Games Lift: 'consider it' Get the Green Light

The Games Lift Incubator, an initiative based in Hamburg, Germany, serves as a professional development platform for emerging game projects. The program provides participants with access to workshops, industry mentoring, and networking opportunities to refine game mechanics and business viability. The primary objective is to assist teams in transitioning from conceptual ideas to functional, market-ready demonstrations.

A notable case study within the incubator involves Timo Schneider and Kevin Westphal, software developers from the company "consider it." The duo utilized the program to pivot from enterprise software development to game design. Their project, titled "supernightshift," originated from a mobility-tracking application developed for the World Congress on Intelligent Transport Systems. By leveraging real-world city map data and transport infrastructure, they created a strategy-based mobile game that incorporates mechanics inspired by titles like "Mini Metro" and "Scotland Yard."

The incubator process emphasizes the importance of iterative testing and expert feedback to identify core gameplay loops. For the "supernightshift" team, the program provided the necessary guidance to refine their engine and prepare a live demonstration for the Games Lift Graduation. This project highlights the potential for cross-industry collaboration, as the developers aim to integrate their game with real-world public transit partners to promote urban mobility. The initiative continues to support various teams annually, offering financial grants and structured mentorship to foster innovation within the regional gaming sector.