Gamescom Congress EN 2019: Full Schedule

09:45 CEST

gamescom congress Opening: Welcome

Speakers

Nathanael Liminski

State Secretary of Media & Principal, State Chancellery of North Rhine-Westphalia

Gerald Böse was born in 1962 and has been in the trade fair business since 1989. After stops in Munich, Düsseldorf and Karlsruhe, he has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Koelnmesse since 2008. Under his leadership, 2015 was the strongest year in the company's history... Read More →

Felix Falk

Managing Director, game – the German Games Industry Association

Felix Falk has been Managing Director of game since 1 February 2018. Prior to this he was already employed in the same function for the BIU, and in this role realised the merger with GAME. From 2009 to 2016, Felix Falk was Managing Director of the Entertainment Software Self-Regulation... Read More →

Max von Malotki

Host & Author, WDR5

Host and author, among others at WDR5 Cologne, where he presents the morningshow and the awesome Politikum, which is about different political opinions. Max v. Malotki graduated in cultural studies about narrative structures in video games. He deals with gaming culture and the developments... Read More →

Wednesday August 21, 2019 09:45 - 10:15 CEST
Konrad-Adenauer-Saal

OPENING, German

10:15 CEST

gamescom congress Opening: Debatt(l)e Royale

In the "Debatt(l)e Royale" - the Political Arena at gamescom - top politicians discuss topics that move the gamescom community. This will provide a platform for a direct exchange between politics and the digital generation, which is urgently needed after the emotional debates on copyright reform and environmental policy as well as in Rezo's sweeping blow. These debates will be taken up in the talk, as well as many other topics, which the gamescom congress will deepen later in the day in numerous panels and lectures. The debate will be broadcast live on gamescom now.

Speakers

Michael Kellner

Political Federal Whip, Bündnis 90/Die Grünen

Michael Kellner has been the political federal whip of the political party BÜNDNIS 90/DIE GRÜNEN (the Greens) since 2013. His primary themes are foreign and European policy.

Lars Klingbeil MdB

General Secretary, SPD

Lars Klingbeil has been General Secretary of the SPD since December 2017. He is also a member of the German parliament and a member of the executive committee of the SPD in Lower Saxony. One of his areas of content focus is on digitalisation.

Jörg Schindler

Federal Whip, Die Linke

Jörg Schindler has been the federal whip of DIE LINKE since June 2018. He is also the deputy federal state chairman in Saxony-Anhalt. His areas of content focus are on labour and social policy.

Linda Teuteberg MdB

General Secretary, FDP

Linda Teuteberg is Secretary General of the Free Democrats and spokeswoman on migration policy for the FDP parliamentary group in the Bundestag. She was born in Königs Wusterhausen in 1981 and grew up in Görsdorf near Storkow. She studied law and economics at the University of Potsdam... Read More →

Paul Ziemiak MdB

General Secretary, CDU

Foto: CDU / Laurence Chaperon

Melek Balgün

Host

Peter Smits

PietSmiet

Wednesday August 21, 2019 10:15 - 11:30 CEST
Konrad-Adenauer-Saal

OPENING, German

11:45 CEST

Gamers are over – from hobby to contemporary culture

About the term “gamer” and why it is too narrow to describe the extremely different usage behaviour of people who play games.

Speakers

Heiko Klinge

Editor-in-Chief, GameStar & GamePro

Heiko Klinge is the editor-in-chief of GameStar and GamePro, Germany's most widely used online media for PC and console gamers, which are read by more than 5.3 million people each month. Heiko has been working as a game journalist for 18 years, likes good music (punk rock) and mediocre... Read More →

Wednesday August 21, 2019 11:45 - 12:00 CEST
Track 1: Public Stage

TALK, German

11:45 CEST

Games explained: Are extra difficult games a problem?

Computer games like “Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice” are incredibly difficult. The concept here is to fail often so you can really enjoy the rare moments of success. At the same time, however, extreme levels of difficulty make games inaccessible to many people. Does this conscious design decision represent artistic freedom or an example of not keeping up with the times because it prevents inclusion?

Speakers

Dr. Benjamin Strobel

Research Assistant, Grimme Institute

Benjamin Strobel has a PhD in psychology. As a scientific employee at the Grimme Institute, he is responsible for the work area "Games and Society". There he is involved in research projects revolving around games and looks after the discourse platform grimme-game.de. In his podcast... Read More →

Wednesday August 21, 2019 11:45 - 12:00 CEST
Track 3: Living with Games

TALK, German

11:45 CEST

Games explained: Battle Royale in the schoolyard – the long break between classes as a nucleus for new trends

Speakers

Patricia Cammarata

Author, Speaker, Podcaster, dasnuf.de

Patricia Cammarata is an author and also gives lectures and workshops. Patricia has been writing online under the name dasnuf (dasnuf.de) since 2004 and with such great success that she has already won several prizes. Her book, Sehr gerne, Mama, Du Arschbombe was a bestseller... Read More →

Wednesday August 21, 2019 11:45 - 12:00 CEST
Track 2: Learning with Games

TALK, German

11:45 CEST

Games explained: New Rules

Speakers

Dr. Olaf Coenen

Chairman of the Board, Vice President International Publishing, Interactive Software Federation of Europe (ISFE), Electronic Arts (EA)

Dr. Olaf Coenen (*22.06.1971) is Vice President International Publishing at Electronic Arts (EA). He has been working for EA since 2005. Olaf Coenen holds an MBA and received his PhD in Business Administration. He started his career in 1997 as Managing Associate at the chair of information... Read More →

Wednesday August 21, 2019 11:45 - 12:00 CEST
Track 5: Law and Games

TALK, German

11:45 CEST

Games explained: Why Koreans are good at games

Germans are punctual, Italians are passionate, and Koreans are good at playing videogames. Everything you want to know about a stereotype - and why it's true and false.

