What is PLAY – Creative Gaming Festival?

The Creative Gaming Festival is about hands-on experience, experimenting, exchanging information, enjoying games, inspiration and above all a sense of community. PLAY is the platform for everyone who loves games – be it for recreation or as professionals.
Workshops, a playable exhibition, international guests, unique art events and the international Creative Gaming Award are just a few of the many program items of PLAY18. This year for the eleventh time the PLAY – Creative Gaming Festival runs from November 1st through November 4th in the heart of Hamburg.

And what is so special about the festival?

PLAY is important to demonstrate that games are part of our defining culture. Games tell stories, provide impulses and stimulate creative processes. They influence other cultural forms such as contemporary theater or the visual arts; and, they provide diverse opportunities for active participation.
Games are not aliens. They have grown out of our culture. They satisfy a basic human need to play, to try things out and to slip into other roles. And here comes the Creative Gaming Festival with a program through which you can understand what is meant by the digital games culture! Here you can get your hands around it and try it out.

PLAY is now in its 11th year, why has the festival survived so well and what’s next?

PLAY is important every year and not just on the days of the festival. Only someone who tinkers with systems and thinks beyond their boundaries can effect changes. This is only possible through a worldwide, unique, multidimensional approach. In order to remain innovative and groundbreaking, each year the festival takes on a central theme, which has a high social relevance.
Here growth is not the primary objective of the festival, but the long-term anchoring of educational themes, pleasurable art and cultural debate. So PLAY18 is somewhat smaller, also due to reduced governmental funding; in spite of this, the opportunities for our attendees to engage in projects and other possibilities is growing. For example, the Hamburg Public Libraries (Bücherhallen Hamburg) just extended their cooperation within the framework of the ComputerSpielSchule Hamburg, a computer game school project.

Why is there less public sponsorship this year?

That is difficult to assess, but it is clear that with our program and creative ideas we cover many areas; thereby we often fall between the areas of responsibility of different public administrative authorities. They in turn engage in passing the buck; this results in reduced support for us. This year we seem to have landed directly in this “Bermuda Triangle”. However, we firmly believe that the responsible parties in the city are working to ensure that the largest festival of its kind will continue to be held in Hamburg.
 
 
Christiane Schwinge – Artistic Direction

PLAY18’s motto is “Ready Game Change – Create a New Tomorrow” – how can games change the future?

Today we are surrounded by societal, political, social and cultural upheavals. With this year’s festival theme, we want to find answers to the question: How do we want to live and what roles do games play? We approach this question in a playful, discursive, performing, inter-disciplinary and integrative fashion; and last but not least with a substantial portion of fun. How can games contribute to increasing social justice? How can global issues such as climate change be experienced through games? What does it take to design games really for everyone? These are some of the central questions of this year’s Creative Gaming Festival. In past years we have repeatedly demonstrated, that our attendees value the Festival not least because of the open atmosphere and the opportunity to exchange ideas with others. Based on this we will provide the same for PLAY18 and are looking forward to the discussions that will evolve outside the official program.

And how does this affect the program?

As in every year the motto is a leitmotif that permeates the festival. In the exhibition for example there will be games and installations available to be examined and played; they concern themselves on several levels with the quest for a better world and a new tomorrow. This can be reflected in the game mechanics for example by having the game controlled by more than one person where each player has a different view of what is happening so that the game’s goal can only be achieved through cooperation. On the story telling level one can conceive of the most multifaceted stories and approaches; starting with socio-political themes such as racism, class discrimination, or migration through religion to themes like love, personal relationships and sexuality. With “Studio Zukunft” this year we have included something very special in the festival program, for here everyone can develop their own game of the future: game design, character design, structuring the game environment and building controllers are part of “Studio Zukunft”. These capabilities show how many different ways one can be creative and come to grips with games. Also, we have developed the Speakers’ Corner especially for discussions of this year’s festival theme. It is an open stage upon which persons can take the floor and express and share their own issues related to games. Time slots can be booked in advance.
In addition, the festival theme will play a role in many workshops and roundtable discussions as well as during the opening session in a performance by FUNDUS THEATER, to which, however, we will reveal nothing in advance.
 
