What a fantastic, sun-drenched day at the HHS EXPO in the Dutch Innovation Factory! Despite the tropical temperatures, the atmosphere buzzed with energy. The floor was filled with enthusiastic students, impressive projects and an abundance of playable games. Once again, the event showed how The Hague University of Applied Sciences has become a serious player, forging seamless connections with the games industry.
GameLab shines with Taskfall, .synth_protocol and InnovA58
At GameLab, we showcased several projects that make us incredibly proud. Visitors could try Taskfall and .synth_protocol, among others. Both games had recently made a strong impression at INDIGO, and once again the laptops we brought along were almost constantly in use.
A very different kind of project also attracted plenty of attention: InnovA58. This serious game, commissioned by Rijkswaterstaat, is nearing completion. It is an interactive application that makes complex water management around motorways understandable. Visitors and experts were deeply impressed by the way complex data had been translated into a clear visual experience.
Game Development minor: Mayor in the Middle takes the prize
Competition within the Game Development minor was fierce this year, but one game stood out above the rest and took the top prize: Mayor in the Middle.
In this beautifully designed strategy game, you play a caterpillar accidentally blown into an anthill. Your task? Stay on good terms with all the different insects and animals while maintaining the political balance. Built entirely in the Godot engine, the game stood out for its remarkably high level of polish and exceptionally well-balanced gameplay. An outstanding achievement by the student team.
A heavyweight jury
This year's jury demonstrated that the HHS EXPO has become a regular fixture on the games industry calendar. None other than Karel Mořický (Creative Lead at Bohemia Interactive), Silvio Nannings (Artist at BattleForge Game Studio) and Ernst Luring (Lead Game Developer at Roost Games) assessed the student projects.
Also attending was Arash Asroush, CEO of The Hague-based studio Lucky Kat. The presence of such prominent figures underlines how closely HHS now works with the professional sector and how high the standard of these students has become.
Innovative Development & De Spoedkamer Escape Room
It was not only the dedicated game students who made their mark; Innovative Development students also presented their innovative concepts. One project particularly stood out: De Spoedkamer.
This concept for a healthcare technology escape room was created through a unique collaboration between the Experimenteerhuis and GameLab. Fleur Derwort, a member of Welthuis's innovation team, was closely involved in supervising the project. What made it particularly special was the crossover: vocational and secondary school students also contributed to the escape room. Their fresh, creative ideas were surprisingly well developed and showed that healthcare innovation is alive at every educational level.
It was a hot but, above all, extremely inspiring day, showing that the future of the Dutch games and technology industry is in safe hands. Many thanks to all the students, partners, jury members and visitors for attending and contributing.
On to the next edition!
