AV����

Students from Pace University’s Seidenberg School of Computer Science and Information Systems concluded the Spring 2025 semester with an international trip—by teaming up with peers from across Europe to take on disinformation through game design.

In May 2025, a group of Pace students from Seidenberg’s Game Development program traveled to Stuttgart, Germany, to participate in a unique international collaboration: the . Organized as part of the annual , the experience brought together students from Belgium, Finland, Ireland, Germany, and the United States for a week of creativity, cross-cultural connection, and hands-on learning.

The Game Jam was the culminating in-person phase of a Blended Intensive Programme (BIP), co-organized by several international universities and built around three core phases: digital preparation, international team-building, and finally, a 48-hour in-person challenge.

“Each team had someone from a different country,” said Carmine Guida, Clinical Assistant Professor of Information Technology at Seidenberg, who accompanied the Pace students. “They worked together to design games tackling the topic of disinformation—something every country is grappling with.”

The program kicked off with the Digital Learning Experience phase, which was an online foundational course on Game Design that allowed students to explore key concepts and tools necessary for the future stages of the program, particularly focusing on game mechanics, narrative design, and user experience. In the second online phase, the International Team-Building Workshop, teams from all participating countries focused on simulating real-world, international collaboration by equipping the students with cultural exchange and fostering communication skills across borders and time zones.

For the third and final phase of the program, students traveled to Stuttgart, Germany. The highlight of this phase was a 48-hour Game Jam, during which all participants delved into an intensive weekend of work with diverse and interdisciplinary teams, and resulted in the creation of exciting, inventive game prototypes. These fully playable games—available online through —were created by the international student teams consisting of artists, coders, and designers who united their various talents to bring their visions of fighting disinformation to life.

Following the Game Jam, students exhibited their work at the FMX Educational Fair, a multi-day expo. They demoed their games, explored VR and motion capture demos, and attended industry talks—including sessions with industry-leading artists that created Arcane.

Image

“The games and the overall experience were amazing,” Guida shared. “The students were able to see what’s possible and got a glimpse of where the industry is heading.” Pace students also staffed a university booth, representing Seidenberg and the larger Pace community to a global audience of professionals, educators, and students. Guida added that “it was great for them to have the opportunity to present both their universities and the results of the Game Jam at the FMX educational fair, allowing for broader exposure and networking with industry professionals and peers.”

As the Seidenberg students returned with new skills, broader perspectives, and playable proof of their creativity, they brought with them stories that extend far beyond the screen, ready to continue tackling real-world challenges.