NEWS: LORENZO SALVADORI ON NEXT GENERATION CONSOLES AUDIO POTENTIAL

Lorenzo Salvadori (GAME SOUND) talked to DDAY.it’s Massimiliano de Marco about the next generation console’s audio potential and the crucial role of sound designers in the game development process.

The full interview, in Italian, is available here.

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Lorenzo Salvadori (GAME SOUND) ha discusso con Massimiliano de Marco del sito DDAY.it le capacità audio della prossima generazione di console nonché del ruolo sempre più importante del sound designer nello sviluppo di videogiochi. Ecco un estratto:

L'intervista completa, in italiano, è disponibile qui.

NEWS: INTRODUCING VRAL

We are happy to announce VRAL, a uniquely curated game video experience, available for free on the MILAN MACHINIMA FESTIVAL website.

VRAL offers screenings of machinima created by artists and filmmakers whose work lies at the intersection of video art, cinema, gaming, and other visual practices. 

The program features exceptional machinima selected based on their cultural relevance, artistic achievement, and innovative style. Often presented only in the context of festivals, exhibitions, and surveys, these works best represent the variety, ingenuity, and creativity of game-based video practices.

A space providing access to diverse and innovative voices, VRAL is an online-only supplement to the MILAN MACHINIMA FESTIVAL. Throughout the year, VRAL celebrates a new generation of digital filmmakers and artists engaging with video game-based technologies, aesthetics, and practices. 

The project comprises exclusive interviews, image galleries, and an archive. 

VRAL is curated by Matteo Bittanti and an alumni of the Master of Arts in Game Design, Gemma Fantacci. Design by Colleen Flaherty.

VRAL begins April 25 2020 with the world premiere of Rapid Transit: Premiere by Victor Morales.

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Siamo felici di annunciare VRAL, una piattaforma online disponibile gratuitamente sul sito del MILANO MACHINIMA FESTIVAL che propone proiezioni di machinima creati da artisti e registi il cui lavoro si colloca all'intersezione tra video arte, cinema, videogiochi e altre pratiche visive.

Il programma di VRAL presenta machinima selezionati dai curatori in base alla loro rilevanza culturale, realizzazione artistica e stile innovativo. Spesso presentate solo nel contesto di festival, mostre e sondaggi, queste opere esemplificano l'originalità, ingegnosità e la creatività delle pratiche video basate sul gioco. Laboratorio creativo e spazio di confronto, VRAL è un supplemento online al MILANO MACHINIMA FESTIVAL.

VRAL celebra una nuova generazione di registi e artisti digitali d'avanguardia che si cimentano con le tecnologie, l'estetica e le pratiche basate sui videogiochi. 

Curato da Matteo Bittanti e da un’ex-stduentessa del Master of Arts in Game Design, Gemma Fantacci e progettato da Colleen Flaherty, VRAL propone anche interviste esclusive, gallerie di immagini e un archivio.

Il debutto di VRAL è previsto per il 25 aprile con l'anteprima mondiale di Rapid Transit: Preface dell'artista di origini venezuelane Victor Morales.

NEWS: LORENZO SALVADORI JOINS THE FACULTY

We’re happy to announce that Lorenzo Salvadori has joined the faculty of the Master of Arts in Game Design at IULM University.

Lorenzo will teach GAME SOUND, an extended workshop focusing on the process of creating music and sound design for video games, both as a personal endeavor or working in a small team. It will cover cover common audio mistakes and highlight areas often neglected by game developers. One of the topics discussed is how sound can be used as a game design tool, discussing primarily player feedback and providing examples of how using audio early in development can help when playtesting and pitching, to give greybox environments a sense of space and to better communicate mechanics to players. Software used includes Audacity, Ableton Live, Unity.

Taught online in English - like all our courses - GAME SOUND will be available to non-enrolled students as well. For additional information, click here. GAME SOUND starts April 30 2020.

Lorenzo Salvadori is a sound designer with a Bachelor of Science in Astronomy and an extensive background in music. Currently living in Leamington Spa, Great Britain, Lorenzo works as an Experienced Sound Designer at Codemasters, where he is responsible for vehicle sounds and their implementation, mixing the game and sound design for in-game and marketing videos and trailers. His previous work experiences include Ivory Tower and Milestone s.r.l.. He also taught sound design in a game design school in Milan, Italy.

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Siamo felici di annunciare che Lorenzo Salvadori è entrato a far parte della facoltà del Master of Arts in Game Design dell’Università IULM.

