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

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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. 

EVENT: PROFESSOR NOLAN'S NEW PRESENTATION AND PAPER

Professor Kieran Nolan (GAME AESTHETICS) shares his slides from a recent talk about the JAMMA arcade platform as used by bootleggers, artists, and indie game designers. He also shares a short paper titled 'Indie Game and Media Art Exhibition Spaces as Interface Layers’, which explores the human computer interface of his experimental indie game Control was augmented through five different exhibitions across both new media art and indie game spaces. Interface elements considered include the tangible control input type, the style of visual display used, as well as the situated space of the game installation itself. The paper was presented at CHI PLAY '17.

EVENT: PROFESSOR AURIEA HARVEY INTERVIEWED BY NYU GAME CENTER

Two faculty members, Auriea Harvey and Pietro Righi Riva, will soon fly to New York to showcase their latest game in the prestigious No Quarter exhibition curated by Robert Yang and hosted by the NYU Game Center. This week, Yang chatted with Harvey about game design, innovation, and art. You can read the interview by clicking the image below.