The National Game Studies Congress took place from 7 to 8 November 2024, as part of Game Week celebrations under the European City of Science 2024 initiative. The event was organised by the Game Studies Research Centre (CBG) at the University of Silesia in Katowice.
Over the two days, the Kazimierz Lepszy Hall at the University of Silesia Rectorate and the Rawa.Ink spaces hosted leading experts in game studies from across Poland. The Congress also welcomed student representatives from game studies research groups, who contributed to a poster exhibition that added a vibrant touch to the event.
Day #1
The Congress began with a panel discussion on the state of game studies research in Poland, moderated by Michał Kłosiński, PhD, DSc, Assoc. Prof. – Director of CBG and curator of Game Week. His panellists included: Jan Stasieńko, PhD, DSc (University of Lower Silesia in Wrocław); Agata Zarzycka, PhD, DSc (University of Wrocław); Mirosław Filiciak, PhD, DSc (SWPS University); Joanna Pigulak, PhD (Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań); Tomasz Z. Majkowski, PhD, DSc (Jagiellonian University in Cracow).
The day also featured discussions on the broader contexts of game studies by Prof. Sonia Fizek from Cologne Game Lab and Marcin Nowak from the Katowice Gaming and Technology Hub. This was followed by a presentation of student research groups dedicated to game studies across Poland, moderated by Kacper Karwacki, and a showcase of game studies centres led by Joanna Pigulak, PhD.
The Congress then split into two parallel sessions: At the rectorate building, a panel on research methodology and archiving was moderated by Justyna Janik, PhD (Jagiellonian University), while at Rawa.Ink a session on the humanities in game studies was chaired by Magdalena Bednorz, PhD (main organiser of the Congress and a member of CBG, University of Silesia).
Day #2
The second day opened with a discussion on teaching game studies and game creation in practice, led by Magdalena Bednorz, PhD featuring: Agnieszka Kliś-Brodowska, PhD (CBG); Joanna Pigulak, PhD; Małgorzata Majkowska, MSc (Jagiellonian University) and Magdalena Cielecka, PhD (Jagiellonian University).
Participants then chose between two streams: at the rectorate building: panels on historical research in digital games and the social contexts and applications of games, while At Rawa.Ink: talks on participatory culture and game studies pedagogy. The Congress concluded with a plenary session back at the Rectorate.
The entire event was live-streamed (without recording), and the full programme is available on the Centre for Game Studies website.
The Congress was organised by members of the CBG: Magdalena Bednorz, PhD; Prof. Michał Kłosiński (curator of Game Week); Weronika Cygan-Adamczyk (Game Week producer); Agnieszka Kliś-Brodowska, PhD; Bartosz Stopel, PhD, Assoc. Prof.; with support from Aneta Knapik (Game Week producer and University of Silesia’s Public Procurement Department employee).
