Looking back on the first Week of the Game

In the week from 13 to 17 May, the Utrecht Center for Game Research organized various activities across the whole game spectrum, from the latest game research to retro games such as Super Mario Bros. Participants could also participate in a location-based game and an escape room. Ren茅 Glas spoke to NPO Radio 1 about the event, and RTV Utrecht covered the event with radio items on both and .

Smart students

One of the activities was a networking lunch for students and game companies. Per Slycke was present with his company , a cloud service for 3D motion data, with applications ranging from movement analysis for rehabilitation to animation of game characters. "We have just started this company, and we have more ideas and questions from customers than we can work out ourselves," says Slycke. "That's why we're looking for smart students who can help us, both technologically and in terms of content."

In addition to students, Slycke has also made contact with other companies that were present, such as the UU-spinoff . "Maybe they can enrich their virtual assistant with our motion data, so that non-verbal communication is also included in the interaction."

"Felt like a gift"

Anouk van der Lee, master student Artificial Intelligence, spoke with Moveshelf during the networking lunch. "Coincidentally, I am taking an elective course in Computer Animation, and that really fits very well with what Moveshelf does. It's great to see how this technology is used in industry, and what kind of research is still being done." Still, Van der Lee doesn't see herself applying directly to the company yet. "My master's degree is in a different direction, so for me it was mainly inspiration. It really felt like a gift."

A look back:

  • Monday

    Jeroen van Mastrigt, Director of Freedomlab Future Studies, opens the week with a lecture.

  • Monday

    The audience listens attentively.

  • Monday

    Game researcher Roland Geraerts talks about his research on crowd simulation.

  • Monday

    Remco Veltkamp (executive board Game Research) and Isabel Arends (Dean of the Faculty of Science) address the audience.

  • Tuesday

    Game researcher Remco Veltkamp (second from right) instructs participants in the location-based game GameOlympics.

  • Tuesday

    Groups of students play the location-based game GameOlympics around the Wilhelmina Children's Hospital.

  • Tuesday

    Jeroen Jansz, Sybille Lammes, Joost Raessens, Ingrid Hoofd and Michiel de Lange present their book 'The Playful Citizen' in Amsterdam.

  • Wednesday

    Students and game companies in conversation during the networking lunch.

  • Wednesday

    The company Moveshelf shows its cloud-based editor at the networking lunch.

  • Thursday

    Game & Media Technology alumnus Ivar Troost gives a presentation about Utrecht Time Machine.

  • Thursday

    Attendees play a game about the Dutch game history, made by Utrecht researchers Ren茅 Glas, Stefan Werning and Jasper van Vught.

  • Friday

    Students play Mario Kart in the retro gamespace in the Koningsberger building.

  • Friday

    A student plays Duck Hunt in the retro gamespace in the Koningsberger building.

  • Friday

    Computer science researchers Maartje de Graaf and Judith Masthoff play a Nintendo game at the retro gamespace.