A Beautiful Sunny Spring Day in Zagreb, and We're at the Inofobip Campus Building

Wondering why? Well, there's a good reason, and it was worth every second spent there!

For the third year in a row, Stemi invited us to their annual event promoting STEM in schools, Innovation Day 2024. Of course, as good colleagues working towards the same goal and partners who respect their contribution to popularizing STEM in Croatian society, we responded with our popular VIDI X project.

Pictures from the event speak a thousand words, as students once again this year besieged our VIDI X arena from early morning, where we organized a competition in the popular game Tic-Tac-Toe. This game is actually one of our more popular workshops in our large repository of 100 different workshops that teachers and students can use when working with VIDI X. Attractive Whiteshark prizes once again delighted students from all over Croatia.

The entire VIDI X competition was broadcast live on YouTube and on the large central "jumbo" screen, so it could be followed by hundreds of students who could not get to the VIDI X arena itself to see the competitors fight it out head-to-head.

After the competition, students and teachers were able to see our new VIDI X Rover project, which we are currently working on and which will showcase all the possibilities and splendor of VIDI X in the field of robotics, artificial intelligence, and smart connected sensor systems in one autonomous robotic vehicle. It will be the VIDI X Lab on wheels Students were also able to play the VIDI X Car-race award-winning game in our first VIDi X Game development challenge, which was developed by students from the technical school in Čakovec.

Thanks to Stemi and thanks to all the interested students who crowded around the VIDI X stand this year, and we didn't have enough space to include all of them in the competition, so they could only cheer loudly. Next year we're keeping our fingers crossed that they too will be part of this VIDI X fun circus! See you soon!

Source: hr.vidi-x.org, 14.05.2024.

The Global Game Jam 2024 in Novska, organized by the Entrepreneurship Incubator PISMO powered by A1 and the Croatian Association of Game Developers HU-IZ-VI, once again had the highest number of participants across Croatia. Over 80 competitors formed 19 teams, competing for rich prizes provided by A1 Croatia Ltd., the White Shark gaming gear brand, VIDI media house, the regional gaming magazine Reboot, and Coeto. Participants from all over Croatia were welcomed by a large organizational team and numerous entertaining activities in Novska's sports hall.

The opening of the competition was hosted by Iris Pilipović, who introduced all those involved in the organization and greeted the attendees on behalf of the PISMO Incubator powered by A1. Welcome speeches were also given by Dominik Cvetkovski from the HU-IZ-VI association, Andreja Šeperac representing the Regional Coordinator of SMŽ and the Development Agency of Sisak-Moslavina County SI-MO-RE, Deputy Mayor of Novska Siniša Kesić, Benjamin Noah Maričak from the Croatian Audiovisual Centre, Maja Fistrić from A1 Croatia Ltd., and Mihael Jurić, Deputy County Prefect of Sisak-Moslavina County. They extended good wishes to the participants for a successful placement and expressed hopes for more gamedev events.

This year, a workshop was organized for participants, focusing on the importance of preserving online health – combating hate speech! #BetterOnline is a platform by A1 Croatia Ltd. aiming to make the internet a safer and more positive place for everyone. By highlighting the benefits and dangers of technology, the goal is to contribute to health, well-being, and connectivity. Participants had a moment for exercise, lifting themselves from their workstations to activate their bodies for a few minutes before returning to their development world.

The theme of this year's competition was "Make Me Laugh." The competition concluded on January 28th at 5 PM when completed works were presented and evaluated by the expert jury. The jury, consisting of Kristijan Škarica (Gepek, Coeto i Degenerika), Mladen Bošnjak (Misfit Village), Daniela Spasovska (MAGDA), Vedran Klanac (Ocean Media), and Dominik Cvetkovski (ANIQ), assessed completed video games. Besides the best video game, they evaluated the best gameplay, graphics, and the best presentation of completed works.

The winners, who received €1,500, a PlayStation 5 Bundle, and six months of VIDI content subscription, created a video game titled "No Need For Speed," which also had the best gameplay in the competition. The winners in the high school category were awarded WhiteShark brand equipment and a subscription to VIDI content, creating a video game called "Zagorje Simulator." In the adult category, awards were also given to the video games "Širok Šor" (2nd place and best graphics) and "Eggstinction" (3rd place). In the high school category, "Eggmageddon" took 2nd place, and the video game "Z.O.O." took 3rd place. The video game "Comic's Sons" received the award for the best presentation. The awards for the adult categories were presented by Maja Fistrić from A1 Croatia Ltd., Andreja Šeperac, and Ivana Matanović from the Regional Coordinator of SMŽ, while the high school awards were presented by the WhiteShark team.

