EVENT: IULM MASTER DAY (MAY 16, 2018)

On May 16 2018 between 13.45 and 14.00 in the Sala dei 146 (IULM 6), we will be introducing the 2018 - 2019 edition of the Master of Arts in Game Design at IULM University.

The IULM Master Day will be streamed live on IULM YouTube channel. 

Check the full schedule:

Additional Master Days will take place in June and September 2018.

How to apply

How to reach IULM

EVENT: GAME TALK #1: ANDREA BABICH (APRIL 18, 2018)

Mercoledì 18 aprile 2018

Ore 18:00 - 19:00

Aula Seminari

Università IULM

Via Carlo Bo, 1

20143 Milano

Click here TO REGISTER/Clicca qui per REGISTRARTI

ANDREA BABICH

QUANDO MARIO INCONTRÒ RABBIDS

Come un minuscolo studio videoludico di Milano è riuscito a convincere Ubisoft e Nintendo che un videogioco di strategia interpretato dai personaggi di Super Mario e di Rabbids fosse buona idea. E come Mario+Rabbids: Kingdom Battleè diventato un inaspettato successo critico e commerciale inaspettato. Una storia di game design a lieto fine.

Andrea Babich è Lead Narrative Designer di Mario+Rabbids: Kingdom Battle presso Ubisoft Italia. Insieme a Fabio Bortolotti cura il  più seguito in Italia. Inoltre, è un compositore di musica chiptunes e un occasionale modder ROM. Babich ha ricevuto una Laurea in Scienze della Comunicazione presso l'Università di Bologna con una tesi sul retrogaming. Prima di unirsi a Ubisoft, ha lavorato per oltre una decade come giornalista videoludico. È l'autore del primo saggio accademico sul celebre personaggio Nintendo, Super Mario: Azioni, interazioni ed esplorazioni(2003), pubblicato nella collana Ludologica. Babich vive e lavora a Milano.

WHEN MARIO MEETS RABBIDS

How a little studio in Milan convinced Ubisoft and Nintendo that developing a turn based strategy mashup between the Super Mario characters and the Rabbids was a good idea. And how Mario+Rabbids: Kingdom Battle became a surprise hit with both the public and the critics. The definitive feel good game development story. 

Andrea Babich is the Lead Narrative Designer for Mario+Rabbids: Kingdom Battle. He hosts the leading Italian retrogaming Twitch channel  with his partner in crime, Fabio Bortolotti. part from that, he's a longtime video game critic and essayist, a chiptune composer and an occasional ROM modder. Andrea received his B.A. in Communication Sciences at the University of Bologna with a Thesis on retrogaming. Before joining Ubisoft, he worked for almost a decade as a game journalist. He is the author of the first academic book on Super Mario, mondi di Super Mario: Azioni, Interazioni & Esplorazioni(Ludologica, 2003). Babich lives and works in Milan. 

GAME TALKS

Organizzati dal Master of Arts in Game Design dell'università IULM, i GAME TALKS sono sei incontri sul game design che si terranno dal 18 aprile al 20 giugno 2018 - uno ogni due settimane - al mercoledì dalle 18 alle 19 in Aula Seminari (IULM 1).

I GAME TALKS sono presentazioni,performance,lecturesdi game designer e artisti videoludici italiani e internazionali sul tema del game design, della game culture e della Game Art. Completamente gratuiti e aperti al pubblico (previa registrazione), questi eventi celebrano la cultura, l’arte e la creatività videoludica in tutte le sue manifestazioni, per ispirare una nuova generazione di autori.

Il programma completo è disponibile qui.

PHOTOS & VIDEO: MILAN MACHINIMA FESTIVAL

The first edition of the MILAN MACHINIMA FESTIVAL, organized by the Master of Arts in Game Design on March 16, 2018 has brought together some of the most innovative and cutting-edge machinima from all over the world. An official event of the Milan Digital Week 2018, the MMF will return next year at IULM University. 

Click here to read more about the event.

Click here to see the full photo gallery.

PHOTOS: GAME DESIGN WORKSHOP

The game design workshop organized by Claudia Molinari and Matteo Pozzi (aka We Are Muesli) on March 15, 2018 as part of the first MILANO DIGITAL WEEK 2018 has been a resounding success. Thirty-two aspiring game designers joined the duo at Cascina Moncucco, our official GAME FARM, to share ideas and create innovative ludic experiences.

Game Concept Workshop: Drawing from your identity to make unique games

Our own identity is inevitably reflected into the games we make. Personal life and anecdotes, 'zeitgeist', culture, country and family of origin, all these diverse elements of identity are getting more and more visible as themes for story-driven games, either autobiographical or historically-set.But what if we try to apply the notion of our identity as gamemakers not only to the aesthetics/semantics of a game concept but to its very mechanics? Goal of the workshop is to collectively experiment such a different approach by taking a two-hour 'round trip' through concept generation. First, analysing conventional game genres and mechanics and finding narrative elements that connect them to our identity; then, moving backwards elaborating and enriching different game mechanics by drawing from these narrative elements and from our own identity.

