On 1 October 2024, the European Game Science Lab (EGSL) Cooperation Partnership was launched at the selected partner universities in Europe. The aim of this innovative teaching network is to unite the worlds of game theory and game design in order to fundamentally strengthen and further develop education in the field of game creation. It was already clear at the kick-off workshop that the EGSL sets new standards for teaching and promotes a holistic approach that inspires students and teachers alike.
Our Vision: Developing More Than Just Games
Games are no longer just entertainment products – they reflect and actively shape social norms. The EGSL pursues three foundational goals:
- Transforming the learning process: We want to change the understanding of video and analogue game development among students and teachers in the long term.
- Social relevance: Games should promote diversity, address social issues, support inclusion, and contribute to mental health.
- Methodological innovation: By combining game theory and game design, we develop novel concepts that meet the current challenges of a changing society.
“Games are powerful cultural artefacts — we want to empower students and educators to use this power consciously and responsibly.”
Realisation: The Heart of Our Network
The operational work of the European Game Science Lab is structured around two interconnected core deliverables:
1. Establishing a European Teaching Network
A dynamic network of lecturers and researchers is being created across partner institutions in Germany, Italy, Turkey, and Lithuania. Regular online meetings, practice-oriented workshops, and guest lectures by renowned experts ensure a lively exchange and a shared open-access knowledge base.
2. Development of the LUNA Framework
Based on the consortium’s empirical findings, the Ludo-Narrative Game Design Framework (LUNA) is being developed. This modular concept provides teachers and students with guidelines, card tools, and methods for combining narrative structures and game theory elements in analogue, digital, and hybrid formats. An integrated GenAI assistance methodology supports idea generation, prototype development, and iterative feedback loops.