Gamecity Hamburg

The announcement serves as a final call for submissions to the 2018 German Computer Game Prize (Deutscher Computerspielpreis), specifically highlighting the category for Best Innovation. The primary objective is to encourage research institutions, industry companies, and cross-industry organizations to submit creative projects that demonstrate technological advancement within the gaming sector. Eligible entries include gamification applications, educational software, and virtual reality projects, provided they include a detailed justification of their innovative technological aspects.

The submission deadline for all entries was set for January 19, 2018, with no associated fees for participation. The competition, which encompasses the German games industry, is organized by the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure in collaboration with industry associations BIU and GAME. A total prize pool of 560,000 euros was allocated for the 2018 edition, with the awards ceremony scheduled for April 10, 2018, in Munich.

Applicants were directed to the official competition website for comprehensive participation guidelines and frequently asked questions. Support for the submission process was provided by the award office at the Foundation for Digital Games Culture (Stiftung Digitale Spielekultur) in Berlin. The initiative aimed to foster national recognition for technical excellence and encourage high-quality submissions from regional hubs, such as Hamburg, to compete for the prestigious industry award.

Gamecity Hamburg serves as a central hub for the games industry in Hamburg, Germany, focusing on fostering communication, professional development, and regional growth. The organization’s primary objective is to bridge the gap between local industry stakeholders and the broader community by facilitating direct contact with studio representatives. By soliciting expert opinions on industry trends—such as loot boxes and emerging market developments—the initiative aims to amplify the voices of local developers and integrate their insights into its ongoing advocacy and support programs.

The organization provides a comprehensive suite of resources for the local games sector, including financial support, incubator programs, and networking opportunities. Key initiatives include the Games Lift incubator, which offers financial grants of 15,000 euros alongside structured workshops and mentoring, and various prototype funding schemes. These programs are designed to support studios through the entire development lifecycle, from early-stage conceptualization to international market entry.

Beyond direct funding, the organization maintains a robust event calendar to stimulate industry collaboration. Regular activities include playtest nights, pitch training sessions, and industry-wide gatherings like the Portside Game Assembly. These events serve as platforms for knowledge exchange, allowing developers to showcase their work, receive feedback, and engage with policymakers, such as the Senator for Culture and Media. By maintaining a company index and facilitating these professional connections, the initiative strengthens Hamburg’s position as a significant node in the German and international gaming landscape.

The German games industry underwent a significant structural consolidation on January 29, 2018, with the formation of a unified national trade association, game – Verband der deutschen Games-Branche. This organization was established in Berlin through the merger of two previously separate entities: the Bundesverband Interaktive Unterhaltungssoftware (BIU) and the Bundesverband der deutschen Games-Branche (GAME). The primary purpose of this merger was to create a singular, more influential voice to represent the interests of the German games sector before political, social, and media stakeholders.

The new association represents a comprehensive cross-section of the industry, including international publishers, free-to-play developers, serious game providers, indie studios, eSports organizers, educational institutions, and various service providers. Governance is managed by a five-member board, led by Chairman Ralf Wirsing of Ubisoft and Deputy Chairwoman Linda Kruse of the Good Evil GmbH, with Felix Falk serving as Managing Director. This leadership structure is designed to reflect the diverse nature of the German market.

Beyond advocacy, the association assumed responsibility for key industry pillars, including the Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle (USK), the Stiftung Digitale Spielekultur, the German Computer Game Prize, and the organization of gamescom, the world’s largest event for computer and video games. By consolidating these functions, the industry aims to achieve greater strategic impact and unity. Regional networks, such as gamecity:Hamburg, have aligned with this initiative by joining as extraordinary members, further solidifying the national effort to streamline industry representation and foster a more cohesive environment for growth and development across Germany.

The Hamburg-based internet broadcaster Rocket Beans TV launched a new recurring program titled Pocket Beans on February 6, 2018, dedicated to the mobile gaming sector. The primary objective of this initiative is to bridge the gap between gaming generations and challenge the perception that mobile titles lack the depth of traditional console or PC games. By showcasing high-quality mobile software, the production team aims to provide a platform for both established and emerging developers, categorizing games by player type—such as puzzlers, high-scorers, and grinders—rather than traditional genres.

The production of this format is supported by a core team of eight individuals, though it draws on the broader resources of the station, which employs approximately 90 staff members in Hamburg-Eimsbüttel. The broadcaster maintains a high output, generating roughly eight hours of new content daily. The station’s reach is significant, evidenced by live event metrics such as a 25,000-viewer concurrent stream during their third-anniversary broadcast, with associated video-on-demand content achieving six-figure views within days of release.

