involved in this year’s global event, including Facebook, Unity and Github.
The first Global Game Jam ran in 2009, and this year there are already over 480 individual Jam sites registered around the world, and Farset Labs has been running Northern Ireland’s only public GGJ site since 2013. We will be live streaming video from sites all over the world during the 48hr event. There will also be an opportunity to see and play other teams’ games at the end of the event. The details of the venue are also available on our Global Game Jam listing.
VITAL INFO
Start/End: 20/1/17 @ 16:00 – 22/1/17 @ 20:00
Location: Farset Labs, 1 Weavers Court, Belfast
Farset Seat Reservation: [meetup.com/Farset-Labs-Events]
Facebook Event: [facebook.com/farsetlabs]
Hashtags: #farsetggj17 #ggj17
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December is nearly upon us and with it comes a raft of Farset events! What better way to christen our new and improved Event Space?
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Kicking off the month, we have our regular casual talk series, Explain it Like I’m 5, where some great speakers break down a concept they have experience with and present it in seven minutes. We’ve had everything from baking to plasma physics in the past and we welcome talks from the floor on the night.
Join us on Thursday 1st December at 1800 for some truly entertaining talks, plus a Japanese buffet and plenty of time to chat with other attendees. Read more here.
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Next up, we have the annual Farset Christmas Party in the form of a pot-luck dinner. Culinary hacks are encouraged and the event is open to all. Bring something edible and bring a friend, but please don’t bring an edible friend – that’d be against the law and not much fun for the friend. Party poppers, retro console gaming and festive treats await!
The Christmas party kicks off at 1900 on Friday 2nd December and you can get more details here. Do let us know you’re coming via Facebook.
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Finally, the management team have been toiling hard (as always!) to improve the Labs and, having been working extensively on sprucing up the Event Space, we’re now turning our attention to the Workshop. As discussed on Slack, the Workshop Clearout will be taking place this weekend (Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th December). Any help is appreciated.
Member equipment that is in member project boxes will, of course, remain untouched, as will any clearly labelled equipment as per the member handbook. If you have left any kit in a position that may have, shall we say, not quite complied with the rules, please give us a shout on info@farsetlabs.org.uk to make sure we know about it and that it’s not disposed of. Any queries, as always, can also be directed to that address.
We’ll be relocating a few pieces of equipment to more suitable homes within the workshop and this should make using the space a lot easier for all. Naturally, this means that the workshop can’t be used for any member projects during the clear-out and we apologise for the disruption.
If you want to see what’s planned (particularly disposal of equipment believed to be communal and unwanted), check out the barebones plan available here.
(The rather lovely featured image is by Kevin Dooley.)
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You learn something new everyday, usually without trying. Maybe you find a shortcut to a friend’s house, maybe a trick on the computer or maybe you realise that Thermos of tea in the car was a really bad idea. But what if you could get an overview of weird and wonderful topics from folks who know the ins and outs of them really well?
“Explain Like I’m 5” is our collaborative speaker series, where local developers, technologists, entrepreneurs, artists, performers, scientists, and business people take a concept that may be highly specific to their area of expertise or work, and break it down to a lay audience from right across the STEAM spectrum with a minimal expectation of prior knowledge.
This event is sponsored by the very lovely folks from BCS Belfast Branch!
The Audience:
The target audience is anyone and everyone who loves learning and expanding their horizons. No topic is off limits as long as you are confident that it can be delivered to a lay audience within the constraints of the format.
The event is in two parts; an invited and a free-for-all section, separated by an intermission with drinks and a selection of Japanese food (just to shake things up!). There will be ample time to have a chat with all the other good folks who come down.
The Rules:
The rules for both groups are the same:
- Speakers have a maximum of 7 minutes to speak on the subject of their choice, followed by a short open Q&A.
- No Slides! The use of Non-Projected Visual Aids is heavily encouraged, and projectors may be considered for live demonstrations. The blackboard is your friend.
- Before the event starts and during the break, presenters (invited or unplanned) are asked to put a 3-5 word synopsis of their topic on the blackboard along with their name.
- The Compère will decide what order presentations will be done, so be nice to him/her!
If you’ve got something you’d like to share to the audience, email events@farsetlabs.org.uk to discuss it with the subject line “ELI5”. Submissions are also more than welcome on the night!