 
Vera Marie Rodewald – Artistic Direction

What program highlights can visitors to this year’s PLAY – Creative Gaming Festival expect?

This year we ask ourselves how we together can improve the world. We want to find this out with the help of games and game design tools. The great thing here is that everyone can contribute his or her own ideas about the game environments and characters of tomorrow. In the five stations of our “Studio Zukunft” participants of all ages can, during the entire festival, program and refine prototypes, game characters, controllers and stories. Together we want to develop new approaches for future games scenarios. In the Speakers’ Corner all can have their say. Whether school children, game designers or teachers, everyone who wants to offer us a new view on games can submit a topic and present it on site.
Of course, the program includes tried and true classics: in our workshops games can be programmed and subjects such as religion, politics, gender issues and games will be discussed. In addition, experts will give us a behind the scene look at game design and relate information about their day-to-day activities. The various perspectives of the festival motto “Ready Game Change – Create a New Tomorrow” will be discussed.

What types of attendees do you expect?

PLAY is a festival for doers, players, visionaries and for innovative thinkers. But, PLAY is also a place for all those who are curious and who still ask, what is so fascinating about games. Teachers can become acquainted with games as a new technique to be used in the learning process. Young people can discover how to become programmers themselves. Students can come to the realization that games are not just a science unto itself. And finally, PLAY addresses people who love culture.
This year we anticipate around 8,000 visitors. Based on the distribution of previous years, there will be around 1,500 school children, 600 teachers, 1,200 students and 1,500 people from the games sector.

The festival takes place in venues that are established Hamburg cultural centers. What significance does that have for the festival?

PLAY is at home where culture becomes visible. In the Bücherhallen Hamburg (Central Public Library), the Barlach Halle K and the Hühnerposten from November 1st through November 4th PLAY is about: experimenting, discussing and developing games! This year’s Creative Gaming Festival will be held at these three venues in the vicinity of the Hamburg Main Station. As always, we have selected different, unusual and surprising locations; places where games are not usually found.

You are always talking about education; but, games are really about having fun. How do these two ideas fit together?

Games are above all an experimental space. As a player, you can slip into other roles, penetrate other worlds and move beyond the boundaries of reality. You can view things from a different side by changing your perspective and you can structure the experience space yourself. This is an important driver of the educational process. The motto of Creative Gaming is “Gaming with Games”; this means to experience how you can change, manipulate, create and further develop digital games. The role of digital games is taken into account especially in the fields of education, science, society and culture.

How is PLAY18 structured?

The festival opens with a large vernissage on Thursday evening, November 1st in Barlach Halle K and a performance in cooperation with the FUNDUS THEATER in the Hühnerposten. On Friday and Saturday (November 2nd and 3rd) workshops are conducted on game design and storytelling topics among others. On Sunday (November 4th) PLAY invites attendees to play together at the games exhibition which awaits the visitors in Barlach Halle K on all four days. In addition, there are performances, roundtable discussions and an entertaining evening program which includes the presentation of the Creative Gaming Awards.
 
 
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Hamburg, July 30th, 2018. A look at the world of tomorrow – the Creative Gaming Festival in Hamburg this November wants to do no less. PLAY18 poses the questions: What will the games of the future look like? What are the coming trends? How can games change the world? The Festival guests are free to provide the answers themselves: whether young or old, hardcore gamer or occasional player – above all games in numerous formats are there to be examined and played. The fact that fun is not neglected when it comes to gaming is beyond question.

“After we did a review of 10 years of PLAY last year, this year we take a look at the future” so the comment of Christiane Schwinge, member of the Festival Direction. “We can hardly wait for November so that with our visitors we can once again take hold of the gamepads and discover the potentials and possibilities of gaming for our society.”

