what is real For a long time, this was the decisive question in order to draw a line, if possible, between the supposedly real and the virtual world. And today? Both worlds seem so closely intertwined that the question seems almost pointless. At the third edition of the Munich Games Festival it will be asked anyway. And with the Ukraine war and artificial intelligence, two topics play a role that currently strongly determine our hybrid reality.
There are around 40 events this year under the chosen motto “What’s Real?” aimed at young people up to the age of 27. They will be held again this time in Munich’s creative district, in Hall 6, in Mucca and at other locations.
The connection to Ukraine has to do with this year’s youth festival director Alex Chumak. The 18-year-old comes from Kiev and has been living in Germany since last summer. With the GamesFestival team he came to an event of XR Hub Bavaria in contact. And Ulrich Thousand from the JFF Institute for Media Education behind it advised him to apply to be the director. As such, he is now responsible for the program and the networking of new target groups. He will also take part in the opening talk on April 28 in Hall 6. “Gaming has something that connects,” the 18-year-old, who is in contact with gaming journalists in Ukraine, wants to show. And he wants for #UAINVR werben, a fundraising project to rebuild schools destroyed in the war.
The AI, in turn, brings Albert Bozesan into play. The young author, artist and media producer created the game “Submerged Secrets” developed. How that works, how to accelerate the development of story and visuals with AI, he will do that with a Workshop on April 30th show. In any case, Bozesan does not see the AI as an “opponent”, but rather as a means of self-empowerment. But you have to understand the AI better, which is why he does Explainer videos on Youtube might. How the representation of reality in video games has changed or how members of the LGBTQIA+ community are represented in them: You can do that again in the Exhibition “What’s Real?” in Hall 6. And the exhibition “Synesthesia” in the Schwere Reiter is all about interaction and synaesthesia.
Digital Actors: Keanu Reeves as Johnny Silverhand in “Cyberpunk – 2077”.
(Photo: Bandai Namco Entertainment)
There are also various workshops and talk formats, game sessions and an “eSports Open Gaming Night”. There will be “Poetry Slam”, a “Game Jazz Jam”, art projects like “We have to talk” and a lecture on “Accessible Gaming”. The “GamesPrize23” of ComputerGameAcademy for self-designed games, prototypes, game videos, podcasts or events will also be awarded again, as in previous years. On April 30th at 7.30 p.m. in Mucca and also live on the Internet on twitch.
Games as a “business” are only marginally involved. And in contrast to the previous games fair GG Bavaria, which was held for the first time this year, no professional game studios or other companies will be present here either. Instead, with free admission, the focus should be on “promoting creative and confident use of games” and celebrating “gaming culture in all its facets”. This in no way precludes the fact that the gamers who take part as guests or contributors will later become well-known video game developers.
GamesFestival 23, Fri., April 28 to Mon., May 1, Creative Quarter Munich, www.gamesfestival.de