Game Concept Workshop: un viaggio nell’identità per progettare videogiochi unici

L’identità di un creativo si riflette inevitabilmente nei suoi progetti. Vita personale, aneddoti, cultura, paese e famiglia d'origine: cosa succede quando proviamo ad applicare questi diversi elementi di identità alla progettazione delle meccaniche di un videogioco (game design)? L'obiettivo del workshop è di sperimentare collettivamente questo approccio, attingendo ai nostri ricordi ed esperienze per generare idee di meccaniche di gioco alternative, e concept unici e non convenzionali. Concepito come un "viaggio di andata e ritorno", il workshop è strutturato in due fasi: prima, l'analisi di generi e meccaniche di gioco consolidate per individuarne gli elementi narrativi che li possono collegare alla nostra identità; poi, la loro rielaborazione creativa sotto forma di nuovi concept di gioco.

EVENT: MILANO MACHINIMA FESTIVAL (March 16 2018)

MILAN MACHINIMA FESTIVAL

March 16 2018

From 6.00 to 7.30 p.m.

IULM Open Space (IULM 6)

Via Carlo Bo 7

20143, Milano

An official event of MILANO DIGITAL WEEK 2018

Free and open to the public, upon registration

milanmachinimafestival.org

---

The aesthetics and politics of video game cinema: IULM University hosts the first edition of the MILAN MACHINIMA FESTIVAL.

MILAN - On Friday March 16,  2018 from 6.00 p.m. in the Sala dei 146 (IULM OPEN SPACE) IULM University will host the first edition of the MILAN MACHINIMA FESTIVAL, an official event of the Milano Digital Week 2018.

A follow-up to the 2016 exhibition GAME VIDEO/ART. A SURVEY organized by IULM University, this retrospective features a selection of machinima produced by international artists. Situated at the intersection between video games, experimental cinema and videoart, machinima is an audiovisual genre that defies easy categorizations. Artists appropriate and modify pre-existing video games to create visually idiosyncratic experiences.

The first edition of the MILAN MACHINIMA FESTIVAL features Tayla Blewitt-Gray (Australia), Alan Butler (Ireland), Jacky Connolly (United States), Thomas Hawranke (Germany), Jonathan Vinel (France), and Eduardo Tassi (Italy) among others. A surprise screening will be announced the day of the festival. By hijacking Grand Theft Auto and The Sims, these filmmakers created digital short films focusing on such themes as sexuality, politics, alienation, creativity, and violence.

Curated by Matteo Bittanti, the MILAN MACHINIMA FESTIVAL is presented by Laura Carrera and Gemma Fantacci, students of the Master of Arts in Game Design of IULM.

Sponsored by the City of Milan, Department of Digital Transformation and Public Services, the goal of the Milan Digital Week (March 15-18, 2018) is to give visibility to the driving forces that are reshaping work, free time, learning, and the interplay behind design and production made possible by digital technology, connecting citizens, companies, institutions, universities, and research centers.

LINK: MILAN MACHINIMA FESTIVAL

EVENT: GAME DESIGN WORKSHOP (MARCH 15, 2018)

March 15, 2018

2-4 pm

Sala Cascina Moncucco

Cascina Moncucco, IULM

Via Moncucco 29/31 , 20142 Milano, Italy

A Game Design Workshop organized by We Are Muesli (Claudia Molinari and Matteo Pozzi)

An official event of MILANO DIGITAL WEEK 2018

FREE REGISTRATION

Game Concept Workshop: Drawing from your identity to make unique games

Our own identity is inevitably reflected into the games we make. Personal life and anecdotes, 'zeitgeist', culture, country and family of origin, all these diverse elements of identity are getting more and more visible as themes for story-driven games, either autobiographical or historically-set.But what if we try to apply the notion of our identity as gamemakers not only to the aesthetics/semantics of a game concept but to its very mechanics? Goal of the workshop is to collectively experiment such a different approach by taking a two-hour 'round trip' through concept generation. First, analysing conventional game genres and mechanics and finding narrative elements that connect them to our identity; then, moving backwards elaborating and enriching different game mechanics by drawing from these narrative elements and from our own identity.

