Member of Parliament Iem al Bayati made a working visit to GameLab and the Dutch Games Association. She even played some student games, with Azuma’s Sacrifice her favourite.
The visit followed media coverage about the state of the Dutch games industry. After several studios went bankrupt, the Dutch Games Association called on the government to develop policy and recognise games as a strategic sector, like music and film.
Al Bayati had just taken her seat in Parliament, replacing a member on maternity leave. As a gamer and, at 28, younger than most MPs, she was drawn to the subject. She chose us for her first working visit.
At GameLab, she learned about the projects our students are currently working on, including the Healthcare Escape Room and TrustPort. There was also time to play. Azuma’s Sacrifice and .synth_protocol both impressed her.
The Dutch games sector
We discussed games, the talent emerging from Dutch universities and the sector’s importance to the Dutch economy and culture.
Although MPs represent different parties, games can unite people across political divides. It is a subject that resonates widely in society, certainly among the 92% of young people who play games, and deserves more attention.