"Games & Politics" Game Jam // ​9-11 September 2019

Closing Event for Goethe-Institut's touring exhibition "Games & Politics"
Curated and moderated by Lorenzo Pilia (Maschinen-Mensch, Berlin) & Güven Çatak (Director of BUG Lab, İstanbul) With the contribution of Maria Saridaki (Artistic director Trust in Play, Athens)

Description

Practical information

"Games and Politics" is a touring exhibition of the Goethe-Institut, organized with local partners in 11 different cities in Southeast-Europe over the last two years, focusing on politically or socially engaged digital games. In Thessaloniki, the exhibition was presented in September 2018, in the context of "The New New" - Artecitya Art Science Technology Festival by Helexpo.  

The "Games and Politics" Game Jam in Thessaloniki completes the tour, inviting game developers from the cities  where the exhibition was presented to develop their own games during a unique regional Game Jam. The theme, inspired by LABattoir and the area around it, will be announced at the launch of the 48hours' jam.

Curators / Moderators

Lorenzo Pilia
Producer at indie game studio Maschinen-Mensch and programme manager for A MAZE. / Berlin festival. Also member of the Global Game Jam executive committee, founder of BerlinGameScene.com, organiser of Talk & Play and part of the Saftladen Indie Game Collective in Berlin.

Güven Çatak
Founder and Director of Bahçeşehir University Game Lab (BUG) which started as a community centre for the indie game developers in İstanbul and has become an educational platform with its game design programmes, production spaces and events.

Guest contributor: Maria Saridaki
Artistic director Trust in Play, Athens.
Holding a PHD on Playful Interactions, she also works on applied gaming, inclusive games-based learning, storytelling, propaganda and info games, location-based games, LARPs, pervasive and urban play and community building through playfulness. 

IN COLLABORATION WITH

When?
The Game Jam will start on Monday, September 9th at 5 pm and will last 48 hours. There will be an introduction workshop on September 8th at 6 pm. ​

Where?
The Game Jam will take place in Thessaloniki at the LABattoir project’s space - the Old Municipal Slaughterhouse (how to get there).
 
We will provide enough food and drinks during the Game Jam as well as a relaxing area for small breaks. 
 
Who can apply?
We are looking for independent artists or game designers, but also creatives from a broader practice like, architects, urban designers, performers, sound engineers, social innovators etc. 
 
Why should you apply?
This is a unique chance to get together with game developers and experts from various countries and develop your own digital or non-digital game.
 
The outcomes of the Game Jam will be presented in a show-case on Wednesday, September 11th (time to be announced). 
 
What do we expect from you?
You don’t need to have experience in game development, but you should enjoy working on creative solutions within a team with people from other countries and you should be able to communicate in English.
 
How to apply?
Please fill out the application form on this page.  
The deadline for the application is August 25th 2019.
 
Selection criteria:
The participants will be selected by the team of curators of the Game Jam, according to experience, compliance with the subject and purpose of the Game Jam as well as originality. The participants will be informed about their successful application via email until August 28th 2019.
 
The participation is free of charge.