Speakers

Hat Nim Kim

Technical Strategy Team, Netmarble

Business administration for BA in Sungkyunkwan University, South Korea and Culture and Society for MSc in London School of Economics. Worked in an international sales team for game service such as QA, localization by early this year, now main role is to research brand new technology... Read More →

Wednesday August 21, 2019 11:45 - 12:00 CEST
Track 4: Future with Games

TALK, English

12:00 CEST

Games & Learning: Didactically supported use of digital games in the classroom

Important input and process variables as well as (learning) outcomes of digital, game-based learning were recorded in 13 classroom projects. It turns out that computer games are an effective didactic instrument, however, teachers first need to integrate it into the classroom in an effective way. The selection and duration of the game as well as the transfer from the digital to real world proved to be especially relevant for the results.

Speakers

Daniela Hau

Project Manager, SCRIPT – Service de Coordination de la recherche et de l’Innovation pédagogiques et technologiques

Daniela Hau is lecturer and project manager at SCRIPT (Service de Coordination de la Recherche et de l'Innovation pédagogiques et technologiques). There she works in the Media & Information Literacy department with working and research focus on "digital game-based learning" and "media... Read More →

Wednesday August 21, 2019 12:00 - 12:30 CEST
Track 2: Learning with Games

TALK, German

12:00 CEST

Using Games to Talk About Making Humanity a Multiplanetary Species

Auroch Digital is creating a space agency, management themed, simulation/management game about completing the first crewed mission to Mars. What better way to research that game than to talk to actual space agencies? The indie studio partnered with the European Space Agency to explore how the actual Mars missions are planned and run and what the real challenges of running space missions are. With such a wealth of real world information being offered, how do the developers encode this information in the game while ensuring that the game remains fun and playable. The studio are also exploring how partners in the project, coming from very different places, are able to collaborate to fulfil their aims while ensuring that in the midst of it all, players are engaged with a great game!

Speakers

Dr. Tomas Rawlings

Design & Production Director, Auroch Digital Ltd

Dr. Tomas Rawlings is Design Director at the indie games studio Auroch Digital. As well as running the studio, he is an experienced, award winning games designer who has created games from original titles to well-loved IP such as Games Workshop’s Chainsaw Warrior, Star Wars:The... Read More →

Wednesday August 21, 2019 12:00 - 12:30 CEST
Track 4: Future with Games

TALK, English

12:00 CEST

An EU agenda for video games

Panel discussion on the perspective of the future European policy landscape in the advent of important technological developments such as 5G and cloud gaming. How can policy makers support one of Europe’s most successful digital and creative sectors so that Europe thrives as a creative hub at global level and is a competitive destination for investment.

Moderators

Ann Becker

Head of Policy and Public Affairs, Interactive Software Federation of Europe (ISFE)

Swedish national, Ann holds an MA from King’s College, University of London, in UK, EU & US Copyright Law and an MA from the University of Paris in Regional Economic Development and international Cooperation.Prior to joining ISFE, Ann held several senior positions in the media and... Read More →

Speakers

Nicola Beer

Renew Europe

Nicola Beer is Vice-President and Member of the European Parliament, she is FDP’s deputy chairperson and was the party’s Secretary General from 2013-2019. Her constituency is Frankfurt am Main.Before, Beer was a Member of the German Bundestag and State Parliament in Hesse. In... Read More →

Dr. Olaf Coenen

Chairman of the Board, Vice President International Publishing, Interactive Software Federation of Europe (ISFE), Electronic Arts (EA)

Hendrik Lesser

CEO, remote control productions

Serial Entrepreneur Hendrik is known as CEO and Founder of remote control productions, an international production company for video games, and as president of the European Games Developer Federation (EGDF). In the last 13 years he built a family of over 13 development studios with... Read More →

Tiemo Wölken MdEP

Member of the EU Parliament, SPD

Wednesday August 21, 2019 12:00 - 13:00 CEST
Track 5: Law and Games

PANEL, English

12:00 CEST

Gaming moves mountains – the integrative potential of games

Billions of people all over the world – with very diverse cultural backgrounds and living standards – love digital games. Since playing games both with and against each other is increasingly happening online, written and verbal communication not only determines victory and defeat but also the quality of the human experience during the game. Games build bridges, overcome differences and create unusual friendships. At the same time, however, game content can also promote and reinforce opinions about cultures and social minorities. As part of the cooperation with the “Cultural Integration Initiative” and the German Cultural Council, the panel discusses the integrative power of computer games as a shared, cross-cultural experience and the opportunities and challenges in an increasingly diversifying society.

Speakers

Linda Breitlauch

Game Design Professor, University of Applied Sciences Trier

After studying business administration and film and television dramaturgy at the Hochschule für Film und Fernsehen in Babelsberg, Linda Breitlauch earned her doctorate with a thesis on dramaturgy in computer games. She worked on various film and multimedia projects, wrote game concepts... Read More →

Aiman Mazyek

Chairman, Central Council of Muslims in Germany

Aiman A. Mazyek was born in Aachen in 1969 to a mother from Freiburg and a father from Aleppo, who came to Germany in the 60s to study. He was enrolled in the Arabic studies programme in Cairo. From 1992 to 1997, he studied philosophy, economics and political science in Aachen (MA... Read More →

Kathrin Trattner

Lecturer and Doctoral Candidate, University of Graz

Kathrin Trattner is a lecturer and doctoral candidate at the Institute of Religious Studies at the University of Graz, Austria. Her research interests include religion and digital media, in particular video games and gamer cultures. Currently, she is writing her is working on her... Read More →

Olaf Zimmermann

Managing Director, German Cultural Council

Olaf Zimmermann, publicist, art dealer, was managing director of various galleries. In 1987 he founded his own gallery for contemporary art in Cologne and Mönchengladbach. Since 1997 Zimmermann has been managing director of the German Cultural Council, the umbrella organisation of... Read More →

Wednesday August 21, 2019 12:00 - 13:00 CEST
Track 3: Living with Games

PANEL, German

12:00 CEST

Transmedia and interactive storytelling between young adult books and role-playing games

It is a fallacy to believe that books will disappear with the increasing success of the video game. There are elements of action that are not really suited to a digital narrative medium. Then again, digital games give you completely new possibilities for determining the fate of characters, experiencing places in a new way and discovering content for yourself. Ideally, both digital and non-digital mediums complement each other anyway – in other words, “transmedia storytelling”. We ask how stories are told in young adult literature and digital games and what hybrid forms are possible. What challenges and opportunities are offered for authors who want to work in transmedia? How can young readers be reached with “gamified” media usage habits?