"We are proud to be part of the Global Game Jam story where gaming enthusiasts showcase their skills and ideas, further contributing to the empowerment of this industry. Supporting this project is a continuation of the successful collaboration between A1 Croatia and the PISMO incubator powered by A1, based on a shared vision of the gaming ecosystem as a space for enhancing the knowledge and skills of young people and developing top-notch ideas responsibly. These values are implemented in all our projects, among which I would particularly highlight Reboot InfoGamer powered by A1, A1 Adria League, and the #BetterOnline platform through which we educate the public about responsible behavior in the online world and promote fair play," said Maja Fistrić, Corporate Communications Expert at A1 Croatia, during the award ceremony.

Well-known gaming influencer Anril congratulated the winners and emphasized that the WhiteShark brand always gladly supports young gamedevelopers, creating equipment precisely tailored to their and gamers' needs. With that goal in mind, the lightest mouse in Europe was created - Graphene, which is coming to market these days, weighing only 47 g, and was in the hands of the winning team.

Source: inkubator-pismo.hr, January 29, 2024.

The Global Game Jam 2024 in Novska, organized by the Entrepreneurship Incubator PISMO powered by A1 and the Croatian Association of Game Developers HU-IZ-VI, once again boasts the highest number of participants nationwide. Over 80 competitors form 19 teams, vying for prizes provided by A1 Croatia Ltd., White Shark gaming gear brand, VIDI media house, Reboot regional gaming magazine, and Coeto. Participants from across Croatia were welcomed by a large organizational team and numerous entertainment activities in Novska's sports hall.

The competition's opening, led by Iris Pilipović, introduced the organizing entities and greeted the attendees on behalf of the PISMO Incubator powered by A1. Welcome speeches were also given by Dominik Cvetkovski from HU-IZ-VI, Andreja Šeperac representing the Regional Coordinator of SMŽ and the Development Agency of Sisak-Moslavina County SI-MO-RE, Novska's Deputy Mayor Siniša Kesić, Benjamin Noah Maričak from the Croatian Audiovisual Centre, Maja Fistrić from A1 Croatia Ltd., and Mihael Jurić, Deputy County Prefect of Sisak-Moslavina County. They extended good wishes to the participants for a successful competition and expressed hopes for more gamedev events.

This year, participants will also engage in a workshop focusing on the importance of preserving online health – combating hate speech! #BetterOnline is a platform by A1 Croatia Ltd. aimed at making the internet a safer and more positive space for everyone. By highlighting the benefits and dangers of technology, the goal is to contribute to health, well-being, and connectivity. Competitors will also have a moment for exercise, lifting themselves from their workstations to activate their bodies for a few minutes before returning to their development world.

The theme of this year's competition is "Make Me Laugh." The competition concludes on January 28th at 5 PM, followed by the presentation of completed works and evaluation by the expert jury. Completed video games will be assessed by the jury, consisting of Kristijan Škarica (Gepek, Coeto i Degenerika), Nikola Kovač (Academy of Arts and Culture in Osijek), Daniela Spasovska (MAGDA), Vedran Klanac (Ocean Media), and Dominik Cvetkovski (ANIQ). The judging criteria include the best gameplay, graphics, and presentations of completed works.

The best adult team will receive a prize of €1,500, a Playstation 5 Bundle, and a subscription to the VIDI magazine. The best high school team will be awarded a set of White Shark brand equipment. Reboot gaming magazine will also reward the top-ranked teams with an Indie package for two people for one of the world's largest boutique games conferences – Reboot Develop Blue 2024, taking place in Dubrovnik from April 22nd to 24th this year. Coeto will grant the top teams free three-year access to the platform, and all other participants will receive one year of free access. Additionally, sponsors of this year's competition include Monster Energy, Coca-Cola, PC play, and the Croatian Audiovisual Centre.

Source: inkubator-pismo.hr, January 27, 2024.

