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

Games Lift: Pipapo Games get the joke

Pipapo Games know how to make a concerted effort. The team behind "Map Map" reports to the interview in a bright mood, helps each other out on every question and still manages to take their own plans very seriously.

Even the title hides a punch line. “We found it funny that our characters’ speech sounds just like saying “mapmap” over and over,” explains Clara Müller.
Map Map” is a fitting title in more ways than one. It’s not just a pun, it points to the game’s main theme: “Map Map” is literally a game about maps. Players have to find their way on different islands, measure distances, determine positions. They will have to annotate and design their own maps. At the same time, it’s a cozy adventure story about kids before the dawn of their teenage years, searching for treasure and building tree houses. 

Pipapo Games step into the Games Lift Incubator as a team of four: Annika Neumann is the programming lead and responsible for UI design, Lukas Hort designs the game and helps with programming, Laura Hantschel does concept art and art direction, Clara Müller manages the project and is the team’s environment artist. Pipapo found each other at HAW Hamburg’s Games Master course, and they bring a varied set of qualifications with them. Among them are Annika’s experience working on the Games Lift alumni project “Leif's Adventure”, or Lukas shipping the project “Puppet Play” on Steam. In Hamburg, they immediately clicked with each other “because we all wanted to start a business,” Lukas explains. The goals were compatible. So was the sense of humor, apparently. 

From left to right: Laura Hantschel, Annika Neumann, Lukas Hort and Clara Müller
From left to right: Laura Hantschel, Annika Neumann, Lukas Hort and Clara Müller. Photos by Jan-Marius Komorek

Cozy game, serious map 

“We’ve always been a playful team,” Annika says. It shows in the game’s mood. When the kids in “Map Map” place a house, it should have “at least a slide and maybe a fire pole.” When describing their game, the word “cozy” keeps coming up. The game may require careful thinking and close attention to detail, but at the same time it is meant to remain open and inviting, not to stress players or give them time limits. “Map Map” will invite players into a colorful, beautiful world. 

The basic idea: Kids travel to different islands with the most barebones map possible, showing just the outlines of the land mass. It will be the kids’ job to draw in everything else, and to change the landscape while doing so. One example mission describes the perfect location for a house, and the kids have to mark it on the map accordingly. “The map shouldn't just be a means to an end,” Laura explains. Observing closely, navigating and making inferences are essential game mechanisms. 

The focus on searching and navigating as core mechanics sounds unusual. Yet there is a big hit that revolves around this very idea. “I've been big on GeoGuessr for years,” says Lukas. By now, the team also likes to guess together cooperatively. 

While fun is an important part of game development, Pipapo games mean business.
While fun is an important part of game development, Pipapo games mean business.

Light mood, concrete plans 

But that was just the starting point; Pipapo Games are going in a completely different direction. “Map Map” won’t look anything like Street View’s plain realism. The art style aims to be colorful, cozy and playful, but it is still being worked out. Since “Map Map” is already present on social media (Instagram or X), optics play an outsize role. 

Laura explains that, while humor is important to the team, they are pursuing “very concrete plans”. Pipapo’s experience in the Games Lift Incubator is a case in point. The team highlight learnings made in workshops on market analysis or production. Annika lauds the mentors’ take on the decision to self-publish. One person praised it, another one criticized it. But Annika isn’t joking. She actually found the different takes helpful: “Both had important points!” 

Pipapo Games are in the Games Lift Incubator with a clear goal: developing a production plan with concrete milestones to keep the project in check and make it financially accountable. Pipapo may put a big emphasis on fun while working. But they know how important a good roadmap can be. 

News

Pride Month 2025 - Tips and Events

Happy Pride Month! We compiled some information and events and tips for the ongoing Pride Month to celebrate Diversity in Games and those who make them.

Games Lift: Why We Went to Nordic

Conventions are an essential part of gaming. They bring the industry together for fun and business. That’s why the trip to Nordic Game in 2025 was a highlight for Gamecity Hamburg.

The Hamburg Delegation poses in front of a Nordic Game Sign

Recap: Nordic Game Conference 2025

Let's look back at our Nordic Game Conference: We attended the Nordic Game Conference 2025 in Malmö, with the Games Lift Incubator 2024 teams and four Hamburg indie game developers and their game projects who attended via Road to Nordic 2025.

Gamecity Hamburg Prototype Funding 2025: Six Prototypes Funded

In the latest round of funding 2025, Gamecity Hamburg supports six promising digital games with up to 80,000 euros each as a non-repayable grant.

Deutscher Computerspielpreis 2025 Photo by Franziska Krug/ DCP via Getty Images

Games Lift: An Incubator With Quantifiable Success

Is the Games Lift incubator worth it? Sure. Anyone can say that, but facts are better than empty claims. We have numbers to show what the incubator brings. 

Applications open for “Games Forged in Germany”: The Steam Sale organized by Games Germany enters its fourth round

German Developers, studios and publishers with their headquarter in Germany can now apply for the Games Germany Steam Sale for "Games Forged in Germany" 2025 until June 9, 2025.

Portside Game Assembly: Conference Speaker and Program Announced

Portside Game Assembly will take place on June 27, 2025 - Time to announce the full conference speaker and program line-up! This new dedicated B2B conference invites dedicated international indie game leaders aboard a ship cruising Hamburg’s famous harbour. In this focused and collaborative setting, indie leaders and decision makers will engage in a curated program of keynotes, impulse talks, and roundtables.

Games Lift 2025: Apply now from May 2 until June 10

Applications for Gamecity Hamburg's 2025 Games Lift are open from May 2 to June 10. Five teams will receive financial support in form of 15,000 euros, a comprehensive workshop program and access to the Games Lift Network of international industry experts. In addition, the teams can benefit from 1,000 euros in coaching budget. After a three-month workshop phase, the teams will be further supported with individual mentoring and will travel together to an international industry event until August 2026.

Road to Nordic 2025 - These Four Hamburg Games are Traveling to Malmö

With a spacious expo area, exciting developer showcases and many opportunities for business meetings, the Nordic Game Conference is one of the most important games conferences in Europe. It offers developers plenty of opportunities to network and meet relevant business contacts in person. Gamecity Hamburg will be back again in 2025, bringing four indie games from Hamburg to Malmö as part of the “Road to Nordic” program.

Road to gamescom 2025 - Apply until April 16!

Road to gamescom is back: We offer spots at our joint Gamecity Hamburg booth at the Indie Arena Booth for Hamburg-based studios, teams and devs. Apply now until April 16!

Prototype Funding 2025: Applications open until April 7

Applications for Gamecity Hamburg's 2025 prototype funding are open from March 3 to April 7. This year's funding round provides 400,000 euros in total and up to 80,000 euros per accepted application team.

Road to Nordic Game 2025

Gamecity Hamburg offers a Road to Nordic Game Conference program: We offer four spots at our Gamecity Hamburg booth for Hamburg-based studios, teams and devs. Apply now until March 30!

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.