Speakers

Wolfgang Hohlbein

Author

Wolfgang Hohlbein, born in 1953 in Weimar, with total sales of 44 million books, is Germany's most successful fantasy author. He experienced his breakthrough in 1983 with the award-winning novel MÄRCHENMOND (Magic Moon). Dozens of other bestsellers followed, such as DAS DRUIDENTOR... Read More →

Martin Ganteföhr

Interactive Writer & Designer

Martin Ganteföhr has been working as an interactive writer, narrative designer, director and lecturer for more than two decades. He has created a broad range of interactive projects across multiple cultural fields, from video games to theater and audio drama. He’s still at it... Read More →

Thomas Scholz

University Fellow, Washington University

Jens Schumacher

Author

Jens Schumacher, born 1974, has been been inventing stories since his childhood days. He is the author of more than 90 books und games for kids as well as adults. His bibliography includes fantasy novels, thrillers, interactive questbooks, non-fictional books and over a dozen volumes... Read More →

Anne von Vaszary

Author & Dramaturg

Anne von Vaszary, born 1975, studied professional screenwriting and dramaturgy at the film university Konrad Wolf in Babelsberg and established her profession with the development of story based computer games and interactive storytelling. Her games received several awards, e.g. the... Read More →

Wednesday August 21, 2019 12:00 - 13:00 CEST
Track 1: Public Stage

PANEL, German

12:30 CEST

OER-platform "Media literacy with games"

Games have long been an integral part of media education and are also gaining greater significance in schools. However, they have still not been widely established. In order to spread proven concepts and methods, media educators are increasingly making OER materials available, which in turn can be used by multipliers. As part of the Hamburg Open Online University, the Creative Gaming Initiative developed the “Media Literacy with Games” open educational resource (OER) platform in cooperation with HAW Hamburg, which provides materials for media education work with digital games. The aim of this platform is to show the potential, challenges and limitations that arise from an open approach.

Speakers

Vera Marie Rodewald

Research Associate, HAW Hamburg

Vera Marie Rodewald (M.A. Cultural Studies) is a research associate at the HAW Hamburg and teaches in the field of media competence at various universities. In addition, she works as a freelance media educator on the conception and implementation of numerous projects to promote media... Read More →

Christiane Schwinge

Co-Founder & Spokesperson, Initiative Creative Gaming e.V.

Christiane Schwinge (Dipl.-Päd.) has been working for more than ten years as a freelance media educator in various educational fields. She is a founding member and spokesperson of the Initiative Creative Gaming, in which she advocates a creative, competent and critical approach to... Read More →

Wednesday August 21, 2019 12:30 - 13:00 CEST
Track 2: Learning with Games

TALK, German

12:30 CEST

The Winnetou factor – learning about money and the future of our civilization from the Apaches

Decentralisation not only works technologically (internet, blockchain) but also socially. Libra, the Facebook currency, creates a social media economy that can replace the US dollar, e.g., as the leading currency for the remittance of salaries to family members in third world countries. The next step will be isolated game economies where professionals earn credits and sell for real money. The question is: What does all this have to do with games and the tribe mentioned above?

Speakers

Christoph Holz

Business Angel and Expert Speaker, www.christophholz.com

Christoph Holz explains the complex, digital world in an incomparable and sophisticated manner. His interesting perspectives provide a larger context, but also show the entirely personal impact on individuals. The computer scientist and aerospace technology technician knows what he... Read More →

Wednesday August 21, 2019 12:30 - 13:00 CEST
Track 4: Future with Games

TALK, English

13:00 CEST

Lunch Break

Wednesday August 21, 2019 13:00 - 14:00 CEST
Konrad-Adenauer-Saal

BREAK

13:00 CEST

Retro game protection of minors: Where is the planned child protection reform headed?

The current legal framework for the protection of minors from harmful media content is in desperate need of an update. Politicians, companies and also child protection experts all agree on this. But what measures are necessary in order to ensure that the law for the protection of minors from harmful media content is up to date in Germany? Are bans and access barriers still the right means to protect children and young people online in the digital age? Which requirements for recognised youth protection programs are still feasible in the context of international applicability? Where is the competence of children, adolescents and parents required? What can the gaming industry and companies do?

Speakers

Bettina Bundszus

Head of Children & Youth Department, Federal Ministry of Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth

Paul Dalg

Editor, Der Tagesspiegel

Paul Dalg is a journalist at Der Tagesspiegel in Berlin. Before that, he worked for many years for the Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle (USK) in the area of youth media protection and regulation. As editor of Der Tagesspiegel, Background Digitalisierung & KI he writes about computer... Read More →

Dr. Wolfgang Kreißig

President, Chairman, Baden-Württemberg State Communications Office

Since April 2017, the 47-year-old has been President of the Baden-Württemberg State Communications Office, elected by the Baden-Württemberg State Parliament. An expert in media topics is Kreißig due to his many years of experience. From 2010 to 2017, Kreißig was Head of the Department... Read More →

Elisabeth Secker

Managing Director, Entertainment Software Self-Regulation Body (USK)

Elisabeth Secker joined the Entertainment Software Self-Regulation Body (USK) as Managing Director in January 2018. Due to her prior function as Deputy Head of the Division Protection of Minors at the jointmanagement office of the German media authorities in Berlin, she gained extensive... Read More →

Bettina Wiesmann MdB

CDU/CSU

Born on 20 October 1966 in Berlin; Protestant; married, four children.Attended Kronach primary school in Berlin-Steglitz from 1972 to 1976; attended the French academic secondary school in Berlin-Tiergarten from 1976 to 1984, obtaining Abitur (higher education entrance qualification... Read More →

Wednesday August 21, 2019 13:00 - 14:00 CEST
Track 5: Law and Games

PANEL, German

14:00 CEST

Potential for (media) education processes through digital games in the school

A media culture has revolved around digital games that deals creatively with computer games in a variety of ways. Following a brief representation of select areas, such as modding, for example, the potential for media education in schools will be explored.