Zagreb, January 23, 2024 - The computer game development industry is constantly growing, both globally and in Croatia, where today we gather an exceptional number of young talents and knowledge for the further development of creative projects, the legendary video game designer and producer pointed out in his keynote speech. John Alfonso Romero, at the Future Perspectives of Game Development conference, which was held yesterday at the University of Algebra in Zagreb.

The video game development industry (game development) in the world in 2022 generated revenues of about 185 billion US dollars, and by 2025 globally this figure will exceed 300 billion dollars, making it one of the most profitable and fastest growing sectors of the world economy.

The conference was opened by associate professor, Ph.D. Mislav Balković, rector of the University of Algebra: "Last year we held our first Global Game Jam and launched an undergraduate professional study of computer game development, all in celebration of 25 years, which we crowned with the status of a University. We are happy that we are slowly but strongly building a game dev and gaming community in Algebra - yesterday our students held the first esports tournament entirely organized by our University, with the support of our partners Telemach Hrvatska and White Shark, and today after the conference we are opening Global Game Jam that will once again gather a bunch of young enthusiasts and creatives ready to make their first games. Croatia can certainly become a place where the computer and video game industry will develop and grow, especially now that the new S3 Strategy has the entire ICT community focused on greater productivity of the sector."

Romero's keynote speech began with a story about his difficult childhood, full of moves, accidents and very difficult life situations. Born in Colorado, as an American of Cherokee and Mexican roots, by the age of ten he lived through horror worse than is present in most of his games, and it was this unfortunate life story that encouraged him to develop a career characterized by extreme efforts and an exemplary work ethic. By the end of the eighties, he had already developed numerous games, while at the beginning of the nineties he turned to 3D graphics and games from the FPS genre, which brought a revolution to the video game market. The first game they developed within their own id Software company was Wolfenstein 3D, which was based on a popular game from the eighties, and was developed in just 4 months, but the most demanding game on which he worked for the longest time was definitely Quake, from which they later developed numerous other successful games. Romero is still best known for Doom, which he played yesterday in Algebra with his biggest fans without losing a single game.

In addition to Romer, the conference was attended by many well-known faces from the domestic computer and video game development industry, and the panel on new technologies and AI discussed the opportunities and possible turbulences that will be faced by creatives in teams that do not adapt sufficiently to technology. quickly.

"Global Game Jam is an opportunity for all young enthusiasts to, in addition to playing, try their hand at the demanding skill of creating their own games by working in diverse teams. White Shark is proud to support GGJ and the esports competition organized by Algebra University, which we believe will be even better than last year. Our mission is aimed at encouraging responsible and sustainable gaming and developing games that are a quality incentive for young people to build an entrepreneurial spirit, while thinking about security in an increasingly challenging online environment" - said Stjepan Šmit, founder and owner of the White Shark brand, which this year provided rich awards for Algebra's esports tournament and Global Game Jam.

Source: GameHub, 23.01.2024.

Gamedev Dayz x John Romero starts on Sunday 1/21/2024! We are opening the event with the first eSport turnament organized by the University of Algebra, in which the best four teams will compete in CS2. Our exclusive connectivity partner Telemach Hrvatska took care of a flawless gaming experience via the fastest optical network, and the prizes were provided by White Shark Gaming and Carta Magica in addition to Telemach.

January 22, 2024. Conference - Future Perspectives of Game Development

Algebra University continuously monitors the latest trends and progress in the game development industry and in January 2024 is organizing a conference:

"Future Perspectives of Game Development: Education, Creativity & Business Opportunities"

which will be held on Monday, January 22, 2024, starting at 9:30 a.m. in Algebra Spark Event Space, Gradišćanska 24, Zagreb

The goal of the conference is to inspire and educate students and experts in the video game development industry and to open a conversation about opportunities and challenges in the environment. As part of the conference, speeches by key representatives of the game development industry and technology companies from the ICT sector are scheduled. We will try to introduce the latest trends and future perspectives in the field of video game development to the guests, and as part of the conference there will be a panel discussion attended by industry representatives, entrepreneurs, decision makers and other relevant participants.

SPECIAL GUEST – JOHN ROMERO

The special guest at the conference will be none other than the legendary game designer and industry icon, John Alfonso Romero. His contribution to the gaming world is widely recognized, and his presence will attract significant media and public attention and contribute to the overall attendance of the event. Romero is the author of the famous games Doom, Quake, Wolfenstein and the popularizer of the so-called FPS genre. He is the co-founder of the id Software production studio and is the recipient of several international awards in the field of game development, including the Lifetime Achievement Award from GDC in 2023.

