Gaming & E-Sports Heidelberg
The event took place from October 21 to 30, 2022 in the historic setting of Heidelberg Castle, which perfectly matched the medieval setting of the games and created a unique atmosphere. more about Wololo
What is e-sports?
E-sports, also known as electronic sports, is a form of organized competition in which players compete against each other in various video games. Similar to traditional sports, there are also professional players, teams and tournaments in e-sports.
Unimaginable without it
Starting with simple games like PONG, video games have become an integral part of the entertainment industry. The market for games is constantly growing, driven by innovations in technology, graphics and gameplay. The influence of games extends beyond pure entertainment and into areas such as education and healthcare.
Art and games
Art is also finding its way into the world of games. Games are increasingly being recognized as an artistic medium that offers complex stories, impressive graphics and emotional experiences. These artistic elements contribute to video games being perceived not only as entertainment, but also as an art form.
Positive aspects of video games
Video games also have a positive impact on the lives of many people. Not only do they provide entertainment, but they can also help to strengthen social bonds, improve cognitive skills and reduce stress. Through targeted use, video games can even be used in education and healthcare to support learning and therapy. An important aspect here are so-called “serious games”, i.e. games that have a serious purpose beyond their entertainment value, such as the simulation of medical procedures for educational purposes or the support of therapies for certain illnesses.
Gaming and ESports Heidelberg
In Heidelberg, a city with a rich history and a strong connection to science and technology as well as being home to the renowned University of Heidelberg, young people are also showing a keen interest in the up-and-coming games industry. The emergence of gaming events and fairs in Germany has helped to further increase interest in games and promote the diversity of gaming culture. These events provide a platform for gamers, developers and artists to exchange ideas and discover new trends in the industry.
GamesHub Heidelberg
GamesHub Heidelberg is a competence center from Baden-Württemberg that specializes in the development of game applications in the fields of health and life sciences.
Health Life Science
An important focus of the GamesHub’s work is the development of game applications for therapeutic, preventive and educational purposes in the field of Health Life Science. The GamesHub Heidelberg acts as an interface between the gaming industry and the healthcare sector and helps to create synergies between the two areas. Through the development of innovative game applications, new opportunities for health promotion, prevention and therapy are created and at the same time the potential of video games as a tool for positively changing lifestyle habits and health behavior is exploited.
Usage
One example of a GamesHub Heidelberg initiative is the collaboration with Heidelberg University Hospital, Department of Dentistry, to develop a game application to promote oral hygiene and educate about periodontitis. In this project, games developers, dentists and health experts are working together to develop a mobile game that motivates adult patients to maintain their daily oral hygiene routines and at the same time imparts knowledge about periodontitis.
E-sports events in Heidelberg
Heidelberger E-Sport Tage
Diese Veranstaltung wurde organisiert
vom Jugendgemeinderat Heidelberg in Zusammenarbeit mit dem Stadtjugendring Heidelberg und eSport Rhein-Neckar, sind zu einem jährlichen Highlight in der Gaming-Szene der Stadt geworden. Dieses spannendes Event findet unter der Leitung und Unterstützung des Oberbürgermeisters Prof. Dr. Eckart Würzner statt.
Das dreitägige Event bietet Schülern weiterführender Schulen die Möglichkeit, in Schul-Teams gegeneinander anzutreten und ihre Fähigkeiten in verschiedenen Videospielen unter Beweis zu stellen. Jeden Tag wird ein anderes Videospiel gespielt und es gibt einen Preis zu gewinnen.
Die ersten E-sport Tage fanden vom 03.November bis 05.November 2021 statt. Gespielt wurden die Spiele:
League of Legends, CounterStrike und FIFA22.
Man konnte das Event ebenfalls von Zuhause aus über Twitch verfolgen.
Thanks to its great popularity, the event was repeated in subsequent years. This event not only promotes enthusiasm for gaming and e-sports, but also fosters cohesion within the student body and the integration of digital media into education and leisure activities at a time when everyone has access to digital media.
Red Bull Wololo Heidelberg
The Red Bull Wololo is not just an e-sports tournament, but also a tribute to the popular real-time strategy game series Age of Empires, which celebrated its 25th anniversary with this event, making it the largest Age of Empires tournament to date. The event took place from October 21 to 30, 2022 in the historic setting of Heidelberg Castle, which perfectly matched the medieval setting of the games and created a unique atmosphere.
Professional players from all over the world traveled to Heidelberg to take part in this e-sports event. They battled in the various parts of the Age of Empires series – from Age of Empires I: The Rise of Rome to Age of Empires II and the latest offshoot, Age of Empires IV. You could experience the action on site or stream it from home. On the final day, the event reached its climax when the finalists met in the throne room of the castle.
Outdoor games
The Heidelberg scavenger hunt
In addition to e-sports or playing on consoles, there is another interesting way to enjoy games outdoors.
City & Quest
One example of this is the city puzzle game “City & Quest”. In this game, a cell phone or tablet is used as a navigator and for entering puzzle solutions. The equipment needed to solve the exciting and tricky puzzles is provided. A group consists of 2 to 6 people. The tour starts in Heidelberg’s Old Town and requires the cooperation and combination skills of all participants. After the approximately 3-kilometer route with 11 stations, a 3-course meal awaits you at the end of the adventure in a restaurant in the Old Town.
Training and studying Game Design Heidelberg
SRH Hochschule Heidelberg is a renowned educational institution that offers degree programs and training in the field of game development and 3D. These are aimed at prospective professionals who want to turn their passion for games and digital art into a professional career
Studies in Heidelberg
Students have the opportunity to deepen their knowledge and skills in various courses such as Game Design, Game Programming or Digital Arts. They not only learn about the technical aspects of game development, but also the creative and conceptual processes behind the creation of video games.
Training in Heidelberg
In addition, SRH Heidelberg also offers training courses that are specifically tailored to the needs of the video games industry. These courses impart practice-oriented skills and knowledge through projects and project coordination, enabling graduates to enter the world of work directly and work on real projects.
Career opportunities
Studying or training at SRH Heidelberg opens up a wide range of career prospects for graduates in the video games industry and beyond. In addition to positions in game development, they can also find work in related areas such as web development, IT, 3D modeling and animation. The skills and expertise learned are not limited to the games industry, but also offer opportunities to gain a foothold in other digital media industries and creative sectors.