Held in conjunction with the renowned Expanded Conference (https://expanded-conf.org/) during the internationally acclaimed Ars Electronica Festival in Austria, this program provides a distinct platform for emerging scholars and practitioners. The Summer School commences with a workshop in Hagenberg, before transitioning to Linz, to the Expanded Conference and Ars Electronica Festival activities. This structure is designed to provide both focused skill development and broad exposure to the cutting edge of digital and interactive art.
The central theme of the Expanded Summer School 2025 is "Evaluating Games". This focus addresses a critical need within game development, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), and Digital Arts. Understanding how users experience and interact with games and interactive environments is paramount for creating engaging, effective, and meaningful experiences. The Summer School approaches this theme by connecting practical evaluation techniques to broader concepts relevant across digital media disciplines, including user experience (UX) in interactive installations, player engagement, and behavioral analysis in digital performance contexts.
The summer school presents an excellent opportunity for participants to enhance their knowledge in game evaluation and related interactive fields. Beyond the academic program, attendees can explore the rich cultural landscape of Upper Austria, meet international peers and experts, sketch new ideas, and significantly expand their professional networks. Successful completion of the Summer School program yields 3 ECTS credits, adding an academic benefit to the practical and networking advantages.
Main Focus: Evaluating Games in Expanded Realities
The program kicks off on Tuesday, September 2nd, with a full-day workshop dedicated to methods and practices of game evaluation. This session combines theoretical input with hands-on practice. It features impulse presentations from summer school organizers, providing insights into diverse evaluation methodologies. Participants will engage in practical playtesting sessions, offering a platform to apply learned concepts and evaluate games brought by fellow attendees, fostering a collaborative learning environment.
Following the workshop, the theme of evaluation continues as participants integrate into the Expanded Conference in Linz. The Summer School program curates specific conference activities, such as attending Expanded Play sessions showcasing interactive works, participating in relevant Expanded Talks, and engaging with the dedicated "Teaching Games" Education Panel. This panel features the Summer School organizers and potentially other academic partners, extending the discussion on pedagogical approaches within games research.
Students from partner institutions are free of charge! Students who are not from a partner university have to pay a tuition fee (350€).
All students have to bear the costs for housing and travelling costs.
Target Group
This program is intended for advanced Bachelor’s and Master’s students who have prior experience in designing and developing games.
Applicants should ideally have already developed their own game projects, as the Summer School will include sessions in which participants will test and explore each other's games. These hands-on activities are a key part of the program, and we are especially looking forward to the exchange of ideas and constructive feedback among participants.
Workshop Organizers
The Expanded Summer School is organized and led by three researchers and educators with complementary expertise in game design, HCI, and game analytics.
Application
Once you decide to apply for the "Summer School", please send an e-mail to
You will then receive a personalized registration link to our online application portal. You will be asked to upload the following documents:
- Current CV/Resume
- a Letter of Motivation
- Passport Scan
Application deadline: June 30, 2025.
Please note that due to limited capacities a total of four students per institution can be accepted. Competitive entry: We reserve the right to decline applicants.
Applicants will be notified about the outcome of the review and selection-process by mid July 2025
Once you have been accepted for the summer school, a single room in the dormitory on Campus will be automatically reserved for you.
Participation ist free for students from partner institutions. Others pay a €350 tution fee.
All students cover housing and travel cost.
If you prefer housing in the city of Linz, you have to take care of your reservation on your own
Please note that it is the student’s obligation to take care of visa arrangements for entry and the duration of their stay in Austria. For information about the visa requirements check the OeAD website https://oead.at/en/to-austria/entry-and-residence/
Accomodation
Student accomodation in Hagenberg
Student housing is available nearby, in the student dormitory "Studentenwerk"
Once you are accepted for the summer school, a room in the dormitory will be automatically reserved for you. All students will be accomodated in single rooms with a bathroom inside. A kitchen is available on each floor. A limited number of kitchen utensils is available to be borrowed in the International Office. The price for a single room is 34€/night.
Detailed Workshop Schedule (Tuesday, September 2, Hagenberg)
The following provisional schedule outlines the activities for the workshop day at FH OÖ Hagenberg Campus. The day is structured to blend expert input with practical application and peer-to-peer learning.
| Time | Session | Description | Speakers/Facilitator |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10:00 | Welcome & Kick-off | Introduction to the Expanded Summer School, the week´s agenda, and the focus of the workshop day. | Organizers |
| 10:15 - 12:00 | Impulse Talks: Game Evaluation Methods | Three concise expert presentations (approx. 30 min each) covering diverse theoretical and practical approaches to evaluating games and interactive experiences. | Simone Kriglstein, Günter Wallner, Michael Lankes |
| 12:00 - 13:00 | Lunch Break | Opportunity for informal networking. | |
| 13:00 - 13:30 | Game Introductions | Participants briefly present the games or interactive projects they have brought for the playtesting session. | Participants |
| 13:30 - 15:30 | Hands-on Playtesting Session | Interactive session where participants test and provide structured feedback on each other's games/projects, applying methods discussed in the morning talks. | All Participants, Facilitated by Organizers |
| 15:30 - 16:00 | Coffee Break | Refreshments and continued discussion. | |
| 16:00 - 16:45 | Panel Discussion: Game Dev Linz (TBC) | Insights from local game development professionals on the practical application of game evaluation in the industry, followed by an open Q&A session. | Game Dev Linz Representatives (TBC), Organizers |
| 16:45 - 17:00 | Closing Remarks & Transition Information | Summary of the workshop day's key takeaways and practical information regarding the transition to Linz for the Expanded Conference/Ars Electronica Festival. | Organizers |
Note: This schedule is provisional and subject to minor adjustments.
Conference Integration (Wednesday-Saturday, September 3-7, Linz)
From Wednesday morning, the Summer School activities merge seamlessly with the Expanded Conference, hosted at the Ars Electronica Center in Linz. Participants transition from the workshop setting to become attendees of the conference. While participants will have access to the broader conference and festival, the Summer School program specifically highlights and encourages engagement with:
- Expanded Play Sessions: Opportunities to experience and critically analyze interactive artworks and installations featured in the Expanded exhibition.1
- Selected Expanded Talks: Attendance at curated research and art paper presentations relevant to game evaluation, HCI, interactive art, and player experience.1 Recommendations may be provided by the organizers.
- "Teaching Games" Education Panel: A dedicated panel session featuring the Summer School organizers (Michael Lankes, Simone Kriglstein, Günter Wallner) and potentially representatives from partner universities. This session will delve into pedagogical strategies and challenges in teaching game design, development, and analysis, providing a unique academic perspective.
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