The motto “Ready Game Change – Create a New Tomorrow!” invites Festival attendees to participate. The variety of festival domains such as “Studio Future”, numerous workshops or the completely playable PLAY exhibition invite the participants to explore creative and innovative computer and video games and at the same time to understand their developments, backgrounds and roles for society, culture and politics. Thereby, the attendees also encounter other enthusiastic gamers and can perhaps even participate in discussion roundtables and experience together with others exceptional computer games. For these reasons PLAY has, in the meantime, made a name for itself far beyond Germany’s borders.

“To creatively enjoy, explore the boundaries of digital games, break rules, play together, celebrate together and be able, within a wonderful framework, exchange ideas with one another – that is what the PLAY – Creative Gaming Festival has stood for these many years,” so Mareike Ottrand, co-founder of Studio Fizbin. “For me it is a great opportunity this year at PLAY18 literally to virtually play through the future.”

The detailed program for PLAY18 will be announced and updated in the coming weeks up until the Festival starts under www.playfestival.de. PLAY18 cordially invites all enthusiastic gamers to help shape the future of gaming from November 1st to 4th in Hamburg.

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PLAY18 asks its guests and visitors, what will the games of the future look like? How can games positively influence the world? Whether young or old, hardcore gamer or occasional player – games in numerous formats will be there above all to be played. The PLAY18 team will provide a preview of the festival at Gamescom in Cologne on August 23rd at 15:45 on the “campus stage” in Hall 10.2.

“To creatively enjoy, explore the boundaries of digital games, break rules, play together, celebrate together and be able, within a wonderful framework, to exchange ideas with one another – that is what the PLAY – Creative Gaming Festival has stood for these many years,” so Mareike Ottrand, co-founder of Studio Fizbin – the creators of the Inner World-Series.

This year gamers will be able to participate and play under the motto “Ready Game Change – Create a New Tomorrow!”. The variety of festival domains such as “Studio Zukunft”, numerous workshops or the completely playable PLAY exhibition invite the participant to explore creative and innovative computer and video games and at the same time to understand their developments, backgrounds and roles for society, culture and politics. Thereby, the attendee also encounters other enthusiastic gamers and can even participate in discussion roundtables and experience together with other exceptional computer games. For these reasons the PLAY Festival has, in the meantime, made a name for itself far beyond Germany’s borders.

“After we did a review of 10 years of PLAY last year, this year we take a look at the future,” so the comment of Christiane Schwinge, member of the artistic direction. “We can hardly wait for November so that with our visitors we can once again take hold of the gamepads.”

The detailed program for PLAY18 will be announced and updated over the coming weeks until the festival starts under www.playfestival.de. PLAY18 invites all enthusiastic gamers to help shape the future of gaming from November 1st to 4th in Hamburg.

Download Press Information 1b (PDF)

Hamburg, August 30th, 2018. A look at the world of tomorrow – the Creative Gaming Festival in Hamburg this November wants to do no less. PLAY18 poses the questions: What will the games of the future look like? What are the coming trends? How can games change the world? The Festival guests are free to provide the answers themselves: whether young or old, hardcore gamer or occasional player – above all games in numerous formats are there to be examined and played. The fact that fun is not neglected when it comes to gaming is beyond question.

New this year is the Speakers’ Corner. On a small stage at the heart of the festival participants will be able to present ideas, projects and topics relevant to the digital games culture and discuss them with the audience. Proposed topics can be submitted starting from now and continuing through October 14th, 2018. The more innovative, extraordinary or controversial, the better the chance to be selected for a session.

Be creative and join us so that the old London Speakers’ Corner tradition can become a PLAY tradition too.

All accepted speakers will receive free admission to the festival for the day of their appearance.

The Speakers’ Corner sessions will take place during PLAY18 on November 2nd and 3rd from 9 am to 7 pm at the Hühnerposten. Each speaker will be given 15 to a maximum of 30 minutes for a presentation. Topics can be submitted until October 14th, 2018. The application form can be found on our homepage under: https://playfestival.de/play18/speakers-corner-anmeldeformular/

Together we will create a new tomorrow!

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Hamburg, September 26, 2018. The Creative Gaming Festival invites you to workshops, lectures and discussions addressing how games can change and mold the future. Of course, the controller will be in action – in the playable exhibition, which will be open from the beginning of the Festival on November 1st through Sunday, November 4th; new and especially creative computer and video games will be presented.