Lorenzo insegnerà GAME SOUND, un workshop intenso si concentra sull’esplorazione del processo di creazione di musica e sound design per videogiochi, sia a livello individuale che in team di piccole dimensioni. Verranno esaminati gli errori audio più comuni, evidenziando aree spesso trascurate dagli sviluppatori di videogiochi. Uno degli argomenti trattati è l’uso del suono come strumento di progettazione, concentrandosi principalmente sul feedback dei giocatori, illustrando il ruolo e la funzione del suono durante i test e le fase di pitching per dare creare un senso di spazio e per comunicare meglio meccaniche e dinamiche ludiche. Il software utilizzato nel workshop include Audacity, Ableton Live, Unity.

Il workshop sarà insegnato in lingua inglese, attraverso la modalità della didattica a distanza: è offerto à la carte a tutti gli interessati, al di là degli studenti iscritti al Master. Per ulteriori informazioni, cliccate qui. GAME SOUND avrà inizio il 30 aprile 2020.

Lorenzo Salvadori è un sound designer con una laurea in Astronomia e un vasto background musicale. Vive attualmente a Leamington Spa, nel Regno Unito, e lavora come Experienced Sound Designer presso Codemasters, dove è responsabile dei suoni dei veicoli e della loro implementazione, mixando il gioco e il sound design per video e trailer in-game e marketing. In precedenza ha lavorato presso Ivory Tower e Milestone s.r.l. e ha insegnato sound design in una scuola di game design a Milano, Italia.

NEWS: NOW PLAY THIS: A FESTIVAL OF EXPERIMENTAL GAME DESIGN (APRIL 3-5 2020, LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM)

Guest Director, Marie Foulston curated the 2020 edition of NOW PLAY THIS festival at Somerset House in London which features all kinds of artworks looking at games that relate to a theme of ‘Breaking Point’. As the curators wrote, “Games are the aesthetic forms of systems, and we were looking at works that break or subvert them in interesting and creative ways.” The IRL festival could not go ahead because of the pandemic and it has been postponed. The amazing lineup features, among others, Paolo Pedercini, A.M Darke, IP Yuk-Yiu, Ian MacLarty, Studio Oleomingus, Alistair Aitcheson, Danielle Udogaranya, Patrick LeMieux, Stephanie Bouk and Matteo Bittanti, the Program Manager and Professor in the Master of Arts in Game Design at IULM University. Bittanti’s How to get rid of homeless is featured in the selection.

Read more about Now Play This

NEWS: CREATE WITH CODE: MAKE GAMES THAT MATTER WITH UNITY

The most popular game engine in the world, Unity, is sharing hundreds of hours of premium game developing tutorials for free during these stressful times. Starting March 23rd until June 20th 2020, aspiring game makers can get their hands on courses ranging from coding to advanced design, and get access to Unity's daily interactive live lessons, Create with Code at zero cost.

Unity powers indie masterpieces such as Gris, Night in the Woods, Her Story, The Stanley Parable, Cuphead and most, if not all, the games developed in this Master’s program. We highly encourage prospective students and candidates to check out the tutorials on offer to better grasp the process of game development. A good place to start is the Getting Started with Unity page.

NEWS: STEAM GAME FESTIVAL 2020

The ongoing crisis has forced Italy, as well as many European countries, under a complete lockdown in the attempt to curb the spread the of the COVID -19 virus. We were forced to cancel and postpone our planned events, including the 2020 GAME TAKS series and the MILAN MACHINIMA FESTIVAL, which will be eventually rescheduled. In the meantime, here’s a festival that all lovers of indie gamers, especially past, future, and current students of the M.A. in Game Design at IULM University should check out. We are talking about the Steam Game Festival, which features 40+ indie games that can be previewed with free-to-play demos via Steam, including gems like Plasticity, Cloudpunk, SpiritFarer, We Should Talk, and winemaking simulator Hundred Days among others.

The Steam Game Festival will run from March 18th to March 23rd.

Check out the full lineup here

NEWS: APPLICATION FOR THE 2020-2021 ACADEMIC YEAR NOW OPEN

Within the context of game design, IULM offers a groundbreaking one-year, full-time, English-only, studio-based Master of Arts (M.A.) program located in the center of Milan, Italy (“Best city in the world for Design” according to Wallpaper* magazine). Specifically intended for students interested in creating innovative games and interactive experiences, this Program will lead graduates to advanced work in game design and new media production. Students from diverse backgrounds in visual and performing arts, architecture, science, humanities, and engineering are encouraged to apply.

