SMU Guildhall offers and hosts a number of annual events for student showcasing and competitions. For more details, click on links below and follow our News & Events page for future event date announcements.
Thesis Exhibition
Event Type: Student Work Showcase
Time Frame: Every Spring, typically one week before graduation
Open-to-Public? Yes
In-Person or Online? In-Person
The SMU Guildhall Master's Thesis Exhibition includes demonstrations of the graduating cohort's Thesis projects in Art Creation, Level Design, Production, and Programming. The open-to-the-public event takes place in the Spring semester each year, just prior to graduation. Follow our News & Events page for future event date announcements.
Learn More About Exhibition
GameLab Annual Fall Expo
Event Type: Student Work Showcase
Time Frame: Every December, preceding winter break
Open-to-Public? Yes
In-Person or Online? In-Person
At the end of each Fall semester, SMU Guildhall showcases the new games made by its students. Commonly also known as "Bagel Day," this event invites the SMU community, local game community, and the public to come and see our new games from our Team Game Production classes, some of which will be available for play the following semester on platforms such as Steam and Epic Game Store. Follow our News & Events page for future event date announcements.
Beta Playtests
Event Type: Student Work Showcase and Open Playtesting
Time Frame: Every Fall, typically in November
Open-to-Public? Yes
In-Person or Online? In-Person
Each Fall, SMU Guildhall student teams bring their games to the public for playtesting in Beta stage. SMU students and the community are able to visit the playtest booth on campus to learn about the newest batch of student games, play them, and offer feedback as part of the quality and bug testing in our Team Game Production courses. Follow our News & Events page for future playtest event date announcements.
SMU Research and Innovation Week Graduate Poster Session
Event Type: Student Work Showcase
Time Frame: Every Spring, typically early April
Open-to-Public? Yes
In-Person or Online? In-Person
Guildhall students have the opportunity to prepare and present their work during the Graduate Poster Session at SMU Research and Innovation Week. Here, members of the SMU community and the public are invited to join us to learn about the groundbreaking research being done at SMU.
Learn More About SMU Research & Innovation Week
Iron Skillet eSports Competition
Event Type: Student Competition
Time Frame: Every Spring, typically in February
Open-to-Public? No
In-Person or Online? Online
The annual Esports Iron Skillet takes place between TCU and SMU's esports clubs each Spring. In past events, the teams have competed in League of Legends, Overwatch, Overwatch 2, Valorant, CS:GO, Rainbow Six Seige, and Rocket League. You can find recordings of the live-streamed competitions at http://twitch.tv/smu_esports.