IU's "Gamepathy#1 Game Jam & Games Culture Conference" wins jury prize at GamesFestival24
The IU event "Gamepathy#1 Game Jam & Games Culture Conference" was awarded in the category "Digital Games Culture 19-26 years" at the renowned GamesFestival24 in Munich.
Munich, 13 May 2024: The "Gamepathy#1 Game Jam & Games Culture Conference" event organised by IU International University of Applied Sciences (IU) was awarded the jury prize in the "Digital Games Culture 19-26 Years" category at the renowned GamesFestival24 in Munich.
The jury recognised the Gamepathy event as an outstanding initiative that highlights the connection between gaming and empathy. The laudatory speech emphasised that Gamepathy was not only an extraordinary event in the world of digital games, but also helped to raise awareness for the promotion of empathy through the medium of games. Complex social issues were integrated into an engaging and informative programme that showed that games can be a platform to promote empathy and create a better understanding of the world around us.
The team behind Gamepathy was honoured for their outstanding achievements and significant contribution to gaming culture and the promotion of empathy. The jury praised the event as an example of how events can help shape a more empathetic world.
The Gamepathy#1 event, organised by IU's Game Design programme, uniquely combined the practice of game design craftsmanship with a scientific approach in a GameJam. In an all-day livestream, specialist lectures were presented by experts and the students' work on the games was made accessible to a broad audience. The event took place at the IU location in Regensburg and was made possible by the dedicated support of the participating students and professors, as well as the sponsors. On the student side, Thomas Sauerzapf, Anna Stommel, Tassilo Pöllath, Syril Nowak and André Meyer were in charge of the project, supported by IU professors Jörg Burbach, Thorsten Zimprich, Rudolf Inderst, Benedikt Schüler, Marion Plank and project manager Nadine Trautzsch.
Head of degree programme Prof. Thorsten Zimprich expresses his thanks to all contributors and adds:
"Honouring Gamepathy shows that the promotion of empathy strikes a chord with the times and is important for everyone in our society. That's why I would like to take this opportunity to encourage students in particular to register for Gamepathy #2, including for the specialist contributions, because promoting empathy is everyone's business and everyone is allowed to take part. That would be very important to me personally."
Contact for further information
Marion Plank
Professor of Game Art in the Game Design programme
IU International University of Applied Sciences
marion.plank@iu.org
About Gamepathy
Gamepathy is an innovative conference series that explores the connection between games and empathy. By combining game design practice and game studies theory, Gamepathy creates a platform for students and experts to jointly explore and promote the potential of digital game culture. The second event in the same format will take place on 14 December 2024. The call for papers is now open and we look forward to receiving your submissions. You can find more information at www.gamepathy.de.
With nearly 130,000 students, IU International University of Applied Sciences (IU) is the largest university in Germany. The private, state-recognised educational institution, based in Erfurt, began teaching in 2000 and now has 37 campuses. IU stands for maximum flexibility in study: whether through dual study, distance learning or on campus – students from over 160 nations tailor their educational path to suit their individual circumstances. With more than 200 degree programmes at bachelor’s, master’s and MBA level, IU imparts practical skills. Innovative learning concepts foster targeted, future-proof skills for an increasingly AI-driven world of work. A modern, digitally supported learning environment and the use of artificial intelligence enable effective, personalised learning. As a pioneer in this field, IU has developed its own digital learning companion, ‘Syntea’, which has been in use since 2023. A network of over 15,000 companies – including Motel One, Vodafone, AWO and Deutsche Bahn – makes IU a strong partner in the training of skilled workers and consistently links academic teaching with practical experience. Further information at: iu.org
Contact
|
IU International University of Applied Sciences Press Department |