In this two-semester Game Studio project, students work in large interdisciplinary teams to ideate, develop, and publish a digital game. Starting with concept development and prototyping, the large teams establish a clear creative and technical vision before moving into full production, polishing, and the public release of a playable game on a professional platform. Throughout the project, they take responsibility for their defined roles and engage in reflective practice, user testing, and also external communication, culminating in said release.

Students are tasked to choose one specialization during their application. The advanced specialization modules then impart advanced knowledge and skills in the specializations Game Arts, Game Design or Game Programming in the form of discussion-oriented seminars and workshops. In this way, the students gain new insights and impulses that enable them to contextualize their specialization. Additionally, the students of all specializations will participate in courses on Sound Design and Music in Games to deepen their knowledge in these fields, too. For individual course content per specialization, consult the module handbook.

Across both semesters, students focus on emerging debates in contemporary game studies, including posthumanist and postcolonial approaches, production studies, eco-critical game studies, and interdisciplinary methods such as ethnographic and practice-led research. This work is accompanied by a colloquium in which students present and critically discuss the theoretical frameworks of their research in conference-style and academic paper formats.

In parallel, and in close relation to the Game Studio, students develop an economic and entrepreneurial understanding of game projects, including project calculation, financing structures, publishing strategies, and pitching practices.

Students may choose to work either as research assistants in CGL research projects or as teaching assistants in the CGL Bachelor’s program, supported by continued guidance from their advisors. They expand their knowledge in their chosen field while developing professional autonomy.

Research activities may include development work in design, art, programming, animation, or sound, as well as more independent research from humanities or social science perspectives, while teaching activities may involve developing teaching materials, delivering tutorials or workshops on specialized topics, or producing digital learning formats. The specific scope of work is defined individually with the advisor and supports preparation for future careers in academia or the industry.

The module handbook can be downloaded here.