The 2026 game teacher symposium at Sweden Game Conference is co-organized by the Council of Swedish Games Researchers, Game Tech Academy and the newly founded Game Development Research Centre (GDRC).
When? Thursday 13.00-14.30 CET, October 15
Where? Kulturiet in Skövde Kulturhus, Skövde
Theme? Game Production Research and Practice - Together at Last
Game development faces significant change as the traditional "AAA" game industry continues massive layoffs and increasingly "AA" and "Indie" games garner the bulk of time, attention, accolades and revenue. The role that various Game Engines, Tools, LLMs and "AIs" play in the everyday practice for game makers remains an emergent question to be answered. While "industry" and "academia" have not always remained in consistent communication, partnerships between these communities going forward is increasingly crucial.
Dr. O'Donnell is one of an emerging cluster of games researchers doing "Studio Studies" or "Games Production Research" more generally. This combination lecture and brainstorming / collaboration session will explore the productive intersections between "vocational" and "academic" work and how these collaborations will only be increasingly important for the future of game making. The session begins with an overview of Studio Studies and Game Production Research as well as how it differs from more "journalistic" accounts of game making practice.
The second half of the session will give attendees an opportunity to brainstorm and explore potential collaborations between their educational programs and industry partners that provides both an opportunity for their students to connect more fully and deeply with established game makers, but also help existing practitioners understand potential areas where understanding and reflecting on their game making practices might improve them in surprising ways.
Dr. O'Donnell will make the case for increased collaboration between "industry" and "academia" as well as "vocational" and "theoretical" approaches to understanding games and game making are symbiotic and ultimately have the opportunity to improve game production practices.
Council of Swedish Games Researchers
Swedish games research springs from a broad multidisciplinary forum that covers everything from technology, ethics, media, design, entrepreneurship and more.
The Council of Swedish Games Researchers, (Svenska Spelforskarrådet, SSFR) is an interest organization that works to strengthen shed light on Swedish games research. The organization is an association of game researchers active in Sweden.The first SSFR symposium was held at the Sweden Game Conference 2022 and has since been a permanent feature during the conference.
Per Backlund, Professor at the University of Skövde, is chairman of the Council of Swedish Games Researchers. An important focus for SSFR is, according to Per, to strengthen both education and research on games and game development.
“This means getting the games industry to understand the importance of academic education, as well as the universities' need for collaboration. We also need to inform research funders about the special conditions that prevail around a new and multidisciplinary research area such as games.”
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