(Featured image from XKCD)
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Good merry-tide once again, members and friends!
The Christmas season has come early this year, as we have made adjustments to ensure you can start it interesting!UPDATE: Do let us know you’re coming via Facebook 🙂
The Plan
Bring something tasty, or at least something edible, to Farset Labs for an evening of sharing food with good company, and swapping stories of your 2016.
No matter your connection, the evening is open and welcoming to all who have and will frequent Farset, and who have come with us so far.
There will be some accompaniments of the musical variety, suitably decorative decorations, and waves of seasonal lighting 🙂The Date
The date for this is Friday 2nd December (at 7pm).The Cost
No cost other than your company and some form of shareable foodstuff or drinks (cold/hot, liquid/solid).We do ask that non-members of Farset contribute a small donation to the venue charity for the evening. (Suggested donation: £3)
Pro-Tip
Easy to share party foods, drinks, or tray-bakes are often the easiest, but if you have a speciality you want to share that’s even better! We will have microwaves and hot-plates in the kitchen if you need them (plus an oven, for now…) however there is obviously limited space for cooking on-site.
For more information, join us on the Farset Slack or Discourse. -
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Got a project that’s languished in the back on your mind for weeks/months/years?
Saw something on the internet and said ‘I can do that better’?
Need a place to knuckle down and push through the annoying stages of a product?
Have none of these things but still want to play?
Boy have we got a show for you. (more…)
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This year’s 24 Hour Comics Day comes around on Saturday 1st October, and we mean to be ready!We have registered to run a 12 hour challenge to get you started, as you won’t be forced to finish within the weekend 😉 If you’re up for the full 24 hour/24 page challenge (on the 24 Hour Comics Day challenge page) Farset Labs offers you the opportunity to take advantage of the 24/7 facilities to complete your opus in the one weekend.
Join the Sketchy Individuals meetup or via our Facebook event to register your interest!Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or enthusiastic amateur, you’re welcome to come hang out and set your mind to the task. Snacks, tea and some art supplies will be available (plus access to the kitchen, of course)
but the most valuable thing on-site will be your mind… and your drawing/writing appendage 🙂We look forward to seeing you there – the comics challenge is always good fun, and it’s a brilliant chance to finish a small project with some funny, smart, artistic, or just interesting company 🙂
Update: The lovely people at InkMonkey on North Street are providing us with some free art materials to work with this Saturday, including some of their fantastic Zebra ink brush-pens (so you can get your INKtober started as well 😉 )
As well as being lovely pens to look at (!?) they’re genuinely pretty well-regarded.
“Possibly the best brush pen in the world; capable of vanishingly thin lines and bold back lines all on the same stroke.” – PJH
“Awesome ink heaven with a side order of flexibility 🙂 it’s a must have inking pen for me.” – Ann HOur normal venue rules apply. Under 18s must be accompanied by a parent or responsible adult. Please contact events@farsetlabs.org.uk if you have any queries about the venue facilities or access.
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Our nomination period is up and voting will open shortly (emails will be sent to all current members eligible to vote) and in the meantime, you can peruse your options below, consisting of the nominee name and pitch:
1. Colin Mitchell
My involvement with Farset Labs started when it was a dark glint in Bolster’s evil eye. I say ‘involvement’ – it was really just supportive conversations, but once established this quickly turned into an obligation to join, and a membership fee has been ripped bodily from my strained bank account ever since.
However, it’s not all bad…
Some of the things I love about Farset Labs:
- The slight tendency towards anarchy
- The attempts at real democracy
- The diversity of people + their abilities
- The sense of community and random connections
- The stuff all over the place
- All the code ‘n shit with the young people ‘n all
I love the sense of ‘if it ain’t broke, break it’ – (though not Robin Prices’s lighting-up ping-pong table, nor Matt Hazley’s beer-making kit, ‘cos the phrase ‘don’t break stuff that makes beer’ should need no explanation)
Currently I’m CTO/co-founder of Sixty-5 Technologies – Farset’s co-working space was where we spent a lot of last year. Bolster was instrumental in John Arrell & I getting together, David Kane helped with initial specs, Robin Price worked on our Gateway box, Mal Duffin seriously improved our UI, Art Knipe straightened up our API – all invaluable & there’s nowhere else in NI where that could happen.