This development reflects the broader evolution of the gaming industry, where mobile devices have become a primary platform for a wide demographic. The station actively encourages local developers to submit mobile titles for potential coverage, signaling an ongoing commitment to integrating mobile gaming into the mainstream discourse of core gaming audiences. The launch of Pocket Beans serves as a strategic effort to validate mobile gaming as a sophisticated medium, moving beyond casual stereotypes to highlight the technical and creative advancements within the mobile space.

In February 2018, the Swedish publisher THQ Nordic announced the acquisition of the German-Austrian distributor Koch Media for 121 million euros. This strategic move integrated Koch Media’s diverse portfolio—spanning games, film, and software—into the THQ Nordic corporate structure. Despite the change in ownership, the companies confirmed that central operations would remain in their established locations, specifically maintaining the THQ Nordic GmbH headquarters in Vienna and the Koch Media/Deep Silver facilities in Planegg, near Munich.

The acquisition carried significant implications for the Hamburg game development scene, as the local studio Deep Silver Fishlabs, known for the Galaxy on Fire series, became a subsidiary of the Swedish parent company. This transaction highlighted a broader trend of international investment in the German games market, particularly within Hamburg. At the time, several other prominent Hamburg-based studios were already under Swedish ownership or investment, including InnoGames, which maintained a 35% stake held by the Modern Times Group, and Goodgame Studios, which operated as part of the Stockholm-based Stillfront Group.

The consolidation reflects a period of increased cross-border activity within the European gaming industry, where Swedish firms actively expanded their footprint by acquiring established German development talent. By integrating these regional studios into larger, international publishing networks, the industry saw a shift toward centralized management while preserving the operational autonomy of the acquired development teams.

The German games industry continues to strengthen its international presence through strategic participation in major global trade events. A primary initiative for 2018 involved the organization of a German pavilion at the Tokyo Games Show, marking the second consecutive year of a collective national presence at one of the world’s most significant gaming exhibitions. This effort underscores the importance of the Japanese market for German developers and highlights the role of video games as a vital cultural and economic export.

The 2018 pavilion represented a collaborative effort between the German games industry association, the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, and the Association of the German Trade Fair Industry. This institutional support reflects a broader commitment to fostering international visibility for German studios. The Tokyo Games Show serves as a critical venue for this outreach, consistently attracting over 250,000 visitors and providing a platform for developers to engage with one of the most influential gaming markets globally.

By facilitating access to such high-profile international stages, these initiatives aim to maximize the potential of the German creative sector to reach millions of players worldwide. The focus remains on providing developers with the necessary infrastructure and professional support to showcase their work, thereby enhancing the global competitiveness of the German games industry.

The BBC Earth Quiz represents a collaborative effort between Hamburg-based indie developer Tiny Roar and publisher Kalypso Media Mobile to create an official, high-quality mobile gaming experience based on the BBC’s acclaimed nature documentaries. Released in early 2018 for iOS and Android, the application serves as an interactive extension of the "Blue Planet" series, aiming to distinguish itself in a crowded mobile market through aesthetic quality, narrative-driven gameplay, and long-term user engagement.

The development process spanned approximately twelve months, beginning in January 2017. The core gameplay loop involves a global journey where players answer thousands of trivia questions to unlock over 200 high-quality photographs sourced directly from the BBC’s documentary footage. The app features competitive elements, allowing users to challenge Facebook friends or random opponents, thereby fostering social interaction and replayability.

Initial market performance has been positive, with the developers noting successful featuring in key markets shortly after launch. While the team acknowledges that marketing efforts were still in the early stages as of February 2018, they expressed satisfaction with the constructive user feedback received during the first two weeks of availability. The project highlights the capacity of local Hamburg studios to produce globally recognized, licensed content that bridges the gap between traditional media and mobile gaming. Future updates remain a possibility, contingent upon the app's long-term performance metrics.

This analysis examines the strategic partnership between the Hamburg-based indie studio Barrel Roll Games and the established publisher Daedalic Entertainment, centered on the multiplayer title Witch It. The collaboration aims to leverage Daedalic’s industry expertise to facilitate the console porting of the game to PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, while simultaneously providing the indie team with essential marketing support.

Barrel Roll Games, a four-person studio, developed Witch It over approximately 18 months. The game, which features a hide-and-seek mechanic inspired by the Prop Hunt mod for Garry’s Mod, achieved significant organic success on Steam. The studio attributes this popularity to the game’s intuitive, universally understood core concept and its high visibility on YouTube, which served as the primary marketing channel during the early access phase.

The partnership originated at the 2017 German Developer Prize, where the two entities established a professional connection. For Barrel Roll Games, the collaboration represents a transition toward a more sustainable development model, allowing the team to focus on core game design while Daedalic manages distribution and marketing. Conversely, the deal provides Daedalic with an entry point into the games-as-a-service market. While the agreement does not accelerate the final release of the PC version, it is a critical driver for the studio’s expansion into the console market.

