56th ISAGA Conference 2025 & 35rd European Simulation Game Forum

Event
15th to 18th July 2025 – Stuttgart
Screenshot of Sustain2030 PLAN B presentation. Contents: Facing inequalities in PLAN B: → Inequalities as challenge that need to be solved to be successful in the game; → Experience alternatives and possibilities; → Reflection on what do we need globally to be able to reduce inequalities

The best of both worlds: In 2025, the 35th European Simulation Forum was held in Stuttgart in conjunction with the 56th International ISAGA Simulation Conference. Under the motto “Shaping the Future,” simulation experts and interested participants came together in interactive workshops and engaging paper sessions to experience the diversity of the simulation method, discuss new research findings, and explore potential applications and uses.

ISAGA (International Simulation and Gaming Association) is one of the oldest communities of individuals engaged in games and simulations. The annual ISAGA Conference brings together researchers and practitioners to discuss a wide range of topics related to simulation games. The European Simulation Game Forum is one of the largest simulation game conferences in Europe—with the goal of showcasing the diversity of simulation game methods and highlighting future developments.

Barbara designed the interactive workshop “Sustain2030 Plan B – Facing Inequalities in Simulation Games.” Through a brief introduction to the PLAN B simulation game, participants were able to experience how inequalities are modeled in the simulation, how this feels for the players, and what impact this has on the participants’ experiences. In addition, Prof. Dr. Siegfried Zürn and Barbara Holzner submitted the paper “A Systems Thinking Simulation Game Based on the Impactation Method: StarsEngines,” which was presented at the conference and will be published in the ZMS Series.

Event