As well as techie stuff I’ve done sales & marketing, management & director stuff – so I can bring wide experience with an anarchic twist.
Right now I’m doing a lot of coding (at 57, I know, God help us) – most of the Sixty-5 Android code & some of the Ruby on Rails cloud stuff is mine. Also devops stuff with servers and all that kind of thing. I love all the hands-on stuff.
So, for Farset, as well as sharing the organisational burden with the others, there are a bunch of things that interest me:
Connectivity between the diverse membership and the wider community – both social and industrial. There’s all sorts of interesting stuff that Farset members could be part of, if it interests them. Let’s find more of these things.
Learning – there are so many different ways to get engaged in tech & to learn without going through the established education routes (with their gatekeepers). Some of that Farset is already doing well. I love the idea of someone coming through Farset from no tech knowledge to paid work. Or just for fun.
Farset has a lot of potential to act as an incubator for early stage startups – there’s already a bunch of that happening right now (Sixty-5 is but one example)
Diversity – I love diversity & inclusion. We can extend what we already have.
I love people poking at projects – how can we do more of this?
I love the idea that in years to come, world-changing stuff or people might have had their roots in Farset. That would be something.
For a tiny bit more on me, visit
2. RON
ReOpen Nominations
Ron does nothing, and means we open up nominations again.
The Directors assert that this election, odd as it is, satisfy the Director Appointment Rules as set up in the Operations Manual and ratified by Town Hall Consent from March 2014.
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Farset Labs is run by a dedicated team of volunteers, starting with the original three directors back in late 2011/early 2012. Since then, we aim to try and keep the number of directors at five, so, with the recent departure of Conor Robinson for Space-Stuff (quite literally) and Pip Shea to her great adventures down under, it’s time to launch our 2016 Director Elections. Nominations for the two soon-to-be-vacant Directors chairs will open from the timestamp of this post until midnight on Friday 2nd September
Nominees must:
- Nominate themselves.
- Have been a member for at least three months (not necessarily in one block).
- Email david@farsetlabs.org.uk (and CC admin@farsetlabs.org.uk) with
- Their name.
- Their ‘pitch’ which is 1000 characters maximum. (Suitability for role, experience, intentions etc.)
- Be aware that, if successful in the elections, they must not have any convictions that would prevent them from being the Director of a limited company (i.e. convictions under the Fraud Act 2006) or any convictions regarding sexual offences against minors (i.e. convictions under the Sexual Offences Act 2003).
- Be aware that they have legal obligations as a Director of Farset Labs, including their legal liabilities to HMRC etc.
- Be aware that, if successful, they will be required to provide details including their legal name, sex, date of birth, addresses lived in the last three years, signature and National Insurance Number for the purposes of registration with Companies House.
Voting will open when the nominee profiles (consisting of the nominee’s name and pitch) are posted publicly on Monday 5th September (Conveniently coinciding with the next Town Hall) and will close at midday on Friday 30th September.
In the event that there are less than 4 nominees, only one Director seat will be voted on and nominations will be reopened later this year.
Information on how to vote and the procedures surrounding voting, including the case of a draw, will be posted along with the nominee profiles. The results, barring any special circumstances, will be announced as soon as possible after voting closes, likely the following day.
Any questions can be directed to either david@farsetlabs.org.uk or info@farsetlabs.org.uk. You may also find it useful to review the records of previous elections, available on this blog.
Good luck! -
4 years old! Farset’s now old enough to count and ride a tricycle. Exciting times!
We’re going to have a bit of a party, and Farset Labs invite you to come and celebrate with us on Saturday 9th April from 7pm – as a thank you for staying engaged, involved, and nurturing local creative and technology endeavours.
Please do invite friends and well-wishers.
As well as being a general “Open/Social Evening”, we will of course have cake, party food and tasting sessions of local beverages and liqueurs, plus a selection of high-tech (low-commitment) games and multiplayer video-games, with plenty of opportunities to experiment with some of our projects and tools and meet-up with the community as we continue to grow.
We’re looking forward to seeing your wonderful face!
You are also welcome to BYOB, and your own 4th puns, as always 😉
(Anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a responsible adult.)
