About the Project
The 'UpGameln' project is designed to address a critical need within the booming game industry: the integration of inclusive, accessible, and environmentally sustainable practices. While the industry has seen massive growth, there is a lack of consolidated frameworks for developers to create games that are both socially responsible and environmentally conscious. This project will establish a comprehensive resource library for game studios, providing clear guidelines, methodologies, and best practices. Furthermore, it will develop a specific training guideline for VET (Vocational Education and Training) educators to adapt their curricula to these emerging labour market needs, ensuring the next generation of game designers are equipped with the skills for sustainable and inclusive game development.
Project Timeline
Project Initiation & Kick-off Meeting
Official project start, including partner agreements, detailed planning, and a face-to-face kick-off meeting in Greece to establish a common framework for management, communication, and evaluation.
Resource Library Development: Inclusivity & Accessibility
Research and development of the first part of the online resource library, focusing on frameworks and guidelines for creating accessible and inclusive games, culminating in a training activity (LTTA) in Italy.
Resource Library Development: Environment Awareness & Circular Economy
Research and development of the second part of the resource library, focused on environmental awareness through gamification and circular economy practices in the game industry, including a training activity (LTTA) in Poland.
VET Training Guidelines Development
Development of the four VET Training Guidelines on Inclusivity, Accessibility, Circular Economy, and Environmental Activism Through Gamification Techniques, culminating in a training activity (LTTA) in Larissa, Greece where partners translated the full Resource Library into practical curricula for VET educators.
VET Guidelines Launch & Multiplier Events
Public launch of the VET Training Guidelines through multiplier events: a physical workshop at JOIST Innovation Park in Larissa, and a collaborative online webinar co-hosted by Odd Statue Social and Challedu, extending the guidelines to educators, trainers, and game designers in Greece and beyond.
Project Website
Visit Project WebsiteProject Deliverables
Resource Library: Inclusivity & Accessibility
The first part of the project's online resource library, containing frameworks, methodologies, and guidelines on how to design and develop inclusive and accessible games.
Resource Library: Environment Awareness & Circular Economy
The second part of the resource library, focusing on implementing environmental practices and circular economy principles in the game industry, and using gamification to promote environmental awareness.
VET Training Guidelines
Four comprehensive guidebooks with lesson plans for VET educators to help adapt their training programs for upskilling game design teams in inclusive, accessible, and sustainable development.
Game Design Methodologies
A curated collection of game design methodologies contributed by the project partners, covering inclusivity, accessibility, environmental activism, and circular economy.
Project Newsletters
Regular newsletters documenting project progress, partner stories, and key findings from the UpGameIn research activities.
Project Flyer
A short, shareable introduction to the UpGameIn project, its goals, and its partners.
Download PDF (1.1MB)Join the Community
Connect with the UpGameIn community to follow the project, share practices, and collaborate with studios, educators, and learners across Europe.
Project Partners
Challedu
A leading R&D non-profit organisation with dedicated activities on the creation of games for empowering vulnerable and non-vulnerable groups. Leads research on accessibility for the project.
Escape4Change SlaVS s.r.l.
An Italian social enterprise specializing in edutainment and creating immersive, educational game experiences on topics like climate change and circular economy. Leads dissemination and research on inclusivity.
Odd Statue Games
A company focused on creating digital and board game experiences, from theme and mechanism development to graphic design. Leads Quality Assurance and research on environmental gamification.
Fundacja artystyczno-eventowa "Fantazmat"
A Polish non-governmental organization that uses participatory culture, drama, and role-playing games to provide non-formal education opportunities. Leads research on circular economy practices.