At the core of the Festival are two new formats that are especially intended to invite participation. The centerpiece is the “Studio Zukunft”, a temporary development studio in the Festival’s headquarter. Here visitors have the opportunity to explore their own game ideas for a better world, to develop and to share with others, to discuss and experiment. What does the game world that tells us visionary tales look like? What control mechanisms do these games provide to, for example, permit handicapped people to play, or to allow us to think up entirely new game principles? More such questions will be welcomed at the new “Speakers’ Corner”. PLAY18 invites attendees to present their own ideas, projects and themes relating to game culture on a Festival stage and to discuss them with other guests. Proposed topics may be submitted until October 14th, 2018.

“This year we are placing a special focus on keeping our program events open and encouraging our visitors to participate,” explains Vera Marie Rodewald, Artistic Director of PLAY18. “Even as interactive as gaming is, so should PLAY18 also invite visitors to participate – whether by taking part in discussions and workshops, developing their own game ideas or by celebrating together with other Festival guests.”

Alistair Aitcheson’s “Incredible Playable Show” provides lots of entertainment. The interactive comedy show invites visitors to come on stage and play digital games using all manner of unusual objects. On Friday and Saturday guests can participate in numerous workshops. The workshops are open for the first time this year to everyone without reservation. Dialog formats such as Artist Talks during which game designers provide insights into their methods, keynote presentations and the “PLAY Couch” where experts offer fascinating discussions on the potentials of games, round out the extensive program offerings.

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Hamburg, October 24th, 2018. In a few days it will be time: the PLAY18 – Creative Gaming Festival opens its doors and invites you to exchange ideas with your peers, to discuss games within a cultural and media pedagogical context, and above all to celebrate and play together! From November 1st until November 4th in Hamburg it offers international guest speakers and a broad program focused on the motto “Ready Game Change – Create a New Tomorrow”. Just before the start we want to announce additional key points and protagonists; these are program items the visitors will not want to miss.

How can games true to the Festival motto change the world? This will be discussed on November 2nd on the PLAY Couch under the expert direction of the journalist and radio moderator Christian Schiffer. Discussion participants will be product designer and entrepreneur Amelie Künzler, games journalist Daniel Ziegener, artist and activist Kathia von Roth and Matthias Löwe, member of Demokratielabore. In the roundtable “Play with Feelings” on November 3rd Schiffer will interview game and narrative designer Valentina Tamer, Martin Ganteföhr, the author recently responsible for the story of the game “State of Mind”, and one of the curators of Rainbow Arcade on the topic of how games can encourage empathy. In other Artist Talks guests like blogger OddNina, games developer Wolf Lang or media artist Sabine Harrer for example, provide insights into various subjects such as role models, lessons learned in games or the development of indie games.

In an impulse presentation the Danish author and lecturer Miguel Sicart wants to think aloud about what games we should play in our current era – and what games worlds we can create if our current world should end. Maurice Hagelstein provides an example and material for discussion immediately afterwards with the adventure “Leisure Suit Larry: Wet Dreams Don’t Dry”. In his presentation and the following discussion, he explains how, in 2018, a development team creates a game about a sexist protagonist.

“Again, this year we have managed to bring exciting personalities from many different areas to Hamburg for the PLAY – Creative Gaming Festival,” so Andreas Hedrich, member of the Festival direction team. “Together we want to try to lay the foundation for a new tomorrow! And we are looking forward to many stimuli and program items that will give us new food for thought and to celebrating the future of games culture together with our guests!”

The complete PLAY18 program is rounded out this year with many additional event formats and workshops, prominent events such as the “Studio Zukunft”, the “Speakers’ Corner” and last but not least the PLAY Exhibition in which innovative games are introduced and can be tried out and the Creative Gaming Award. For detailed information on the complete program and the exact schedule please visit the official website at https://playfestival.de/play18/zeitplan/.

Tickets for the Festival are available under ticket@playfestival.de or directly on site in the Festival Center at the Hühnerposten (November 2nd and 3rd) or at Barlach Halle K (November 2nd through 4th).

