This format is unique in Germany! Every Wednesday, we invite someone from the industry to talk about their favorite topics or their job. This is often a lecture, sometimes a deep dive into a very specific topic, or simply best practices. After the talk, the burning questions of the enthusiastic students are then answered. And depending on how much time is left, we move on to a cozy meet & greet.

We value a wide variety of contributions. Sometimes we have a game designer, a producer, programmer, tech artist or someone from marketing ….or even the heads of companies.
Last year we had some really great people on campus:

• Moritz Lehr (CD Project Red – Lead Quest Designer “Cyberpunk”)
• Fernando Forero (Blizzard – Senior UI Artist “Diablo 4 / Witcher 3”)
• Andreas Wilsdorf (Electronic Arts – Producer “FIFA series”)
• Jane Katsubo (Larian Studios - Concept Artist “Baldurs Gate 3”)
• Patrick Gladys (Raw Power Games - Lead Environment Artist / Prev. Blizzard Entertainment / DICE )
• Johannes Reithmann (EA Maxis - Creative Director “The Sims” )
• Alina Dreesmann (RSI / Cloud Imperium – Level Design “Star Citizen”)
• Björn Pankratz (Piranha Bytes – CEO)
• Juliet Homer (EPIC Games- Character Artist)
• Jan Wagner (Owned by Gravity – CEO)
• Rolf Bertz (Ubisoft – Expert Tech Artist “Anno” series)
• Jan Theysen (KING Art Games – Creative Director “Warhammer40K DoW4”)
• Thorsten Röpke (Keen Games – Producer “Enshrouded”)
• Tinko Wizorek (Keen Games – Lead Artist “Enshrouded”)
• Jan Klose (Deck13 – Founder )
• Adrian Goersch (Black Forest Games – CEO )
• Annika Thun (CEO - Kalypso / “Tropico” Series)
• Carina Heller (Mark13)
• Falko Löffler
• Geon Cho (Crytek – Senior Producer "Hunt”)
• Seçkin Akgül (Bethesda – PR Head “Starfield”)
• Markus Werner (Ubisoft – Game Designer “Anno 1800”)
• Lina Schlotter (Disney Animation Studios)
• Andreas Feist (Black Forest Games – Tech Artist)
• Julian Oberbeck (Studio Fizbin)

These lectures are open to the public, but only on campus! We do not stream or record the lectures, as we want to network and get to know each other on site. So if you fancy a talk, just come along, you don’t have to be a student with us.

And are you from the industry and would like to give a talk? Just get in touch with us!

Summe Schedule 2026: 

5.4. Opening Party (Gamelab F17.025 / 18:00)
22.4 Boardgame Night (Showroom F16.018 / 18:00)
29.4 DCP  watch Party (Gamelab F17.025 / 18:00)
13.5 -- TALK -- Weltenbauer - Denise  (F14.008 / 18:00)
20.5 -- QA Demo Party / Greenlight Party --  (Gamelab F17.025 / 18:00)
27.5.-- TALK -- Martin - Senior Gameplay Programme Enshrouded (F14.008 / 18:00)
3.6. -- TALK -- Vanessa Schneider, 3D Animator bei Studio Soi (F14.008 / 18:00)
10.6.  Detective Night (Showroom F16.018 / 18:00)
17.6. -- TALK -- Press Start: How We Turned Our Semester Project into a Studio  (F14.008 / 18:00)
24.6. QA Demo Party 2 (Gamelab F17.025 / 18:00)
1.7. -- BBQ Party (Gamelab F17.025 / 18:00)
8.7. – nothing – 
 

Experience the creativity of our students up close at the largest gaming trade fair in Europe! Every year, we have the privilege of taking our university to Gamescom to showcase the best games from our talented students. At the Indie Arena Booth, the hotspot for indie games and innovation, we exhibit a hand-picked selection of outstanding projects. From compelling narratives to innovative gameplay mechanics and stunning visuals, our students will showcase their full potential and inspire visitors from all over the world.

Be there when our up-and-coming game developers present their work to an international audience and network with other industry leaders. Gamescom is not just a trade fair, but a melting pot of creativity and inspiration.

Don’t miss the chance to be part of this exciting adventure! Visit our stand at Gamescom and discover the stars of tomorrow today. We look forward to introducing you to the world of game development and pushing the boundaries of what is possible together.

Join us and experience the future of gaming with our study program!

Get ready to jam your way into the global spotlight!

Welcome to the heart-pounding excitement of the Global Jam—an electrifying event that ignites creativity, collaboration, and innovation like never before!

Here at hda, we’re proud to be the biggest sole Jam Site in all of Germany, and we’re gearing up to show the world what we’re made of!

But what exactly is the Global Jam? It’s more than just an event; it’s a convergence of talent, ideas, and expertise from around the world. Participants come together to engage in intense, time-limited creative sessions, spanning disciplines such as game development, digital storytelling, music composition, and visual arts.

Are you ready to unleash your talents, connect with like-minded individuals, and dive headfirst into a whirlwind of creativity? Then mark your calendars, because everybody’s invited to join in on the action!

Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a fresh-faced rookie, the Global Jam welcomes all skill levels and backgrounds. It’s a chance to break free from the ordinary, stretch your creative muscles, and push the boundaries of what’s possible. Plus, with the entire world watching, who knows what incredible masterpieces will emerge from the chaos?

So, what are you waiting for? Grab your friends, gather your gear, and get ready to embark on the adventure of a lifetime! The Global Jam awaits, and your ticket to fame and glory is just a click away. See you there!

Our Jam Site: https://globalgamejam.org/jam-sites/2024/mediencampus

At least 2 times per semester we organize a board game evening. We have a huge collection of well-known and important board games. Many game mechanics that also exist in video games come from the board game world or are well represented there. With board games or tabletop games you can explore these mechanics step by step, like in slow motion, and is an important part of our game design research.

Sometimes authors of board games come and play with us, or we have the manufacturers with us who want to test new, as yet unpublished games.

Whenever a new game comes out or a hype is created… do you want to share it with others? Or you just want to spend a relaxed evening playing with your fellow students, without missing out on music and fun…? Our spontaneous gaming parties can do just that.

Every semester we try to organize a big tournament in the gamelab which is usually officially supported and accompanied by the developer. Whether Nintendo (Mario Kart), Capcom (Street Fighter) or Namco Bandai (Tekken) – our good contacts in the industry make it possible.

With us you can compete with others!

Our Gamelab has large screens and a streaming cube to broadcast these eSport events and make them exciting for everyone.