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| (Image Source: Games For Change) |
The Games For Change (G4C) Festival, the premier event for social impact gaming and XR, announced the first round of speakers and global change makers hailing from Minecraft, Netflix, UNICEF, PBS KIDS, GLAAD and more and opened registration for the event's 2024 edition slated to be held on June 27-28, 2024. This year's Festival theme, "The 2030 Marker: A Catalyst for Global Change", draws inspiration from the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) and will showcase the critical role games and XR can play in fostering innovation, creativity, and community involvement to improve the world.
"We are at a pivotal moment where gaming and XR are not just entertainment but powerful platforms for advocacy, education, and societal transformation. This year’s Festival is a testament to the innovative spirit and growth of our community, showcasing a range of voices, both new and old, leveraging these mediums to address pressing issues in a rapidly evolving world," said G4C President Susanna Pollack. This year's first round of featured speakers include the following:
• Ava Volandes, Director, Social Impact, Minecraft
• Shuli Gilutz, PhD, Programme Officer (Child Rights & Digital Business), UNICEF
• Corinne Dey, Director of Technology (Games), PBS KIDS
• Cameron Kostopoulos, Founder and CEO, Kost, Award-winning Creator of Body of Mine
• Tristan Marra, Vice President of Research & Reports, GLAAD Media Institute
• Dr. Walter Greenleaf, Neuroscientist, Virtual Reality, and Digital Health Expert at Stanford University Virtual Human Interaction Lab
• Melanie Harke, Interactive Producer for Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood and Donkey Hodie, Fred Rogers Productions
Games for Change is also proud to continue partnerships with organizations such as Verizon, Unity, the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME), the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), Netflix, and LEGO. The two-day Festival at the Parsons School of Design in New York City will spotlight programming curated by experts across various sectors. Lindsay Grace, Knight Chair in Interactive Media and Director of the MFA in Interactive Media at the University of Miami School of Communication, will curate the Civics & Social Issues track. The Digital Health & Wellness track will be curated by Kris Severson, Founder of Game Plan Consultancy, and the Games & Learning track will be led by Nick Schiner, Director of Peer-to-Peer Professional Learning at Digital Promise. Each curator aims to blend insights from industry veterans and emerging voices, integrating XR technology to discuss gaming's powerful societal contributions.
The Festival is a dynamic hub for discussions about innovation in gaming and XR where attendees will connect with a global community of changemakers, developers, educators, and other industry members. Attendees can expect diverse networking opportunities, from themed discussions and speed networking to exclusive meeting spaces supported by interactive sessions, including keynotes, panels, and workshops, all fostering deeper connections in the industry. The event will feature the annual G4C Awards and Awards Arcade, honoring the year’s best games and XR projects. G4C will also continue a partnership with ONX, founded by the Onassis Foundation and NEW INC., for the "G4C Immersive Arcade" which will feature some of the best social impact immersive experiences of the year. Early bird tickets for the event are available now until April 8, 2024. For more information on the 2024 Games For Change Festival, visit the event's official website at https://festival.gamesforchange.org/.