Other accolades include:

MIT Technology Review TR100 Innovators Under 35

Time Magazine's Cyber Elite 50 #36, The top 50 tech elite of the year

Time Magazine's Cyber Elite 50 #40, The top 50 tech elite of the year

The Most Influential People in Computer Gaming of All Time

At the conference, Romero will address the audience as a keynote speaker and hold a 1-on-1 Q&A session with journalists and interested visitors.

Source: Algebra.hr,

The video game development industry in Croatia records constant growth in revenue and employees, by 2025 global revenue of 300 billion dollars is expected.

By launching a new study program, Algebra will provide future game developers with modern, competitive knowledge and skills needed to work in this fast-growing industry!

The promising industry of video game development (game development), which in 2022 is expected to generate 184.4 billion dollars globally, employs various types of professionals, including programmers, producers, designers, writers and many other creative and artistic professions. The global video game development industry is expected to reach a revenue of as much as 300 billion dollars by 2025, making it one of the most lucrative and fastest growing sectors of the world economy, it was said at today's Games to Career conference where Algebra presented its new undergraduate development program computer games.

Marin Piletić, Minister of Labor, Pension System, Family and Social Policy, congratulated Algebra on the launch of the new study program: "The first generation of game developers is graduating from the technical school in Sisak, and next year we will also have the first generation from Novska, which is currently undergoing an experimental program , so this study program was launched at the right moment. The development of the gaming industry depended on a small number of pioneers who, even without systematic support, did a lot. They were a guide and a bright spot that showed us where we could support one of the fastest growing industries in the world. The Ministry included gaming in the Law on Audiovisual Activities, which made it possible to finance this promising industry, while HZZ gave its approval through the employment program at the Pismo incubator in Novska. Step by step we have reached higher education, we take the game development industry seriously and will continue to work to ensure that it is better positioned in the overall Croatian economy.

Mislav Balković, dean of the College of Algebra at the conference held in Algebra explained in his opening address the motivation behind the launch of this new study program: "We underestimated the power of the Croatian IT industry in attracting young people and opening new jobs. Experience has shown us that over 87% of Algebra students already find a job during their studies, that is why it is important to make an additional contribution to the game development industry through an undergraduate course dedicated to the development of computer games. Our program perfectly complements the high school vocational program that already exists in Sisak. We tried to cover knowledge from several areas, the dominant part is programming knowledge and skills, and a third of the content goes to production, storytelling and other creative elements. We want to position Croatia as a leading country in game development in this part of the world, and starting a professional studio is the first step in that direction."

At the panel discussion Game changers - How to engage and retain a new generation of game creators, experts from the ICT and game development industry and the Cluster of Croatian video game producers shared their experiences.

"We cannot compete with China and developed Asian countries, every electronic component is produced there. We are trying to bring part of the industry back to Croatia especially because we have seen the kind of problem that arises when all the industry is concentrated in one place and how risky it is. It is very difficult to bring an industry to Croatia that would produce hardware equipment, but on the software side, we have great potential" - said Stjepan Šmit, owner of the White Shark brand specializing in the production of gaming equipment.

At the event in cooperation with the White Shark brand, Algebra announced the possibility of winning a scholarship for students who demonstrate special excellence in education, and an agreement was signed on cooperation with industry leaders - companies interested in providing professional practice in the field of computer garage development to students of Algebra's new studio.

Source: Algebra.hr, 23.05.2023. 

Domestic gaming brand White Shark awards a full scholarship for all four years of the undergraduate study of computer game development at Algebra. The criteria for winning the scholarship are a completed scholarship application, grades from high school that must have an overall average of at least 4.2, and submission of an independent project in the field of computer game development.

Algebra recently introduced its new undergraduate study in computer game development, which is designed with the aim of providing modern and market-competitive knowledge and skills necessary for computer game development in the areas of programming, creating gaming experiences, design, production, marketing and business planning:

"With the new study program, our goal is to provide students with an insight into as many different and necessary segments of video game creation as possible. Although the study base is in developer and programming courses, a third of the program relates to courses in game design, production, artistic and creative aspects, and the basics of marketing , monetization and business. In addition to the above, we also have hybrid courses that require knowledge from different fields such as level design or visual effects, which perfectly outlines the multidisciplinarity of the video game industry. We want to train young people for the labor market, but also to create their own, independent projects and to help them dare to enter the world of entrepreneurship and we believe that the White Shark scholarship will be a good wind at their backs and the first step in that direction" - said Igor Margan, head of Algebra's undergraduate study of computer game development.