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Hamburg, November 8th, 2018. From November 1st through 4th the Creative Gaming Festival invited games enthusiasts, media representatives, culturally interested parties and games developers in Hamburg to discuss the significance of computer and video games for the society of tomorrow. Also, this year the organizers can draw successful conclusions about the results.

Several thousand guests from all over Europe attended the PLAY18 Festival from last Thursday through Sunday at the Hühnerposten and the exhibition in Barlach Halle K in the center of Hamburg to together discuss and experiment with how games can shape and change our social and political future. The approach of the festival organizers to involve the audiences even more than in previous years produced a particularly high resonance. Visitors of the Studio Zukunft could traverse the various stages of game development or contribute through talks in the Speakers’ Corner to the general discourse of the Festival. In performance events and talk shows the visitors witnessed how from the “old” – a PlayStation destroyed by children – also the “new” in the form of an innovative game controller can be created. Guest speakers like the Spanish author and lecturer on game and play design, Miguel Sicart, discussed with their audiences how games enable us to create ever newer worlds, and how important that is for the development of society.

Of course, games were also played at PLAY18. In the exhibition hall selected games asked the question, how and at what cost new worlds can be created. This provided a great deal of fun, but also moments of reflection. The best of these games was even able, in the final session of PLAY18, to take home a “Creative Gaming Award”. The “Most Creative Game Award” went to the development studio Fictiorama from Spain for the game “Do Not Feed the Monkeys”. This game is based on an innovative scenario where the player must deal with surveillance and voyeurism. “Symbio”, a game developed by a group of students from Uppsala University in Visby (Sweden) took home two awards. “Symbio” is a mixture of game and installation where two unacquainted players must literally hand in hand solve numerous tasks. It not only convinced the jury to award it the “Most Creative Newcomer Award”; it also won the audience prize.

PLAY18 ended with an optimistic look into the future. During the Award Show, the continuation of PLAY next year was announced. PLAY19 will be held from November 14th through 17th, 2019.

PLAY18 confronted the future. In doing so it renewed and modified many longstanding Festival formats. Parents together with their children could develop and tryout new games ideas, teachers could acquire innovative impulses for media pedagogic education and visitors could examine scientific and philosophical questions about games culture and could dialog with expert guest presenters. The result was a Creative Gaming Festival in which attendees with very different backgrounds could, in a friendly atmosphere, exchange thoughts on the future of gaming and gain new perspectives on gaming culture. “For that we are incredibly grateful, happy and proud. We would like to thank our co-organizers and supporters; without them PLAY18 would not have been possible”, so the Festival direction team Christiane Schwinge, Vera Marie Rodewald and Andreas Hedrich in their closing remarks.

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“The Creative Gaming Award addresses indie developers”, says Valentina Birke, curator of the exhibition and coordinator of the Creative Gaming Award. “The award focuses on creative games and playful media that give the player the possibility to interact creatively with and within the game. The innovation can be showcased by a special gameplay, transmediality, unknown possibilities of interaction within the game, essential graphic innovations, new interfaces, uncommon atmospheres, visual breakthroughs or interesting topics that the game deals with in a novel manner.”

The Creative Gaming Award will be awarded in three categories:

Most Creative Game

This category is directed to experienced developers that have already published one or more games. The award is endowed with a prize money of 1.500 Euro. The nominated games will also be showcased in the PLAY exhibition, the developers are invited to Hamburg during the festival and can participate in the awarding ceremony, taking place on 3 November 2018. Beta versions and completed projects can be submitted.

Most Innovative Newcomer

This category is directed to newcomer developers that have not published a game yet. In this category, prototypes as well as alpha and beta versions can be submitted. This award is endowed with a prize money of 500 Euro. Additionally, the winners receive a one-year mentoring. The nominated games also receive a place in the PLAY exhibition and participate in the festive awarding ceremony on 3 November 2018. During the festival, nominated developers are invited to Hamburg.

Audience Award

The audience will be the judge for this award as visitors of the exhibition can vote for their favorite game.

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