This program features some of the most talented designers, scholars, and authors working today who are highly committed to their research, practice, and teaching. It provides all the tools and skills needed for the development, distribution, and exhibition of cutting edge games and interactive experiences. Its instructional model is focused on nine core tracks and constant interaction with world-renowned faculty, guest artists, and game developers. Students will also take courses in game studies that address critical and aesthetic practices and participate in group critiques to receive valuable feedback. Truly interdisciplinary in nature, the M.A. in Game Design supports collaboration and meaningful exchange between the school’s different departments. 

Over the course of the year, students will work individually or in teams to brainstorm, research, design, and develop a digital game which will become their final project and that will be submitted to international festivals such as the Independent Games Festival, Indiecade, Fantastic Arcade (United States), A MAZE. (Germany), Game On! (Argentina), Gamerz (France), and many more. 

In addition to their participation in departmental and campus wide events, students will take full advantage of Milan’s vibrant cultural and artistic scenes: during the academic year, the students have the opportunity of visiting museums and attending workshops, events, conferences, and talks related to design, art, and technology. Students are also encouraged to participate in local game-related events such as jams, exhibitions, competitions, and festivals.

Completion of the Program will earn graduates a Master’s Degree from IULM University corresponding to 60 ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System).

Click here to begin the enrollment process

Features

DEGREE LEVEL: Master of Arts (M.A.) Degree

LANGUAGE: English-only 

ATTENDANCE: full-time, mandatory

DEGREE REQUIRED: B.A. or M.A. (or significant experience in the field)

ECTS: 60

DURATION: 10 months (September 2020 - May 2021 + formal presentation on June 25 2021), 1500 hours overall

COURSE FREQUENCY: 3 days per week

LOCATION: Milan, Italy

START DATE: September 29 2020

END DATE: May 30 2021 (final presentations June 25 2021)

APPLICATION START DATE: March 2 2020

APPLICATION DEADLINE: July 17 2020

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SONO APERTE LE ISCRIZIONI PER LA QUARTA EDIZIONE DEL Master of Arts in Game Design ALL’UNIVERSITÀ IULM

Unico nel suo genere in Europa, il Master Universitario in Game Design si rivolge a studenti desiderosi di creare esperienze interattive di altissimo livello, capaci di comunicare idee forti ed emozioni profonde attraverso il gameplay. 

Il programma propone nove moduli tenuti da sviluppatori di videogiochi, artisti digitali e studiosi di fama internazionale, fornendo tutti gli strumenti necessari per intraprendere una carriera specialistica nel settore videoludico. Gli studenti acquisiranno tutte le competenze necessarie per produrre videogiochi creativi, artistici e sperimentali.

Durante l’anno accademico, i partecipanti lavoreranno da soli o in gruppo per progettare, sviluppare, realizzare, promuovere e distribuire un videogame o un’esperienza interattiva da sottoporre a festival internazionali come l’Independent Games Festival, IndieCade & Fantastic Arcade (Stati Uniti), A MAZE. (Germania), Game On! (Argentina), Gamerz (Francia), FILE (Brasile) e molti altri. Al termine del corso, l’Università IULM rilascerà un diploma di Master of Arts in Game Design corrispondente a 60 CFU, valido a livello mondiale.

Il Master of Arts ha una durata di circa dieci mesi a prevede una frequentazione obbligatoria di quattro giorni alla settimana. La valutazione finale dei corsisti si basa sulle competenze acquisite nei vari corsi e sulla realizzazione di un progetto finale che consiste in un videogioco o un’esperienza interattiva. L’iscrizione è aperta a laureati in arti visive e performative, discipline umanistiche, architettura, design e ingegneria, ma anche a professionisti che abbiano acquisito competenze significative sul campo.

Oltre alle numerose iniziative proposte dall’Università IULM, i partecipanti al Master potranno accedere alla ricca offerta di eventi culturali e artistici di Milano, definita la “Migliore città del mondo per il design” da Wallpaper* magazine (2018) e “Capitale italiana dell’innovazione” (2018) dal New York Times. Gli studenti parteciperanno a incontri, workshop, conferenze e presentazioni nonché jams, esibizioni, competizioni e festival videoludici organizzati a Milano.