White Shark is a recognized brand in the world of gaming, and by cooperating with numerous influencers and brand ambassadors, they have become the most famous brand in the region. Their products have found their way into the rooms of many young and slightly older recreational gamers, as well as many passionate and very serious players around the world.

"With the scholarship, we want to support gaming enthusiasts and all young people who see their career future in the promising industry of video game development. We believe that young people should be provided with conditions for education that will enable them to, in addition to playing games, also create games themselves and thereby develop the skills necessary for jobs of the future" - said Stjepan Šmit, owner of the White Shark brand.

From February 3rd to 5th, the Croatian version of the world competition in making video games - Global Game Jam - was held in Novska. The organizers of this gamedev event are the Entrepreneurial Incubator PISMO powered by A1 and the Croatian Association of Video Game Makers HU-IZ-VI. In recent years, the number of competitors has increased, and the number of patrons has also increased with it. This year, the awards were provided by A1 Hrvatska d.o.o., the gaming equipment brand White Shark and the media company VIDI. The program that awaits the competitors was presented at the press conference held in the PISMO gaming incubator.

The competition takes place in two categories of programmers - teams of adults and high school students. Prizes for adults are provided by PISMO incubator, A1 Hrvatska and VIDI media house. First place: 1400 euros + Nintendo Switch Console + 6 months subscription to VIDI content. Second place: 500 euros + Nintendo Switch Console + 6 months subscription to VIDI content. Third place: 300 euros + Nintendo Switch Console + 6 months subscription to VIDI content. Prizes for high school teams for the best three placed teams are provided by White Shark in a wide range of products for each person in the team with a six-month subscription to VIDI content, with the total value of the prizes for high school students being 2,500 euros.

The competition to create a video game on a given topic lasts 48 hours, and is accompanied by entertainment. Namely, the chill zone will serve as a break for competitors and everyone following the competition. It will be possible to try out a gaming table with mobile games as well as a raising chair, and a chill quiz is planned for everyone who wants to step away from the screen.

Considering that one of the goals of the organizers is to draw attention to the raising of environmental awareness, it was also pointed out at the conference that the competition will be "plastic free", and that they will try to throw out plastic, and use only recycled ones. Stjepan Šmit, the owner of the White Shark gaming equipment brand, emphasized this very topic as one of the points of contact with the PISMO incubator in this competition. Namely, their company "Let s care about each other" emphasizes the protection of sharks and the use of recycled plastic extracted from the sea as an important part of its business.

Media company VIDI and their representative Tomislav Kotnik have been following gaming for many years and are eagerly awaiting this year's edition of GGJ. "Gaming and PISMO incubator are for us an example of how the economic image of a city can be developed, and that's why we support this competition," said Kotnik.

"At A1 Hrvatska, we recognize the PISMO incubator powered by A1 as an important partner with whom we share the vision of the future of the gaming ecosystem, which is primarily based on the education and training of young people. Therefore, in our work, we place emphasis on projects that support these values, and I must especially highlight our A1 Adria League, which celebrated its jubilee tenth birthday last fall. We strive every day to spread a positive influence and provide basic infrastructure to all our users of communication services, as well as to the many gamers we gather with the quality of our 5G and optical network," said Iva Ančić, head of brand, marketing communications and digital business, A1 Croatia.

"This event grows from year to year, this is shown by the number of competitors, partners and increasingly better prizes provided by our sponsors! Thank you to everyone who recognized us as the center of the Croatian gaming industry! We challenge all game developers to show their dexterity and creativity and last 48 hours!", said Andreja Šeperac from the PISMO incubator and Dominik Cvetkovski from the HU-IZ-VI association. In addition to the organizers and sponsors, there are also a number of partners who help the organization, the most prominent of which are the Reboot magazine, the utility company Novokom, the Novska High School, the Sisak Technical School, the City of Novska, the Development Agency SIMORA, the Regional Coordinator SMŽ and the County of Sisak-Moslavina.