Game Concept Workshop: un viaggio nell’identità per progettare videogiochi unici

L’identità di un creativo si riflette inevitabilmente nei suoi progetti. Vita personale, aneddoti, cultura, paese e famiglia d'origine: cosa succede quando proviamo ad applicare questi diversi elementi di identità alla progettazione delle meccaniche di un videogioco (game design)? L'obiettivo del workshop è di sperimentare collettivamente questo approccio, attingendo ai nostri ricordi ed esperienze per generare idee di meccaniche di gioco alternative, e concept unici e non convenzionali. Concepito come un "viaggio di andata e ritorno", il workshop è strutturato in due fasi: prima, l'analisi di generi e meccaniche di gioco consolidate per individuarne gli elementi narrativi che li possono collegare alla nostra identità; poi, la loro rielaborazione creativa sotto forma di nuovi concept di gioco.

FREE REGISTRATION/REGISTRAZIONE GRATUITA

EVENT: GAME TALKS 2018

We are thrilled to announce the first edition of IULM's GAME TALKS!/Siamo felici di annunciare la prima edizione dei GAME TALKS!

Presented by the Master of Arts in Game Design at IULM University, GAME TALKS are six lectures, presentations, and performances on the art of game design that will take place on Wednesdays at 6 pm between April 18 and June 20 2018 in Aula Seminari (main building, sixth floor).

Free and open to the public (RSVP required) these events celebrate the culture, art, and ingenuity of video games, in order to inspire a new generation of creators.

Organizzati e presentati dal Master of Arts in Game Design dell'università IULM, i GAME TALKS sono sei incontri sul game design che si terranno dal 18 aprile al 20 giugno 2018 - a distanza di due settimane - al mercoledì dalle 18 alle 19 in Aula Seminari situata al sesto piano dell'edificio centrale (IULM 1).

Gratuiti e aperti al pubblico (previa registrazione), questi eventi celebrano la cultura, l’arte e la creatività videoludica per ispirare una nuova generazione di autori.

FULL SCHEDULE/PROGRAMMA

April 18, 2018/18 APRILE 2018

Andrea Babich

May 2, 2018/2 MAGGIO 2018

Alex Camilleri

 

May 16, 2018/16 MAGGIO 2018

Marina Rossi

 

May 30, 2018/30 MAGGIO 2018

foci + loci

 

June 6, 2018/6 GIUGNO 2018

Pietro Polsinelli

 

June 20, 2018/20 GIUGNO 2018

AAA Collective

 

For additional information please visit/per ulteriori informazioni vi invitiamo a visitare la pagina GAME TALKS 2018.

MEDIA COVERAGE: PROF. SHEPPARD ON GAME DESIGN

Professor Mare Sheppard, who currently teaches GAME CONTEXTS in the M.A. Program, discusses the design process behind the award winning N++ Ultimate Edition on the Official US and EU PlayStation Blog. As she explains:

The heart of N++’s design is a delicate balance of challenge with reward, and tension with joy, so that players can really appreciate how their skills are developing as they play, and feel proud of themselves when they complete an exceptional task. It’s all about that thrill and satisfaction. That’s what makes N++ the game of “just one more try!” :)

Click the image below to read the full article. 

EVENT: IULM ESPORTS SUMMIT (12/12/2017)

IULM University will host its first eSports Summit on December 12, 2017 from 10 am to 1 pm in the Aula dei 146 (IULM Open Space). Sponsored and presented by the Master of Arts in Game Design and the Master in Marketing and Sport Communication Speakers include representatives from publishers (Stefano Cozzi, Riot Games), event organizers (Pier Luigi Parnofiello, Fandango Club; Simone Gambardella, PG eSports), market research companies (Andrea Valadé, Nielsen; Michele Ciccarese, GroupM ESP), and academics (Vincenzo Russo, Matteo Bittanti, Mauro Ferraresi). The event is free and open to the public but seats are limited.

Please RVSP here.

MEDIA COVERAGE: PROF. MOLINARI FEATURED ON ELLE MAGAZINE

Prof. Claudia Molinari, co-founder of indie game studio We Are Muesli, is featured on the latest issue of ELLE magazine alongside other smart Italian game designers and artists. This year, Molinari co-teaches GAME WRITING.

To read the full article, click here (text in Italian, article by Laura Ligabue)

EVENT: UNDERSTANDING GAME LOCALIZATION

On October 20, 2017, Master of Arts in Game Design sponsored the first Game Localization summit at IULM University. Four speakers from the leading game localization companies in Italy (Elena Cesana and Marco Locatelli from Keywords Studios, Simone Crosignani from Jinglebell, Daniele Pastina from Synthesis) discussed several aspects of this complex and fascinating practice. 

The event can be watched in its entirety below. 

EVENT: PROFESSOR RIGHI RIVA INTERVIEWED BY THE NYU GAME CENTER

Pietro Righi Riva is one of the four artists selected for the prestigious No Quarter exhibition, an annual event curated by the New York University's GAme Center (the other three are Auriea Harvey, Droqen, and Kitty Horrorshow). In an interview with Robert Yang, Riva talks about his new "drop-in, drop-out crowd game for 30 people", Asta Grande.

Click here to read the full text.