Clicca qui per cominciare la procedura di iscrizione

Caratteristiche

PROGRAMMA DI STUDIO: Master Universitario di Primo Livello

LINGUA: inglese (obbligatorio)

FREQUENTAZIONE: a tempo pieno, obbligatoria

TITOLO DI ACCESSO: Laureati triennali o quinquennali (o significativa esperienza sul campo)

CFU: 60

DURATA: 10 mesi (lezioni: settembre 2020 - maggio 2021 + presentazione finale: 25 giugno 2021), 1500 ore in totale

FREQUENZA: 3 giorni alla settimana

SEDE: Milano, Italia

DATA DI INIZIO: 29 settembre 2020

CONCLUSIONE: 30 maggio 2021 (presentazioni finali 25 giugno 2021)

APERTURA PRE-ISCRIZIONI: 2 marzo 2020

CHIUSURA PRE-ISCRIZIONI: 17 luglio 2020

NEWS: MILAN MACHINIMA FESTIVAL (MARCH 09-13 2020)

MARCH 09-13 2020/09-13 MARZO 2020

CONTEMPORARY EXHIBITION HALL (MARCH 09-13): 09.00 - 19:00

SALA DEI 146 (MARCH 13): 18.00 - 20.00

IULM OPEN SPACE, UNIVERSITÀ IULM

VIA CARLO BO 7

20143 MILANO, ITALIA

DIRECTIONS & REGISTRATION

Since 2018, the MILAN MACHINIMA FESTIVAL has been showcasing avant garde and experimental game-based videos - also known as machinima - produced by filmmakers and artists from all over the world.

Once again, the 2020 edition takes place at IULM University in Milan, Italy between March 09-13 2020 in two locations: the Contemporary Exhibition Hall and the Sala dei 146, both located in the IULM Open Space building.

The festival features the work of 25 artists from 13 countries, divided into 6 sections. The vast majority of these works have never been presented in Italy before. The full program is available here.

An official event of Milano Digital Week, the MILAN MACHINIMA FESTIVAL is organized in collaboration with GAMESCENES. Art in the age of video games and the M.A. in Game Design at IULM University. A follow-up to the 2016 exhibition GAME VIDEO/ART. A SURVEY, it brings to Milan idiosyncratic video works that lie at the intersection of cinema, video art, and digital games.

The event is free and open to the public, but RSVP is kindly encouraged.

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Dal 2018, il MILAN MACHINIMA FESTIVAL presenta al pubblico opere audiovisive sperimentali e d’avanguardia realizzate con i videogiochi - altrimenti note come machinima - da artisti e registi internazionali.

L’edizione 2020 si svolgerà nuovamente presso l'Università IULM (Milano, Italia) tra il 9 e il 13 marzo 2020 in due spazi: la Contemporary Exhibition Hall e la Sala dei 146, entrambe situate nello IULM Open Space.

Il festival propone le opere di 25 artisti provenienti da 13 nazioni suddivise in sei sezioni. La maggior parte di queste opere non sono mai state presentate in Italia. Il programma completo è disponibile qui.

Un evento ufficiale della Milano Digital Week, il MACHINIMA FILM FESTIVAL è stato realizzato in collaborazione con GAMESCENES. Art in the age of video games e il Master of Arts in Game Design dell’Università IULM. Una prosecuzione della mostra GAME VIDEO/ART. A SURVEY (2016), porta a Milano produzioni idiosincratiche che si collocano all’intersezione tra cinema, video arte e videogiochi.

L’ingresso è gratuito ma la registrazione è consigliata.

Seguiteci su Instagram & Twitter

NEWS: GAME TALK #1: ELIZABETH MALER (FEBRUARY 26 2020)

FEBRUARY 26 2020/26 FEBBRAIO 2020

18:00 - 19:00

Room 135/Aula 135

Università IULM (IULM 1, terzo piano)

Via Carlo Bo, 1

20143 Milan

PLEASE RSVP - REGISTRAZIONE NECESSARIA

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GAMES THAT CHANGE LIVES: SOCIAL IMPACT DONE RIGHT

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

Elizabeth Maler is the author of two, highly successful, indie social impact games, A Normal Lost Phone and Another Lost Phone: Laura’s Story. In her talk, Maler will share with the audience her innovative design philosophy and her approach to social impact games. The talk will provide useful, practical insights for aspiring game designers and for anybody who is interested in learning about what game can do beyond sheer entertainment. Maler will also address the artist’s responsibility to craft messages through gaming and how to respectfully represent themes, ideas, and above all, human beings.

