Game School Expo is an important arena
Game School Expo is an annual showcase and event at the Game School on Hamar campus. Here, students, staff, and professionals from the gaming and media industries are invited to talks and workshops. The students at the Game School get the opportunity to present their work from the past year to the relevant industry, fellow students and staff through gallery, game testing, and showcase.
And, Game School Expo is more than just a showcase for students. It is also an arena where students, alumni and industry professionals can come together, share ideas, and find new collaborative opportunities.
Inspiring and good collaboration between the studies
One of the participating companies, Snow Leaf Studios, is led by Isak Wahl, a former student of the Game School.
– I started here in 2019, and that is when I got to meet artists. That is what is so great about INN University. Here, you have programming students who focus a lot on game programming, and then you have artists who focus on everything within digital art, like animation, concept art, and 3D modeling. Working together on projects first of all creates friendships, but it also fosters a fascination for creating games and the creativie works that can be made together.
– I believe that the Game School has managed to establish a very good combination and collaboration between the two bachelor programmes, which results in creating entrepreneurs. Additionally, events like Game Expo and Global Game Jam spark inspiration. Here, you can see examples of what is possible to achieve and realise that it is possible to achieve for yourself.
Important networking
– The gaming industry might not be huge in Norway yet, but locally, there are many eager to help. When we were students at the end of our bachelor's degrees, we received a lot of help from those around us to start businesses and figure out how to do it. These social events that bring students, the university and the industry together are extremely important for good collaboration. Networking is crucial! That is why I also recommend anyone considering starting something for themselves to attend these conferences. Come to meet people, talk to publishers, talk to other students and business people to gain insight. And the courses are very good! Instead of trying to do a bit of everything, there is a more specialised focus within the fields that are important and sought after in the gaming industry, says Isak Wahl.
Close collaboration with the students
– An event like this is important as a showcase for our students. But it is also important to make the Game School more known. Saying that you come from the Game School shows that you come from a quality education, and that makes it easier for our students when they go out to apply for jobs, says head of study programme Bård Gunnerud. – That is an important reason as to why we have these types of events. And we have a close collaboration with the student organisation Valmuen, which is the student association for the Game School, to make this an event of the students as well. It is important that they have a significant ownership and take control of what this event should be, and we are well on our way to succeeding with that. It is fun to see, continues Bård.
Exposure is important
– I would also like to add that events like this, where you are given the opportunity to showcase your work, help push students to do their best, and that is a crucial motivational factor, explains Isak. – It helps to set goals and deadlines for yourself, and here, the university helps students showcase themselves to the industry. Having this in your portfolio when applying for jobs is valuable.
– Exposure is extremely important, and it is a good way for students to learn how to present themselves. It might be a bit frightening for some, so it is good to practice, elaborates Gunnerud.
Strong participation
In total, there were about 150 participants this time, including students, industry professionals and other interested parties. - This is the third time we have organised this event physically, and we will continue to work on it in the future. It is encouraging to see that we grow each year, says Gunnerud. There have been participants who have worked many years in the industry both nationally and internationally, so this is an important arena for our students.
– It is just getting better and better. Everyone has shown their best side. And I think it is very cool that this is happening in Hamar! concludes Isak Wahl.
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