LUDIC CULTURE HUB

Games are a significant economic and cultural sector and shape social interaction, creative practice and civic participation. In the last 20 years, Zurich has established itself as a centre for game design, development and research. The universities offer relevant degree programmes and research units, complemented by a growing industry centred around the Swiss Game Hub. Until now, however, there has been no shared structure to bring these areas of expertise together and bridge disciplinary boundaries.

The LUDIC CULTURE HUB is taking on this role. A physical space is being created–located at the Swiss Game Hub–where Zurich’s four universities will work alongside industry, the education sector and public institutions on research, teaching and cultural outreach in the field of games. The LUDIC CULTURE HUB takes a broad view of ‘ludic culture’–as the practice of playing through ideas, scenarios and possible futures, not merely as gaming in the narrower sense.

The collaboration is structured around four dimensions, each led by a different university:

• Ludic Social Analysis (UZH) examines the societal impacts of games;
• Ludic Experience and Experiments (ZHdK) explores ludic methods for design, art and research and maintains a collection of historical game devices and games;
• Ludic Education (PHZH) explores and shapes meaningful uses of games in education;
• Ludic Sustainability (ZHAW) focuses on games as a means of promoting sustainability, as well as on the sustainability of the games industry itself.

Cross-cutting themes such as digital literacy, artificial intelligence and inclusion are integrated into all dimensions.

Implementation takes place through specific flagship initiatives with clearly defined outcomes, supported by the universities in collaboration with industry and educational partners such as the Volksschulamt Zurich, the Sustainable Game Alliance, the Swiss Game Developers Association, the Game Technology Center at the ETH Zurich and the Cologne Game Lab, as well as with other DIZH structures like IMMERSE and DHD LL. 

In doing so, the LUDIC CULTURE HUB establishes a lasting institutional home for game research, education and cultural practice in Zurich, one designed to grow beyond its initial funding phase into a long-term foundation for interdisciplinary collaboration.