In October 2024, I attended the 18th European Conference on Games Based Learning (ECGBL) in Aarhus, Denmark. This year’s International Educational Games Competition (IEGC) was also hosted there.
I’m more than happy to share that The Policy Maker has won the first prize of the student games category of the competition!
I love the the jury’s comments on the game and just have to share them:
The student game competition showcased a diverse array of games, all good, but one game truly impressed the jury. It stood out for its simple yet elegant design, effectively addressing the complexities of policy-making in a challenging investment climate. The game’s brilliance lay in how it transformed these intricate dilemmas into an accessible and engaging experience. Players were able to navigate difficult decisions, balancing economic and political pressures with strategic thinking. Its innovative design and real-world relevance made it a clear winner, proving that games can entertain while also offering powerful insights into complex societal issues.
Huge thanks to the organizers of the conference and the competition, the jury, and all the fun and interesting people I had the honor to meet during these exciting days!
Special thanks to my co-creator Victoria Fischer, my academic and game design advisors Naemi Luckner and Peter Purgathofer, and TU Wien for funding the production of the game and the trip to ECGBL and IEGC!
You can learn more about The Policy Maker here.
And read the case study about the game, published at ECGBL, here: https://doi.org/10.34190/ecgbl.18.1.2709.
Shuyin Zheng 