Speakers

Dr. Ralf Biermann

Senior Researcher and Lecturer, University of Magdeburg

Ralf Biermann studied social work and educational science in Siegen and Freiburg. He received his Ph.D. in 2009 from the University in Siegen for his work about about “The medial Habitus of Teacher”. His research focuses on digital media, digital games studies and media socialization... Read More →

Wednesday August 21, 2019 14:00 - 14:30 CEST
Track 2: Learning with Games

TALK, German

14:00 CEST

Enter Africa

Despite 1.2 billion inhabitants, a strong mobile coverage and an estimated 500 million potential players, the African continent still represents only 1% of the sales for Premium Games. At the same time the richness of African culture, stories and legends to be told through games is virtually untapped. Enter Africa came alive in 2018 with the vision to create a gaming ecosystem that represents African culture and reimagines African futures. Are you interested in how the network functions and how the local teams cooperate with each other across 15 countries? Would you like to hear more about how games are used to create strong communities and address everyday challenges? Can you imagine an African Gaming Industry ready for cooperation?

Speakers

Bethlehem Anteneh

Game-Thinking Lead, Goethe Institut Addis Ababa, Project Enter Africa

Bethlehem Anteneh is an experimental architect and a game-thinking expert whose, one of the biggest, concerns is our spatial environment: the transformation on how we use and understand it. Caught in playful experience within real/virtual/analogue/digital spaces, she specializes in... Read More →

Prince Andrew Ardayfio

Game Designer & Creative Director, Goethe Institut Addis Ababa, Project Enter Africa

Ardayfio Prince is an entrepreneur and a creative polymath with a strong appetite for exploring non-conventional initiatives that challenges the status quo. He has 5+ years in business development, marketing and filmmaking having co-founded an esports broadcasting venture; GamerTV... Read More →

Dagmawi Bedilu

Game Design Lead, Goethe Institut Addis Ababa, Enter Africa Project

Dagmawi is an aspiring Entrepreneur, Software Engineer, Game Designer and a Game-Thinking Activist with an appetite for both, Science and Arts. He has an 8+ year experience in the fields of Location-Based Systems working as Senior Software Architect for Ethiopia’s largest IT Company.As... Read More →

Johannes Ebert

Secretary General, Goethe-Institute

Johannes Ebert has been Secretary General of the Goethe-Institut since 2012. He read Islamic Studies and Political Science in Freiburg and Damascus and thereafter worked as a journalist in Heilbronn. After periods as an instructor at the Goethe-Institut in Prien, as a language course... Read More →

Tino Hahn

Super Crowd

As editor-in-chief, Tino was responsible for the launch of IGN.com in the DACH region before managing the content strategy at Ströer Media Brands (Kino.de, GIGA.de, Spieletipps.de, gamona.de). For the Indie Arena Booth, the world's largest joint stand for indie developers, he is... Read More →

Wednesday August 21, 2019 14:00 - 15:00 CEST
Track 3: Living with Games

PANEL, English

14:00 CEST

Games and Automotive - a relationship that picks up speed

With holoride, Marcus Kühne will be presenting a future vision of in-car entertainment where games and VR play a decisive role. Sebastian Stegmüller will be showing why the cars of the future will be interactive social spaces, and Alexander Satanowsky will be talking about why Mercedes Benz finds gamers particularly exciting.

Speakers

Marcus Kühne

Chief Innovation Officer & Co-Founder, holoride

Marco Mander

Secretary General, DMV – Deutscher Motorsport Verband e.V.

Marco Mander is a former active athlete in motorsports and today's Secretary General of DMV - Deutscher Motorsport Verband e.V. He graduated from Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz with a Master of Science degree in International Management and Marketing. The subject of the master... Read More →

Alexander Satanowsky

Manager, NeXt Scouting, Daimler AG

Alexander Satanowsky is Manager of NeXt Scouting at Daimler AG leading technology discovery in emerging innovation fields beyond today’s automotive scope. He has worked with Daimler AG since 1998 in various positions on automotive, mobility and finance-related topics in Stuttgart... Read More →

Sebastian Stegmüller

Teamleader "Mobility Innovation", Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering IAO

Sebastian Stegmüller has worked as a research assistant at the Institute of Human Factors and Technology Management (IAT) of the University of Stuttgart since August 2012. In addition, he has been part of the “Mobility Innovation” research team at the Fraunhofer Institute for... Read More →

Wednesday August 21, 2019 14:00 - 15:00 CEST
Track 4: Future with Games

PANEL, German

14:00 CEST

Quartet of Game Culture - war, religion & democracy: gaming in a historical setting

Inspired by the “literary quartet”, the “Quartet of Game Culture” looks at the cultural aspects of outstanding computer games in the style of a newspaper’s arts and leisure section. The gamescom congress will focus on two very different games, which nevertheless have a great deal in common. “A Plague Tale: Innocence” is a tautly and elaborately told tragic story about a group of children in the 14th century. “Assassin’s Creed Odyssey” is an explorative, open world action game that takes place in Ancient Greece. The one thing that both games have in common is a setting that is not one-hundred percent historically accurate but seems authentic. The quartet, made up of Lena Falkenhagen, Nina Kiel, Melek Balgün and Marcus Richter, will analyse and interpret the two titles based on this shared feature. Some of the key aspects will be how the historical is used as a backdrop, what role models are communicated and the interactions between game mechanics and dramaturgy that ensue from this. Do the games help to broaden our understanding of modernity by looking at the past? Or are they just pretentious clichéd representations?

Speakers

Melek Balgün

Host

Lena Falkenhagen

Freelance Author

Lena Falkenhagen works as a freelance author, editor, translator and computer game author.She has written four historical novels, of which Die Lichtermagd won the DeLiA prize in 2010. Her novel “Undercover” written for Markus Heitz’s Justifiers series is a work of science fiction... Read More →

Nina Kiel

Games Journalist, Researcher & Developer

Nina Kiel lives and works as a game journalist, researcher and developer in Düsseldorf. After her book Gender in Games was published in 2014, she began lecturing regularly on the topic at conferences. In addition, she has published many articles in both online and print publications... Read More →

Marcus Richter

Host

Marcus Richter grabbed a microphone in 2006 and hasn't let go ever since. Besides working for Germany's top radio stations including Deutschlandfunk Kultur and Fritz (rbb), he moderates events and workshops for institutions like the BMFSFJ (Ministry for Youth and Family), the Bundeszentrale... Read More →

Wednesday August 21, 2019 14:00 - 15:00 CEST
Track 1: Public Stage

PANEL, German

14:30 CEST

Digital Games, Gaming Culture & School - A discussion

The panel will discuss the prior lecture entitled "Potential for (media) education processes through digital games in the school" in greater depth by including practical knowledge for schools and political perspectives.