Elizabeth Maler is a Games User Research specialist and video game author. She worked in Montreal in Canada as a producer and a Games User Researcher on indie games before becoming head of a playtesting lab in France. Over the years, she has helped dozens of indies all along their development cycle take user feedback into account and launch successful games. After creating the company Accidental Queens and releasing the two award-winning games A Normal Lost Phone and its spiritual successor Another Lost Phone: Laura’s Story, she left to create a new company, Abiding Bridge. She delivers presentations worldwide about the design of social impact games and shares her knowledge about user testing while highlighting the most common mistakes indie developers make while playtesting. She has been involved in several organizations advocating for minorities representation and women empowerment in and out of the video game industry. She teaches GAME WRITING in the 2019-2020 edition of the Master of Arts in Game Design at IULM University.

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VITE IN GIOCO: L’IMPATTO SOCIALE DEL GAMING

LINGUA: INGLESE

Elizabeth Maler è l'autrice di due giochi indie di grande successo, A Normal Lost Phone e Another Lost Phone: Laura’s Story. Nel suo intervento, Maler condividerà con il pubblico la sua filosofia innovativa di desigo e il suo approccio nei confronti dei giochi ad impatto sociale. Il talk fornirà spunti utili e pratici per gli aspiranti game designer e per chiunque sia interessato ad apprendere il potenziale del gaming al di là del mero intrattenimento. Maler affronterà anche il tema della responsabilità dell’artista nel rappresentare temi, idee e, soprattutto, individui.

Elizabeth Maler è un’esperta nel settore della Games User Research e autrice di videogiochi. Ha lavorato a Montreal in Canada come producer e Games User Researcher nel settore indie prima di diventare responsabile di un laboratorio di playtesting in Francia. Nel corso della sua carriera, ha aiutato decine di indie a implementare le loro produzioni integrando il feedback degli utenti e a lanciare giochi di successo. Dopo aver creato lo studio Accidental Queens e prodotto due giochi pluripremiati A Normal Lost Phone e il suo successore spirituale, Another Lost Phone: Laura’s Story, ha fondato una nuova società, Abiding Bridge. Elizabeth ha tenuto conferenze e workshop in tutto il mondo sulla progettazione di giochi a impatto sociale e sugli errori che gli sviluppatori indie spesso commettono. È stata membro esecutivo di numerose organizzazioni che rappresentano le minoranze e difendono i diritti delle delle donne all’interno (e all’esterno) dell’industria videoludica. Insegna GAME WRITING nell’edizione 2019-2020 del Master of Arts in Game Design all’Università IULM.

NEWS: PROF. MALER'S LATEST GAME FEATURED IN ARTRIBUNE BEST OF 2019 LIST

Prof. Elizabeth Maler’s (GAME WRITING) latest project, Alt-Frequencies is featured in Artribune’s list of best videogames of 2019.

Alt-Frequencies is an audio mystery game where you use the airwaves to open the world's eyes to the truth. Record, rewind time and broadcast snippets of radio shows to expose radio hosts, conspiracy theorists, politicians, underground activists - and a dog.

Click the image above to read the full article (in Italian).

NEWS: ARTRIBUNE ON TALE OF TALES' NEW PROJECT

Matteo Lupetti writes about Tale of Tales’ latest project, Cricoterie, for art magazine Artribune. Tale of Tales is Auriea Harvey and Michael Samyn, who are teaching GAME ART.

Cricoterie is a Virtual Reality simulation based on the theater of Tadeusz Kantor

Click on the image above to read the full article (in Italian).

NEWS: PROF. RIGHI RIVA'S SATURNALIA IS AMONG THE 50 MOST EAGERLY AWAITED GAMES OF 2020, ACCORDING TO POLYGON

Polygon’s Colin Campbell cites the upcoming horror game Saturnalia by Santa Ragione as one of the 50 most eagerly awaited games of 2020. It’s the only video game developed in Italy featured by Polygon.

Last Halloween, Santa Ragione co-founder Pietro Righi Riva (GAME PRODUCTION) announced the studio’s new project, Saturnalia. A survival horror adventure, Saturnalia is set in an isolated village of ancient ritual. The game, which will be released sometime in 2020, has been under development for more than thirty months. Saturnalia features non-linear progression, dynamic and adaptive narrative, an ever changing architectural environment, and roguelite-like features. Paolo Tajé (GAME STUDIO) has been working on the project as well. Ditto for Andrea Pennati, a former student of the M.A. in Game Design, who is now interning at Santa Ragione after graduating a few weeks ago. Saturnalia was partially funded by the Sardinian Film Commission and the European Union, and it was developed in collaboration with Horrible Guild. Santa Ragione is an Italian micro game design studio founded by Pietro Righi Riva and Nicolò Tedeschi in 2010, creators of FOTONICA, MirrorMoon EP, and Wheels of Aurelia.

Click the image below to read the full story