Innovation in Video Games: Benefits for Society – a Force for Good

During two days, 150+ representatives of the European institutions, EU government representatives and national parliaments experienced how video games are more than entertainment and how they benefit society.  By courtesy of EURACTIV, the European media outlet, we are pleased to offer you a video coverage of the event https://bit.ly/2oMyqZW

The opening ceremony included welcoming speeches by the hosting MEPs followed by two inspiring key note speeches by Lidwine Sauer, Director Insight & Trends at Ubisoft Strategic Innovation Lab, providing the attendees insight on how technologies and innovation in the video games sector are used beyond video games in other areas of society, ranging from health to automotive sectors. José Guirao, the Spanish Minister of Culture & Sports expressed his support for the video games sector and its important growth potential among the creative and cultural sectors Video Games Europe Chairman Philip Earl closed the opening ceremony.

The game I, Hope provided the attendees with an emotional journey on how games can support children with cancer and bring positive and powerful elements into their life.  Legend: Kenny Roy, the creator of the game “I, Hope” explains the process behind the game to MEP Eva Maydell.

In the field of education, games are breaking down boundaries in the classroom by creating new learning experiences. NintendoLabo showed how games combine creativity with technology to discover new ways to play, with the objective to teach principles of engineering, physics, and basic programming. It marries the need for modern digital integration and the joy of creative construction, where the tangible cardboard parts of the game become the motion controller and turns the Switch console into different objects, such as a piano, a fishing rod or even a giant robot control suit. The  ACO: Discovery Tour of Ancient Egypt offered participants an educational experience to enhance history learning in an open, living, 3D world.

The “Discovery Tour” is a  virtual museum using the original game map with guided tours and historical sites in Ancient Egypt to discover. A growing number of teachers view electronic games as a technology capable of modernising teaching methods used in the educational system.

The game 11/11: Memories Retold  offered a  cultural and emotional journey in an interactive animated painting ensuring that the World War I is not forgotten by younger generations. Participants could learn more about the passionate creative and artistic research and development process behind the game by the creative director Yoan Fanise.

Participants were able to experience first-hand innovation such as AI, Mixed Reality and Virtual Reality and learn how the video games sector leads the development in these areas. Martin Singh-Blom, Research Engineer and deep learning specialist at SEED, Stockholm, an EA R&D division, shared his insight during a well-attended breakfast presentation, hosted by MEP Brando Benifei, how deep learning works in video games (download presentation below).  Participants tried out Mixed Reality with the Microsoft HoloLens and enjoyed Virtual Reality with PSVR.