Living Games Festival 27-30 May 2009

Today the worldwide first culture festival on games, the “Living Games Festival”, takes place for the second time in the “Jahrhunderthalle” in Bochum, Germany. Until 30 May, interested gamers as well as educators, media representatives, scientists and creative professionals are invited to discuss the content and quality of computer games from social, educational and political perspectives.

Even though the innovative industry keeps recording increasing turnover and has a positive future outlook despite the recession, computer games still are, even after their recognition as cultural goods by the German Cultural Council, the subject of social, educational and political discussions. The “Living Games Festival” aims to provide a space for this important debate. The main topic is “Games are so much more” and at today’s (Wednesday’s) opening event representatives from politics, the games industry and science will, together with Prof. Dieter Gorny, have a discussion under the title “More than just commercial success: the social responsibility of the games industry” from 8:00 pm onwards.

The red dot design award is also responding to the increased significance of this innovative industry: in the face of the growing number of digital games and interactive applications, the red dot award: communication design has introduced the new competition category “Digital Games”. red dot talked to Stephan Reichart, managing director of the festival organiser, Aruba Events GmbH, about the significance of design and the trends in the games industry.

red dot: What role do you believe design plays in the current games industry?
Stephan Reichart: A very important one. Hardly any other industry thrives as much on visual effect, atmosphere and the effect of design, as the games industry.

red dot: What trends can you spot in current game design?
Stephan Reichart: Our games are more and more becoming a mirror image of reality. In my opinion, one of the greatest challenges in this development is to copy reality without just producing a boring replica. This has been successfully achieved in a particularly impressive way in the case of Heavy Rain. Here, take a look at its making-of video: Making-of_Heavy Rain.

red dot: How important is it for game designers to position themselves with the help of competitions?
Stephan Reichart: This is becoming more and more important in our industry. Today designers of virtual goods can definitely compete with designers of real goods.

red dot: Are there areas in which game designers set quality standards that go beyond the gaming industry?
Stephan Reichart: Yes, the whole simulation and VR area is driven by the games industry. Manufacturers of graphics cards and the PC hardware industry in general are almost exclusively developing new hardware because games set new standards.
 
red dot: Mobile games, browser games, classic PC games: Where do you see the future of the games industry?
Stephan Reichart: Definitely in online gaming and mobile consoles. “Gaming everywhere!” is too broad a slogan, but games are increasingly becoming a more natural part of our daily routine.

For the complete programme and further information visit:
www.living-games-festival.de

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Register now for the red dot award: communication design 2009!