Speakers

Kordula Attermeyer

Head of Department "Digital Society, Media Competence", State Chancellery of North Rhine-Westphalia

Kordula Attermeyer heads the department "Digital Society, Media Competence" in the State Chancellery of North Rhine-Westphalia. The focus here is currently on "Bringing Media Competence into the Area in North Rhine-Westphalia", i.e. using target-group-oriented media competence offerings... Read More →

Dr. Ralf Biermann

Senior Researcher and Lecturer, University of Magdeburg

Eva Hanel

Media Manager, State office for youth protection of Lower Saxony

Born in 1974, studies for Diplom-Pädagogik (diploma in education), media manager of the Landesstelle Jugendschutz Niedersachsen (State office for youth protection of Lower Saxony) since 2002.Youth protection expert for the entertainment software self-control office (USK) and tester... Read More →

Maximilian Krüger

Teacher, Martin-Niemöller Secondary School

I was born in Cologne, Germany in 1983. I finished secondary school in Vlotho in 2002, after which I served a full-time mission for the „Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints“ in England and Wales from 2002-2004. In 2004 I enrolled at the University of Bielefeld and graduated... Read More →

Wednesday August 21, 2019 14:30 - 15:00 CEST
Track 2: Learning with Games

PANEL, German

15:00 CEST

Break

Wednesday August 21, 2019 15:00 - 15:15 CEST
Track 1: Public Stage

BREAK

15:00 CEST

Break

Wednesday August 21, 2019 15:00 - 15:15 CEST
Track 4: Future with Games

BREAK

15:00 CEST

Break

Wednesday August 21, 2019 15:00 - 15:15 CEST
Track 3: Living with Games

BREAK

15:00 CEST

Break

Wednesday August 21, 2019 15:00 - 15:15 CEST
Track 2: Learning with Games

BREAK

15:00 CEST

Break

Wednesday August 21, 2019 15:00 - 15:15 CEST
Track 5: Law and Games

BREAK

15:15 CEST

Building more inclusive games - insights from female players

Across the world, gaming is becoming an important part of many women’s daily schedule, life and identity. Nowadays they account for nearly half of mobile players and enjoy a variety of game genres, still very few are willing to identify as ‘gamers’ or feel they belong in the gaming community. The gaming industry stands in front of a major opportunity to make gaming more inclusive so that all players can feel represented and engaged. This talk provides Google Play’s latest insights on the unmet gaming needs of female players and brings inspiration how to make gaming more diverse and inclusive to all players out there.

Speakers

Tamzin Taylor

Head of Business Development, Apps and Games, Western Europe, Google Play

Tamzin Taylor leads the Apps & Games Business Development team at Google Play in Western Europe. Her team helps apps and games businesses to find success on Android and Google Play. Prior to joining the Google Play team, Tamzin was the Head of Android Partnerships, Oceania. Pre-Google... Read More →

Wednesday August 21, 2019 15:15 - 15:30 CEST
Track 3: Living with Games

TALK, English

15:15 CEST

5G – digital infrastructure for cloud gaming

5G is not only about higher data rates! One of its big advantages are latency times of under one millisecond. In other words, extremely low values compared to today’s standards. In addition, electricity consumption should be reduced by a factor of 1000. It’s no wonder that 5G is also considered a pioneer for the “Netflix of games”. Traditional media such as music and videos have already been successfully converted and are now streamed, i.e. no longer loaded locally. This allows unlimited access to millions of songs, series and films, independent of local resources. Similar approaches are now being discussed for the games industry. This will not only enable new platform and monetisation models but also challenge traditional offerings.

Speakers

Prof. Stephan Jacob

Game Development Professor, University of Applied Sciences Darmstadt

Computer scientist Stephan Jacob is co-founder and partner of BiteTheBytes, where he was CEO from 2007 to 2013. With World Creator, BiteTheBytes has developed the world’s first real-time terrain generator and successfully established it in the international market. The company received... Read More →

Tim Schiller

Dep. Head of Quality Management, Telekom Germany

Tim is an innovator and multitasker at heart. Although being very successful in his professional life he never lost his jest to find out what’s behind the curtain. Acquiring his diploma in Business Informatics in Cologne did not seem to satisfy his thirst for knowledge but rather... Read More →

Wednesday August 21, 2019 15:15 - 15:45 CEST
Track 4: Future with Games

TALK, German

15:15 CEST

Don't kill the messenger: Network policy and political communication in the age of YouTube and similar platforms

The spokesperson for the European copyright reform must have anticipated some heat prior to the adoption of Articles 13 and 17, however, no one could have predicted such a fierce reaction from an unexpected direction. Public mouthpiece of the controversial bill Axel Voss talks about upload filters and communication culture.

Speakers

Daniel Finger

Axel Voss MdEP

Member of the European Parliament, CDU

Axel Voss (CDU) - born in 1963 - studied law at the Universities of Trier, Freiburg and Munich. Since 1994, he is working as a lawyer. From 1994 to 2000, he was a civil advisor at the EU Commission's representation in Germany. Afterwards, he worked for nine years as lecturer for European... Read More →

Wednesday August 21, 2019 15:15 - 16:15 CEST
Track 1: Public Stage

PANEL, German

15:15 CEST

Facing cyber grooming and gaming disorder with media competence skills

The government says that the protection of minors stops at the doorstep because from then on the parents or legal guardians are responsible. They are also at the centre of the discussion because media competence is decisive for dealing with online offerings in a healthy way and to recognise possible dangers early on. But who teaches this media competence, what programmes and initiatives are there, and which possibilities for concealing one’s identity have not yet been exhausted?

Speakers

Kira Marleen Carstens

Student Assistant, JUUUPORT e.V.

