WE ARE Pilot 2024
In the second half of 2024, together with the City and State of Salzburg, we launched a mentoring project to promote creativity in the field of digital games for children and young people.
Werewolf Mod (+ Free Download)
The first stop of the WE ARE Pilot was an afternoon at the Lehen Children and Youth Center. Children and young people developed their own version of the well-known card game "Werewolf." With the help of ChatGPT, they visualized their own new game cards. Seven new characters with special skills were created: Mute Switcher, Slime Monster, Shapeshifter, Roaring Lion, Cat, Lion, and the Strong Player.
The game can be printed, cut out, and played at home, in youth centers, or at school. It is best to choose double-sided printing and thicker paper.
Game Jam - Invent Your Game!
The three-day Game Jam with the theme "Invent Your Game!" took place on November 8th, 9th, and 15th in the former National Bank (Nov. 8th and 9th) in collaboration with the Institute for Open Arts at Mozarteum University and at the Cultural Pavilion Liefering (Nov. 15th). The theme was "Crack the Safe!"
On the first day, children and young people learned about game mechanics and tested different games. On the second day, they wired the game boxes, developed initial game ideas, and tested them using a technique called paper prototyping. On the final day of the Game Jam, they worked on branding (name and visual design) for their game and programmed the game box using the KidsBlock software. In total, three fully playable games and five paper prototypes were created.
The Game Jam was led by Sebastian Frisch (studio freshmania), Irina Paraschivoiu (polycular), Benjamin Arzt (polycular), and Tobias Hoffmann (polycular).
Luck, Memory, Skill
Each of the three games developed at the Game Jam presents its own challenges.
The gambling game Leka Satomi brings joy and frustration close together. The goal is to guess a random color sequence correctly until the color wheel in the center glows like a rainbow. (Game developer: Tobias)
Ibrahim Says, on the other hand, has nothing to do with luck. Here, brains are required. Players must remember an increasingly long sequence of colors. As soon as a single mistake is made, the game is over. (Game developer: Ibrahim)
The Color Safe requires skill. A hidden color must be found in the light circle and locked in with the correct color button within one second. (Game developer: Drishti)
WE ARE Festival
The first edition of the WE ARE Festival took place in December 2024. Over three days, we toured Salzburg with the newly developed games.
Day 1: IGLU
Wednesday, December 4, 2024
The children and young people at the IGLU Youth Center in Salzburg were the first to try out the self-invented and programmed games of the Game Jam participants. Three game boxes were set up in the youth center, immediately attracting attention with their blinking buttons and glowing LED circles. In total, around 20 children and young people played the three games "Leka Satomi," "Ibrahim Says," and "The Color Safe."
Day 2: Lehen Children’s Center
Wednesday, December 11, 2024
For some young game designers, the second day of the WE ARE Festival was particularly exciting. For the first time, they were able to present their own games to their friends. Excitement was palpable as we set up the game boxes in the kitchen of the Lehen Children’s Center. A dozen children immediately gathered around the game boxes, eager to try the games. The self-developed Werewolf variant was also tested. "I can't believe you actually produced this," one child exclaimed happily after seeing their own Werewolf card creation—the "Roaring Lion."
Day 3: Grand Game Presentation at Cultural Pavilion Liefering
Wednesday, December 18, 2024
The participating children, young people, and workshop leaders presented the self-invented games "Leka Satomi," "Ibrahim Says," and "The Color Safe" in a festive setting. All Game Jam participants were honored with a certificate and received a WE ARE tote bag and sweets as a gift.
A special highlight was a 40-minute round of "Werewolf," where 25 children, teenagers, and adults tested the newly developed cards and rules. Additionally, attendees played the AR game "Escape Fake" by polycular.
WE ARE Pilot Cooperation Partners
- Sebastian Frisch - Studio Freshmania
- Irina Paraschivoiu, Benjamin Arzt, Tobias Hoffmann - Polycular
- Lehen Children's Center, Forellenwegsiedlung Children and Youth Meeting Point - Verein Spektrum
- Youth Center Iglu
- Mozarteum, Institute for Open Arts
Supported by the City and State of Salzburg
