More initiatives of the Hamburg Kreativ Gesellschaft
De
More initiatives of the Hamburg Kreativ Gesellschaft

Games Lift 2021 - Accelerating Now

The preparations are done. Now comes the fun part: The 2021 iteration of our Games Lift Incubator has begun in full. Workshops are in session. Read more in entry #2 of our Games Lift Incubator Log.

A lift can be a peculiar thing. It only comes when it’s called, people have to cram into a small cabin, and then everyone has to stand clear of the doors. But once it is moving, you can feel the acceleration! That’s how it feels in our second round of Games Lift. All teams are aboard and in good spirits.

The first round of financial support has been payed out, workshops are in full swing and mentors have already mentored. For the next couple of months, our teams are looking at a lot of work. Now is the time for them to work out their projects, to refine concepts and ideas; for some of them, the new coworking space will afford a more comfortable setting. But the workshops keep bringing a steady stream of new topics and suggestions. They take time. Also, the incubator has deadlines. We are doing our best in order to keep the work manageable for everyone.

Teams need space

We strive to keep improving our Games Lift Incubator every year. In this second edition, some changes are already in effect; we will talk about details at a later date. What we want to keep is our keen focus on the teams. Everything revolves around their needs and interests. Their input was an important part of deciding on a workshop schedule.

Meeting the teams in person at the kick-off event was our first highlight. A lot of our workshops are digital-only, not least because of the pandemic. But in and around the spacious designxport location in Hamburg’s Hafencity district, we got to look each other in the eyes. Without delay!

The Games Lift 2021 teams getting an introduction to what awaits them in the incubator program 

A wide selection

The projects may be wildly different, yet all of their creators were upbeat and warm. The anticipation was palpable. And the diversity was not only visible in the projects.

SUPERNATURAL GAMES bring a lot of experience to the table. Gerrit and Patrick have worked in the design and games industries for decades. They don’t just have a game project, they are also full of ideas of how to expand from there. When “The Treepoids and the Island of Professor Flora“ is done, it might just turn out to be part of a wave of green gaming.

Kevin and Timo are veterans of software development too. Their project „supernightshift“ aims to build on their experience visualizing traffic and GPS data. The usefulness of this kind of know-how was evident when Kevin arrived at the event first without breaking a sweat.

Symmetry Break Games present the biggest team of this year’s incubator. Anca, Franziska, Jan, Cecilia and Julian all count as young talent. They might have lowered the average age at the event, but their concept was all the more impressive for it. “PROSPECTOR” aims to shake up good old graphic adventures with innovative ideas around dialogue and storytelling.

Denise Koch keeps impressing us as the dauntless visionary and driver behind a highly original idea: „Monstersongs VR“ is a VR rock musical. The concept might sound wild – but when she explains how she plans development with her network of talented contractors, it actually sounds self-evident and doable.

Martin, Timo and Stephen of tool1 are also really good at explaining a wild concept. They eloquently fielded questions around their loot-shooter „The Invitation”. They could even explain how they managed to start such an ambitious project with just three people on the dev team.

The teams together with Games Lift project managers Maggie and Daniel

It’s on now!

In the coming weeks, we will get to take a closer look at what’s changed in this year’s Games Lift Incubator. We will also peek into a workshop or two. But above all, we are looking forward to presenting the projects and people behind them.

For them, Games Lift is already in full swing. Industry veteran Heather Chandler, former senior producer of Fortnite, has already given valuable insight into the wide ranging fields of producing and project management. We are happy to have her aboard. And some especially successful workshops from last year make a return. Michael Schieben’s Product Field is a sought-after tool for cooperative innovation and analysis. He explained it himself in order to show how it gets people talking and thinking along the same lines.

The input may prove crucial for our teams. The Games Lift Incubator is all about enabling them to identify the next step and to actually make it. The next couple of months will be moving along at top speed.

Starting the intensive phase of the incubator with lots of sunshine

News

Pitch Level Up 2023: Boost your pitch with expert feedback!

After the successful premiere last year, the Pitch Level Up is back on April 13, 11 am - 6 pm: Get individual feedback on your pitch deck from seasoned games industry professionals with different perspectives - to optimize your pitch for publishers, media, investors or funding institutions.

3 years of Games Lift: Getting better with age

Three successful years lie behind the Games Lift Incubator. Before we start the fourth one, we take a look back. Our alumni have a lot to show.

Games Lift Incubator: Grown together

The graduation pitch has marked the finale of Games Lift Incubator 2022. All five teams got to present what they achieved in the last three months. Not an easy task – but everyone came well-prepared. The setting was relaxed, the presentations strong.

Games Lift: Team Marty aim outside the box

The heroine may seem young and hot-headed, but there is an experienced team standing behind her: Babsi Bullet is an action-packed puzzle platformer for touchscreens. Team Marty are pouring their hearts into the game – and real craftsmanship.

Games Lift: Team ACAS get along with nuts and sledgehammers

Few games look as disarming from a distance: About Cannons & Sparrows is a metroidvania that starts with a small cannon hatching from an inconspicuous egg. The seasoned animation pros of Team ACAS may not have a finished game yet, but they do have a strong vision.

Games Lift: Elin Meinecke on sowing diversity

One person is behind farming sim RPG Evergreen Garden: Elin Meinecke is solely responsible for the art and game design of her project. She brings a degree in illustration to her work in the incubator – and inspiration from her garden.

Games Lift: Team Metacore is up for a challenge

Their hands are full. Their goals are big. But that is no reason to fret for Team Metacore. During our conversation, finding good answers comes to them as easily as sharing a laugh. The mood might make it into their project.

Games Lift: People make the Incubator

The Games Lift Incubator can only exist because many experts support it, teach and coach in it, and keep networking in it. Over 35 veterans from all areas of the games industry are with us. We have asked them why they are doing it and what keeps them coming back.

Games Lift: Team Godcomplex have thought this through

Would you have guessed that Team Godcomplex are already working on their third game? The four young professionals found each other at the university and have worked together ever since. With their party action game Stack’em up, they want to show what they have learned.

Games Lift: Quick Start in Year 3

Wait – the third iteration of the Games Lift Incubator is already well underway. How is it going? Like clockwork. Bolstered by two years of experience, the program has had an intensive start. Fortunately, this time there also is a break coming up.

Games Lift 2022: These are the five teams

​​​​​​​Five teams have convinced the Games Lift awarding committee of the promising potential of their games projects with their pitch. They will start on September 12 with a three-month workshop and mentoring program with international industry experts, 15,000 euros in financial support and places in a Hamburg co-working space. Congratulation to all teams, and we are very much looking forward to seeing your projects evolve!

Games Lift: Good for you?

If things go well here, we like to keep them going. That is certainly the plan with our Games Lift Incubator. After two successful runs, preparations for the third are well underway. We are still open for teams with a strong vision and ambitious goals. But there’s only a few days left.

More News
Cookies are used to make this website work and to enhance your experience.

To learn more about the types of cookies this website uses, see our Cookie Policy. You can decide for yourself which categories you want to allow. Please note that based on your settings, not all functions of the website may be available.

Cookies are used to make this website work and to enhance your experience.

To learn more about the types of cookies this website uses, see our Cookie Policy. You can decide for yourself which categories you want to allow. Please note that based on your settings, not all functions of the website may be available.

Your cookie preferences have been saved.