The Hamburg Games Conference 2018, held on April 5 at the Bucerius Law School, focused on the theme of transmedia, specifically exploring the convergence of film and gaming. The event aimed to address the blurring lines between players and viewers, as well as the rapid evolution of digital media production technologies. By highlighting the intersection of these two creative industries, the conference sought to provide insights into future production models and market opportunities for transmedial products.

The program featured a series of case studies and expert presentations from industry leaders. Key contributions included discussions on intellectual property development across all media platforms, lessons learned from film production for game development, and the application of augmented reality in narrative media. Notable speakers represented organizations such as Nordisk Film Games, Quantic Dream, and PriceWaterhouseCoopers, offering both creative and analytical perspectives on the industry.

Beyond the main conference, the event facilitated networking through the Gamecity Treff and 12min.NEXTreality sessions. These segments focused on practical applications of gamification, virtual reality, and tracking technologies in fields such as rehabilitation, prevention, and mixed-reality gaming. The conference served as a platform for industry professionals to exchange knowledge, showcase innovative projects—such as the Audi e-tron VR experience—and discuss the shifting landscape of digital entertainment.

The 9th Hamburg Games Conference, held on April 5, 2018, at the Bucerius Law School, focused on the theme "Play it: The Future of Games and Films." The event served as a platform to explore the intersection of the film and gaming industries, specifically highlighting the growing importance of transmedia storytelling and development. By examining how intellectual property can be adapted across various media formats, the conference aimed to provide industry professionals with insights into modern production workflows and market opportunities.

Key presentations featured experts from across the sector, including Christian Fonnesbech of Nordisk Film Games, who delivered a keynote on IP development, and Niklas Wilke of PriceWaterhouseCoopers, who provided an analysis of market figures and potential for transmedial products. Additional sessions included case studies on augmented reality applications for graphic novels, the integration of film production workflows into game development, and the cross-platform evolution of creative projects.

The conference emphasized the value of networking and professional exchange within the Hamburg games ecosystem. To ensure accessibility for those unable to attend in person, the organizers recorded the entire event, making all lectures and the subsequent "Games & Gamification" networking session available via the Gamecity Hamburg YouTube channel. This digital archive serves as a comprehensive resource for developers and stakeholders interested in the technical and strategic intersections of contemporary media production.

Michael Schade, co-founder of the Hamburg-based studio Rockfish Games, presented strategies for effective indie game marketing at the 2018 Reboot Develop conference in Dubrovnik, Croatia. The presentation focused on leveraging limited budgets to maximize product visibility through social media, influencer engagement, and community-driven platforms such as Reddit, Imgur, and Twitter. Using the studio’s successful title, Everspace, as a case study, Schade demonstrated that high-quality game development must be paired with proactive marketing efforts to overcome the challenges of discoverability in a crowded marketplace.

The core thesis emphasizes that while a strong product is essential, success is contingent upon a studio’s ability to manage its own marketing rather than relying solely on platform features. Schade identifies independent studios as the primary growth engine of the modern games industry, noting that they represent the future of the sector. He advocates for a shift in regional focus, particularly in Hamburg, where he observes a historical over-reliance on free-to-play models. He suggests that local industry stakeholders should prioritize supporting and building upon the success of emerging indie developers to ensure long-term regional competitiveness.

The analysis highlights the importance of industry networking and conference participation as fundamental components of a sustainable business strategy. By engaging with global events like Reboot Develop, developers can foster essential connections and gain insights into evolving industry standards. Ultimately, the findings underscore that for independent developers, marketing is not merely a secondary task but a critical, ongoing operational requirement for achieving commercial viability.

InnoGames marked the tenth anniversary of its browser-based title, The West, in April 2018. Originally launched on April 30, 2008, as the studio’s second project, the game was designed to diversify the company’s portfolio beyond its debut success, Die Stämme, by incorporating role-playing elements within a Western-themed setting. The anniversary serves as a testament to the game's longevity and the studio's transition from a small startup to an established industry player.

Over its first decade, The West achieved significant scale, accumulating approximately 19 million registered users. The game maintains a stable player base primarily through organic growth and word-of-mouth rather than aggressive marketing campaigns. It is currently available in 18 languages, with its strongest engagement concentrated in European markets, particularly Germany and France. The title’s sustained profitability is attributed to consistent developer support, including the regular introduction of new quests, items, and technical enhancements.

To commemorate the milestone, the development team implemented a temporary classic server, allowing both veteran and new players to experience the game in its original 1.0 version. This initiative reflects the studio's commitment to its loyal community, which has remained active since the game's inception. The anniversary highlights the viability of long-term live service models in the browser gaming sector, demonstrating how consistent content updates can maintain player interest and commercial relevance over a ten-year period.