Even as a teenager, through my voluntary commitment to my church community, I noticed how much fun it is working with people. That's why I chose to do my A levels with the focus on social education, which I completed in 2016. Further experience in pedagogical practice also strengthened... Read More →

Antje vom Berg

Consultant klicksafe, The Media Authority of North Rhine-Westphalia

Antje vom Berg is a manager for media competence with the Media Authority of North Rhine-Westphalia. There she is responsible for projects such as the mobile phone sector or Internet-ABC NRW. The offerings pursue the goal of helping people to use digital media fairly and autonomously... Read More →

Fabian Pforte

JUUUPORT-Scout, JUUUPORT

Since August 2017 Fabian has been working as a scout at JUUUPORT.de on a voluntary basis. He helps other young people who have problems on the Internet, for example with cyberbullying, sexting or WhatsApp stress, and advises them online. His personal area of expertise is gaming. In... Read More →

Thomas Schmidt

CEO, Helliwood media & education

Thomas Schmidt, a media and competence expert from Berlin, has been developing education initiatives and programmes in the thematic area of of digital media with Helliwood for more than twenty years. He brings together education and media and perceives himself as a proactive member... Read More →

Elisabeth Secker

Managing Director, Entertainment Software Self-Regulation Body (USK)

Wednesday August 21, 2019 15:15 - 16:15 CEST
Track 2: Learning with Games

PANEL, German

15:15 CEST

WHO has gaming disorder?

Last year, the World Health Organization (WHO) added "Gaming Disorder" in the 11th Revision of the
International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11). It was defined "as a pattern of gaming behavior (“digitalgaming” or “video-gaming”) characterized by impaired control over gaming": Where does the World Health Organisation’s recent classification to file leave the games industry? How did it happen? Where is the real problem? Are the positive effects of gameplay being forgotten?

Speakers

Mike Lebeau

Senior Research Executive, Ipsos MORI

During his master’s degree, Mike’s specialist subject was mental health awareness and stigma. Through this, he investigated the issues that revolve around stigma and the impact these have on the person with a mental health condition. Subsequently, Mike has worked across multiple... Read More →

Jurriaan van Rijswijk

Founder & Chairman, Games for Health Europe Foundation

Jurriaan van Rijswijk is founder and chairman of the Games for Health Europe Foundation. He is an entrepreneur and serious game designer for 23 years and won the ICT Personality of the Year Award in the Netherlands. He develops game strategies and designs behaviour change interventions... Read More →

David Sweeney

Senior Legal Counsel, ISFE

David is lawyer and policy consultant working at the highest levels of the international media sector in roles including government relations, rights development, licensing and management, business affairs, negotiation and litigation. He specialises in advice related to creative businesses... Read More →

Anne Mette Thorauge

Associate Professor, University of Copenhagen

Anne Mette Thorhauge is appointed as associate professor at Department of media, cognition and communication at University of Copenhagen. Her research interests include media in everyday life in the broadest sense including video games as a tool for interaction and a source of conflict... Read More →

Wednesday August 21, 2019 15:15 - 16:15 CEST
Track 5: Law and Games

PANEL, English

15:30 CEST

Stumbling blocks or cheating attempts – how easy should accessibility be?

Melanie Eilert shows why gatekeeping is hurtful and harmful to the gaming community from her perspective as a disabled gamer. She talks about her life, how she took a break from gaming for more than 15 years and what ultimately brought her back to this hobby.

Speakers

Melanie Eilert

Writer & Accessibility Consultant

Melanie has been dealing with issues revolving around inclusion for many years. She herself lives with spinal muscular atrophy, a progressive weakening of the muscles, and has been using an electrical wheelchair since childhood. Since her return to gaming in the summer of 2017 after... Read More →

Wednesday August 21, 2019 15:30 - 15:45 CEST
Track 3: Living with Games

TALK, German

15:45 CEST

Essence of Play: Accessible Player Experience

Game design has primarily resulted in the addition of accessible options and features after crucial design choices have already been made. The dearth of knowledge around HOW to develop an accessible game is a significant driver of this approach. But what if there was a way to consider accessibility from the inception of a game’s development? The AbleGamers Charity seeks to catalyze a new wave of accessible game design that focuses on the removal of access and challenge barriers to promote accessible player experience (APX).

Speakers

Mark Barlet

Founder, Executive Director, The AbleGamers Charity

Mark Barlet founded the AbleGamers Charity in 2004 when his best friend saw Multiple Sclerosis take away her ability to connect with her friends in video games. In the 15 years from that moment, Mark has been the leader of a movement to change the entire industry to be more inclusive... Read More →

Wednesday August 21, 2019 15:45 - 16:15 CEST
Track 3: Living with Games

TALK, English

15:45 CEST

Green Gaming - Facts, figures and solutions for video game power consumption

Although among the most complex and energy-intensive plug loads, gaming has been largely overlooked in energy R&D and policy. In California alone, systems used for computer gaming consumed 4.1 TWh/year in 2016 or $700 million in energy bills, with emissions of 1.5 million tons CO2-equivalent. This project characterizes gaming technologies and markets, energy demand and savings scenarios, and policy strategies for improving energy efficiency.

Speakers

Norman Bourassa

Principal Scientific Engineering Associate, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Mr. Bourassa has degrees in Architecture (University of California, Berkeley) and Electronics Engineering Technology (Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, Edmonton, Alberta). He has 24 years of privateand public sector building energy engineering and energy efficiency science... Read More →

Wednesday August 21, 2019 15:45 - 16:15 CEST
Track 4: Future with Games

TALK, English

16:15 CEST

Break

Wednesday August 21, 2019 16:15 - 16:30 CEST
Track 4: Future with Games

BREAK

16:15 CEST

Break

Wednesday August 21, 2019 16:15 - 16:30 CEST
Track 1: Public Stage

BREAK

16:15 CEST

Break

Wednesday August 21, 2019 16:15 - 16:30 CEST
Track 2: Learning with Games

BREAK

16:15 CEST

Break

Wednesday August 21, 2019 16:15 - 16:30 CEST
Track 3: Living with Games

BREAK

16:15 CEST

Break

Wednesday August 21, 2019 16:15 - 16:30 CEST
Track 5: Law and Games

BREAK

16:30 CEST

Rainbow Arcade - How Queer Game History can be exhibited

Rainbow Arcade is a cooperation between the Schwules Museum* Berlin, the Computer Spiele Museum Berlin and the Temple University in Philadelphia and is the first exhibition project worldwide to work on the results of the LGBTQ Game Archive. About the approach and challenges in the process of curating, asking questions about representation, working conditions and how the future of queer gaming might look like.

