Gotland Game Conference (GGC), previously known as the Gotland Game Awards, is an international conference, game exhibition and -competition for students. The event is held annually and marks the end of the academic year for the students at the Department of Game Design at Campus Gotland, Uppsala University. Here they can showcase everything that they have learned during the year to a jury consisting of professionals from the game development industry, the gaming press and academia.
History
The Department of Game Design on Gotland, Visby, has hosted a public event for displaying student projects since at least 2002. The event found a stable structure and was branded "Gotland Game Awards" in 2006 and re-branded "Gotland Game Conference" in 2011, when a presentation track was added and the event opened to public participation. In 2017 the GGC added an international summit for game educators — with the intention of annually gathering game educations from across the world to collaborate and share experiences.
Theme Park / Revive 2002 Public exhibition 2004 Gotland Game Convention 2006 Gotland Game Awards 2007 Gotland Game Awards 2008 Gotland Game Awards 2009 Gotland Game Awards 2010 Gotland Game Conference 2011 Gotland Game Conference 2012 Gotland Game Conference 2013 Gotland Game Conference 2014 Gotland Game Conference 2015 Gotland Game Conference 2016 Gotland Game Conference 2017 + Game Educators Summit Gotland Game Conference 2018 + Game Educators Summit Gotland Game Conference 2019 + Game Educators Summit Gotland Game Conference 2020 + Game Educators Summit (cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic)
The event
The event can be seen as consisting of four separate parts (spanning over multiple days);
Public presentation of student projects to an international jury of developers, designers, academics, journalists etc. Followed by The Gotland Game Conference + showfloor, where all student games are made available to the jury and general audience. The conference + show floor is roughly modeled after the Game Developers Conference, but features only a single track of lectures. The Award Ceremony The GGC Party where students, jury and faculty celebrate their work and end of the school year.
Game Awards The Department of Game Design maintains a public database of all games and students that have been awarded at the Gotland Game Conference. It is not uncommon for students recognized at the GGC to go on and win other national- and international awards.
Game Awards (2018–)
Best Presentation: Take My Shift Best Arcade Experience: Coal Rush Student Choice: Momentum Drift Alumni of the Year: Max Tiilikainen The Social Game Award: Twined Public Choice: Bench Warmers, Neon Nemesis (tie) The Almedalen Library Award: Symbio The Innovation Award: Nova Factor The Woke Award: Re Leap Expression in Game Design: Momentum Drift Jury Spotlight: Bolt and Bobby Jury Spotlight: Symbio
Game Awards (2006–2017) Award Year Game / Name Notes Pwnage Award(Best in competition)2017Pump The Frog 2016 Anchored 2015 Frog Climbers 2014 Crocodile Chow Down 2013 CoBots 2012Little Warlock2011Adventure League 2010 Dwarfs 2009 Walkabout 2008 Vertigo 2007 Fairytale Best First Year Project2017Pump The Frog 2016 Cryptogram 2015 Frog Climbers 2014 Crocodile Chow Down 2013 CoBots 2012 Clapper 2011There were no class awards this year. 2010 Gods of Steel Best Arcade Game 2009 Chubby Chase Race Best Arcade Game 2008 Deep Ocean Best Arcade Game 2007 BLOmma Best Arcade Game 2006 Head Banger Best Arcade Game Best Second Year Project2017Somnium 2016 Anchored 2015 Clouds Below 2014 Defunct 2013 Ghoulies 2012Little Warlock2011There were no class awards this year. 2010 Abzolium Best Big Game 2009 Cause of War Best Big Game 2008 Planetaria Best Big Game Best Third Year project2017Penny's Farm2016Tamarrion 2015 Agency 2014 Veer 2013 Little Warlock 2012Secrets of Grindea2011There were no class awards this year. 2010 Fumbies - The Cloud Creatures Best Graduating Class 2009 Exhaust Best Graduating ClassCha-ching! Award(Most commercially viable)2017Pump The Frog 2016 Anchored 2015 Summit Chasers 2014 Tower Offensive 2013Little Warlock2012Little Warlock2011Victorious Skies The Almedalen Library Award2017Pump The Frog 2016 F.R.A.U.S. 2015 Colors of the Wind 2013 Lunar Love 2010 Fumbies - The Cloud Creatures 2009 Ghost Written 2008 Fairytale The Innovation Award2017Grave Call 2016 Cryptogram 2015 Workspace Warfare 2014 Crocodile Chow Down 2013Torn 2012 BlockDropper Best Presentation2017Penny's Farm 2016 Slumber 2015 Tamarrion 2014 Tower Offensive 2012Clapper2011 2010 Midnight 2009 Ghost Written 2008 In Other Words 2007 Roskilde Alumni of the Year Award2017Pernilla SparrhultParadox Joakim AndreasonParadox Interactive 2016 Kim Aava Guerrilla Games 2015 Rikard Jaksch King 2014 Ted Sjöström Pixel Ferrets 2013 Annika O. Bergström Södertörn University20122011Karin RydingOzma Games2010Johannes WadinMight and Delight 2009 Peter Stråhle GRIN 2008 Anders Ekermo Starbreeze 2007 Mats Andersson Avalanche Studios
People's Choice Awards Award Year Game Notes Student's Choice2017Penny's Farm 2016 Neiva 2015 PvGvP 2014 Undercover Agency 2013 Tribal Marathon 2012Secrets of Grindea People's Choice / Public Choice2011Overkill 2010 Abzolium 2009 Chubby Chase Race People's Choice - Most Helpful Group 2009 Archaic
Special awards Award Year Game Notes Best Serious Game 2010 Colorless 2009 Ghost Written 2008 GameRider 2007 Wobble Trouble Best Exhibition 2010 Abzolium 2009 Penalty of Heroes The Award for Human Rights and Anti-discrimination2011Contingency 2010 Pawns 2009 Cause of War 2008 Insats Afrika Red Cross Award #1 Monks of Sangrael Red Cross Award #2 JADE Project Award 2009 Archaic 2008 Fairytale TUT-MS Dean's Award 2016 Giddy Up 2014 Vertigoat NicoGRAPH Conference NicoGRAPH Award 2014 Crocodile Chow Down Best XNA Game 2010 Abzolium Best Cinematic 2009 Trojan Sheep Nordic Game Jam 2009 Sheep away Mathematical Game 2009 Euklides Magic Best Game - Open and Invitational 2008 Dark Room
Computer Animation Awards Award Year Game Notes Best CG Animation2011Halberts Monocle 2010 The Secret Chamber Best Commercial 2009 Cube 2008 Wacom in Motion Best Graduating Class 2010 From One Motherfucker To Another Spotlight Category 2010 Octopus Painting Duel Best Student Animation 2009 09-09-14 Open and Invitational 2008 Perfekt Theme Park 2008 In Harmony with Nature
Student Effort Awards Award Year Game Notes Best Student Effort in Art 2010 Tobias Andersen 2009 Anders Bäckman Best Student Effort Technical 2009 Ted Lindström Best Student in Computer Graphics 2009 Tommy Nilsson Best Student in Game Design and Graphics 2009 Emma Johansson Best Student in Game Design and Programming 2009 Tommi Lipponen
References
External links Gotland Game Conference - Gotland Game Conference official website Department of Game Design blog - the informal department blog Department of Game Design at Uppsala University - the formal department website Campus Gotland Facebook Page for Gotland Game Conference Mirjam Palosaari Eladhari blog about GGA Steven Milous blog Anders "Saint" Ekermo blog - Starbreeze Studios Dopefish blog - Starbreeze Studios