The twenty second annual Video games for Change Pageant will happen June 26 and June 27 in New York underneath the theme “Designing for Tomorrow.”
The occasion will happen on the Parsons Faculty of Design in New York Metropolis and the group put out a name this week for audio system and awards via February 5.
For over 20 years, the G4C Pageant has been the premier international occasion for bringing collectively recreation builders, creators, educators, and social innovators who consider within the energy of video games and immersive media to drive real-world change.
Below the theme “Designing for Tomorrow,” the pageant will discover how video games and immersive media can foster collaboration throughout generations, views, and sectors. Throughout the two-day Pageant, attendees will interact in keynotes, panels, workshops, and networking alternatives centered round three main tracks: Video games & Studying, Civics & Social Points, and Well being & Wellbeing. XR programming shall be built-in all through all tracks.
New this yr, G4C will host a grasp class collection on June 25, the place business leaders and recreation design consultants will lead in-depth studying periods. Members could have the chance to study from high-profile gaming professionals as they share their experience on matters like in-platform recreation growth, the ability of play and design, and securing funding. These are rigorously curated periods tailor-made for the G4C neighborhood.
The Video games for Change Awards ceremony on June 26, a cornerstone of the Pageant, will rejoice excellence in social affect video games and immersive media. Classes embrace Most Vital Affect, Greatest in Innovation, and Greatest Narrative, amongst others. This yr, the Awards ceremony introduces a brand new class, “Best Platform-Based Project,” recognizing impactful video games and immersive experiences created inside established gaming platforms (reminiscent of Minecraft, Roblox, or Fortnite Inventive) that leverage built-in instruments and communities to drive significant social affect.
“For 22 years, the Games for Change Festival has been a meeting ground for cross-sector innovation in games and immersive media,” mentioned Susanna Pollack, president of Video games for Change, in an announcement. “As our industry continues to evolve, we’re expanding our programming to meet the moment. Our new Masterclass series and enhanced awards program reflect the growth and excitement of our sector. We’re thrilled to return to Parsons, where we can build on this momentum and foster the next wave of collaboration and innovation.”
Pollack was the emcee at our current GamesBeat Insider Sequence: Hollywood and Video games occasion in December, and she or he is a frequent speaker at occasions on how video games can accomplish a lot social good past leisure.
Speaker and Award submissions are open till February 5, 2025. For extra info, go to pageant.gamesforchange.org.
The earlier twenty first annual pageant in New York explored “The 2030 Marker: A Catalyst for Global Change,” bringing collectively over 150 audio system from 12 nations. The occasion united 2,300 in-person and digital attendees for 65 talks and workshops. Past New York, our chapter festivals in Africa, Asia, India, Türkiye, and Latin America expanded its international affect, connecting changemakers throughout continents.
The group additionally hosted the 2nd Annual Video games & SDG Summit on the UN, bringing collectively 180 leaders to forge new partnerships and drive actionable options.
Video games for Change additionally added new board members: Benjamin Golant: senior director for international recreation Coverage at Tencent Americas; Samir El Agili: chairman at Tilting Level; and Mark Stanley: founding father of Strategic Gaming Collective, advisor for Taking part in for the Planet, and advocate for utilizing video games to deal with international challenges.
Final yr, Video games for Change’s affect report mentioned it had 21 festivals, 86 G4C award winners, 5 international G4C chapters, 22 international chapter occasions, 58,000 college students reached and 75% college students in Title I faculties.
