Now in its third year, Game On Austin – the brainchild of the Chronicle and the SXSW Gaming Expo (formerly ScreenBurn) – brings developers out of their offices and into a cavernous rock venue to bring attention to the Austin video game scene that exists largely unnoticed by the general public. It’s time to stand by your local game-maker and let them know you support them. All you have to do in this case is come out and play some great games. That’s not so hard, is it?

If you want to control a supernaturally powered assassin, now’s your chance: Arkane Studios brings its critically acclaimed stealth game Dishonored for test drives. Game-audio maestros GL33k preview their interactive music maker Cosmic DJ. Tiger Style Games reminds everyone they were bringing the Red Planet to life before Curiosity got there with their iOS title Waking Mars. Get an early look at Stoic’s epic turn-based strategy game The Banner Saga. Great scientists battle it out in Deep Plaid Games’ upcoming Uncanny Alchemist Battle 1934. Not that you need another reason to purchase White Whale Games’ God of Blades from the App Store, but you might want to brush up on your cyber swordplay for the Slayers Tournament. The list goes on with Notion Games, Big Men Games, and Rocksauce Studios all showing off their latest creations. As if that weren’t enough: Expect prizes, pizza, a retro gaming lounge (courtesy of Game Over Videogames), sounds supplied and mixed by Gemini Radio, and a few other surprises.

Game On Austin is free, all ages, and open to the public at the Beauty Ballroom (2015 E. Riverside) on Thursday, Oct. 25, 6-9pm. Find out more about the developers participating in the event and click on links via our Screens blog (austinchronicle.com/blogs/screens).

This article appears in October 19 • 2012.

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James graduated from Columbia University in 2000 and moved to Austin a year later. Ever since, he has followed the arts and video game scene in ATX, editing and writing stories for the Chronicle along the way. Over his more than 20 years with the paper he has climbed the "corporate" ladder from lowly intern to managing editor.