Speakers

Jan Schnorrenberg

Rainbow Arcade

Sarah Rudolph

Curator, Author, Rainbow Arcade

Sarah Rudolph (*1984) is an Online-Editor and Co-Founder and Editor in Chief of the alternative teen magazine brause*mag. They have been obsessing over the intersections of digital media and social justice for almost a decade and wrote their bachelor thesis in 2012 about Social Movements... Read More →

Wednesday August 21, 2019 16:30 - 17:00 CEST
Track 3: Living with Games

TALK, English

16:30 CEST

Revisiting Historical Traumas in Video Games

The talk will critically discuss the challenges of developing video games dealing with historical traumas. It stems from the speaker’s experience of being a lead game designer of Attentat 1942, a narrative game that tells the story of Nazi occupation of Czechoslovakia from the perspective of those who experienced it firsthand. The game was critically acclaimed and received several prestigious awards, including the Most Amazing Game at the 2018 A MAZE festival. The talk will revisit the challenges designers faced when they based the game on real historical events and ethically and emotionally loaded testimonies. Furthermore, the talk will discuss the upcoming game Svoboda 1945 that deals with the WWII aftermath, including the expulsion of Sudeten Germans and the rise of communism to power.

Speakers

Vít Šisler

Lead Game Designer, Assistant Professor, Charles University

Vít Šisler is a lead game designer of the award-winning video game Attentat 1942, which explores World War II through the eyes of survivors. He is also an Assistant Professor of New Media Studies at Charles University, where he focuses on serious games, educational simulations and... Read More →

Wednesday August 21, 2019 16:30 - 17:00 CEST
Track 2: Learning with Games

TALK, English

16:30 CEST

Broadcast regulation for Let's Plays

A new State Treaty on Broadcasting and Media is currently under discussion, which is intended in particular to provide a solution to the current licensing obligation for Let's Players. All parties agree that there should be no broadcasting licence, but the way is not clear. Is a notification obligation sufficient or does the concept of broadcasting and the associated regulatory structure need to be rethought? In repeated cooperation with the Kölner Forschungsstelle für Medienrecht (Cologne Research Center for Media Law) at the Technical University of Cologne, the status of the political discussion will be analysed and possible ways from the point of view of the games industry will be discussed.

Speakers

Kai Bodensiek

Partner, Media Law Firm Brehm & v. Moers

Kai Bodensiek is a partner with the media law firm Brehm & v. Moers. Kai Bodensiek is experienced as a legal advisor for game publishers and developers, which includes media law compliance, drafting and negotiating of development and licensing agreements. Among his clients are multinational... Read More →

Dr. Eva Flecken

Vice President, Sky Germany

As Vice President at Sky Germany Dr. Eva Flecken manages the departments "Public Policy, Regulatory & EU Affairs, Protection of Minors" in Berlin and Unterföhring. Before taking over Sky’s Berlin Office in 2014, she was responsible for Digital Projects, Network and Media Policy... Read More →

Prof. Dr. Christian-Henner Hentsch

Head of Legal and Regulatory, Professor for Copyright and Media Law, game – the German Games Industry Association

Christian-Henner Hentsch is Head of Law & Regulation for the game - Association of the German Games Industry and at the same time Professor of Copyright and Media Law at the Cologne Research Center for Media Law of the Technical University of Cologne. For the game - Association of... Read More →

Heike Raab

State Secretary, State Chancellery of Rhineland-Palatinate

State Secretary Heike Raab, born 1965, initially worked as a member of the scientific staff in the German Bundestag following studies in politics and law, before assuming duties as a consultant in the office of the Minister-President of Rhineland-Palatinate, and subsequently in the... Read More →

Dr. Tobias Schmid

Director, Media Authority of North Rhine-Westphalia

As Director of the Media Authority of North Rhine-Westphalia, Tobias Schmid is also the European Affairs Commissioner of the Conference of Directors of the Media Authorities (DLM) and a deputy member of the Commission for the Protection of Minors in the Media (KJM). Moreover, Tobias... Read More →

Prof. Dr Stefan Sporn

Speaker of the Advisory Committee of the Cologne Research Center for Medial Law, Senior Vice President International Distribution, RTL International GmbH

Stefan Sporn is Speaker of the Advisory Committee of the Cologne Research Center for Medial Law of the University of Applied Sciences Cologne and teaches as Honorary Professor there Copyright and Media Law. As Senior Vice President International Distribution of RTL International GmbH... Read More →

Wednesday August 21, 2019 16:30 - 17:30 CEST
Track 5: Law and Games

PANEL, German

16:30 CEST

AI and how we game

There has been much chatter about the promise of AI, but what does it mean for mobile gaming? Already foundational to puzzle, action, strategy, racing and alternate reality games, AI’s potential extends far beyond making games more intelligent -- it has the potential to make gamers themselves more intelligent. By unlocking new strategies and approaches to “winning,” AI has the potential to teach humans alternate ways of thinking and executing in their games.

Speakers

David Park

Director of Strategy, Samsung NEXT

Wednesday August 21, 2019 16:30 - 17:30 CEST
Track 4: Future with Games

TALK, German

16:30 CEST

Soccer & eSports

The sport of football and digital football games are closely interconnected. Bundesliga clubs are active in eSports. Football professionals play FIFA after their training in order to get lessons in tactical skills. People become fans of clubs they know only from playing computer games. This is where people talk about how football matches and eSports have changed their view of the world’s most beautiful pastime.

