In its last promotion session for digital games and interactive content in 2022, the Film and Media Foundation NRW awarded over 1.4 million euros to 15 projects. Among these projects, there are also two games that are currently developed by CGL alumni!

“Hinterland”, by the independent game studio Cyber Manatee, is a nerve-wracking first-person mystery-thriller set in the 1980s in which players take on the role of two protagonists following their own leads to uncover a personal truth in the franco-german woodland. A thrilling experience full of twists, turns, and unease awaits as players are challenged by strange creatures, odd residents, and otherworldly phenomena. The Film- und Medienstiftung NRW already funded the concept & prototype and now supports the project with another 400,000 € production funding.

The team behind Cyber Manatee was founded by CGL alumni Sven David Gießelmann, Jonah Fintz, Marc Kelbling and are part of the Cologne Game Incubator that supports the development of game ideas into marketable products, providing the participating students and alumni with the opportunity to leverage their training and knowledge generated at CGL into professional and commercial success. ->cybermanatee.com

“Morbid Metal” by the Cologne based studio Screen Juice Interactive lets players switch between different playable robots in real time to defeat enemies in a series of combination attacks. The game focuses on stunning character and environment designs and on a fluid, immersive combat system. Screen Juice and its founder, CGL alumnus Felix Schade, receives a Prototype Funding of 80,000 €. ->screen-juice.com

The award panel, chaired by Filmstiftung Managing Director Petra Müller, includes Ronald Kaulbach (Studio Brand Director Ubisoft Blue Byte), Julia Pfiffer (Managing Director astragon Entertainment), Andreas Suika (Global Content Evangelist EPIC Games) and David von Galen (Head of the Media Industry Department of the State Chancellery of NRW).

Congratulations and good luck for your future endevours!