Gamescom Congress EN 2019: Full Schedule

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

12:30 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

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

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

15:30 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

16:30 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

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

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

17:30 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