Speakers

Melek Balgün

Host

Ralph Gunesch

Football Trainer & TV Expert

Foto (c) Milad Ahmadvand

Dominik Kupilas

Leader Content & Digital, SV Werder Bremen

Danial Montazeri

Editor Sports, SPIEGEL ONLINE

Daniel Montazeri, born 1985, is sports editor at SPIEGEL ONLINE. He reported on the 2018 World Cup from Russia. His areas of expertise are football data and tactics. He has been playing football video games for over two decades. In spring of 2019, he and his colleague Markus Böhm... Read More →

Tim Reichert

Chief Gaming Officer, FC Schalke 04 Esports

Wednesday August 21, 2019 16:30 - 18:00 CEST
Track 1: Public Stage

PANEL, German

17:00 CEST

Curiosity and experimentation: Theatre and games as experiential spaces

The dramaturgy of images in computer games and how they can be connected to the performing arts. Which forms of gaming can be found in theatrical contexts, which images does the theatre use, and how can mutual questioning of the narrative device contribute to the development of the respective genres? How do participatory forms like immersion work in theatre? A journey through time and space!

Speakers

Marcus Lobbes

Artistic Director, Akademie für Theater und Digitalität

Wednesday August 21, 2019 17:00 - 17:30 CEST
Track 3: Living with Games

TALK, German

17:00 CEST

Flight and play - The origin story of "Path Out"

"Path Out" looks like an old Japanese role-playing game. However, it isn't about heroic acts in a fantasy realm, but instead about flight from the war in Syria. The story of the young man Abdullah Adnan Karam is told; a passionate gamer who leaves his hometown in the direction of Europe. The special feature: the story is authentic. The refugee himself was part of the development process of "Path Out", which originated with the help of game developers from Vienna. Abdullah Karam and Georg Hobmeier talk about games, flight and integration.

Speakers

Georg Hobmeier

Founder, Causa Creations

Georg Hobmeier, born and bred in the Tyrolean Alps, is a media artist and game designer whose work lingers in the borderlands of political communication, digital media and games. After a decade of developing art that was interfacing dance, theatre, and technology, he turned his attention... Read More →

Abdullah Karam

At the age of seven, Abdullah made his first interaction with a Video Game in Syria. Playing video games was a crucial role in his life, it made him escape the cruel war in Syria through a virtual dimension. When Abdullah turned 18 he had to flee his country, which resulted in a journey... Read More →

Wednesday August 21, 2019 17:00 - 17:30 CEST
Track 2: Learning with Games

TALK, English

17:00 CEST

Medium-term effects of the serious game Serena Supergreen on motivation, knowledge and preferences for vocational careers

Educational games are increasingly popular. But, how effective are they? What is learned and can be recalled after six to twelve month? The evaluation and the analyses of players' behaviour within the serious game "Serena Supergreen and the Broken Wing" provide an insight into medium-term effects of educational games in schools. The serious game aims at promoting technical vocational careers in the field of renewable energies and was evaluated with 12-16-year-olds.

Speakers

Dr. Felix Kapp

Postgraduate Research Fellow, Technische Universität Berlin

Felix Kapp studied psychology in Dresden, Madrid and Graz. He received his Ph.D. in 2014 from the Technische Universität Dresden for his work about Self-regulated Learning. In his research he addresses cognitive and motivational processes of learning with a special interest in serious... Read More →

Dr. Pia Spangenberger

Postgraduate Research Fellow, Research Team Leader, Technische Universität Berlin

Pia Spangenberger studied economics in Cologne and New York. In 2016, she received her Doctor of Philosophy in vocational education at the Technical University of Berlin on the subject of sustainability and the career choice of women. Her research focuses on career choice and its... Read More →

Wednesday August 21, 2019 17:00 - 17:30 CEST
Track 2: Learning with Games

TALK, German

17:00 CEST

Fireside Chat: Artificial Intelligence

DeepMind taught a computer how to play “Go”, which is probably the most complicated strategy game in the world. However, no one wanted to tackle digital multiplayer games like “Capture the Flag” – experienced opposing human teams were too superior. The research project recently presented by British specialists for artificial intelligence changed all that. It has taken machine learning to a whole new level thanks to computer game environments.

Speakers

Petra Fröhlich

Editor-in-Chief, GamesWirtschaft

Petra Fröhlich is a journalist with more than 25 years of industry experience and founder of the news magazine GamesWirtschaft. Previously, she was Editor-in-Chief and Publishing Director responsible for market-leading games magazines, websites and apps. Through her many years of... Read More →

Jörg Müller-Lietzkow

President, Hafen-City University Hamburg

Prof. Dr. Jörg Müller-Lietzkow has been President of HafenCity University Hamburg (HCU) and Professor of Economics and Digitization since July 1, 2019.Prior to this he was Professor of Media Economics and Media Management at the Institute of Media Studies at the University of Paderborn... Read More →

Wednesday August 21, 2019 17:00 - 18:00 CEST
Track 4: Future with Games

PANEL, German

17:30 CEST

The Art of Coding - World Heritage Digital

The risks for social cohesion resulting from the digital divide between establishment and digital communities have been clearly demonstrated by #FridaysForFuture, #Artikel13 and #Rezo. That’s why it’s high time to build bridges. The most logical thing would be to consistently continue the cultural recognition of digital culture that has already begun to some extent. Clear signals in the form of commitments to responsibility for maintaining and promoting digital cultural forms help mutual understanding. In their presentation, A. Lange and T. Kopka want to show the possibilities that the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists has in store for this using the example of the “Art of Coding” initiative, which seeks to have an original digital cultural form added to the world cultural heritage list for the first time.

Speakers

Tobias Kopka

Artistic Director, Ludicious, Reboot Develop

Tobias Kopka is the Artistic Director of Ludicious Zürich Game Festival and Head of Developer Relations at Reboot Develop in Croatia & Canada and thus leading some of not only Europe´s finest game developer conferences. Tobias has been heading the Conference & Program Direction... Read More →

Andreas Lange

COO, European Federation of Game Archives Museums and Preservation Projects

Andreas Lange is COO of EFGAMP e.V. (European Federation of Game Archives Museums and Preservation Projects). Before he was founding director of the Computer Games Museum in Berlin and its curator until August 2018. He studied Comparative Religions and Dramatics (M.A.) at Freie Universität... Read More →

Wednesday August 21, 2019 17:30 - 18:00 CEST
Track 3: Living with Games

TALK, German

17:45 CEST

Networking Reception powered by Samsung NEXT

Wednesday August 21, 2019 17:45 - 19:00 CEST
Lounge

NETWORKING