Forschung. Förderung. Fachgesellschaft. Die Rolle der Wissenschaft im deutschen Game-Ökosystem

[This is a machine translation]

Games are more than just a market – they are a medium, a cultural form, a technology platform and an educational tool all at once. By establishing a dedicated games department within the new Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space, the German government is signalling its intention to raise the profile of games – not only as an economic factor, but also as a field of research and innovation. The games industry is one of the most innovative and dynamic cultural and technological sectors of our time – but until now, there has been no dedicated, interdisciplinary structure in the scientific landscape. With the founding of the German Society for Game Studies (DGSW), a professional association is now being formed for the first time to bundle and coordinate research, teaching and higher education policy in the field of games.

The DGSW sees itself as a strong voice for the scientific examination of digital games – with the aim of strategically developing education at universities, strengthening research networking and providing expert support for political processes. In doing so, it is also responding to key demands from the industry, such as those of the game association, which is calling for more research funding, better study structures and greater visibility for games in the educational landscape.