The Goethe-Institut India, in partnership with Stiftung Digitale Spielekultur and Games Bavaria, organised the first-ever fully digital program Game'n'Train Mixer from February to April 2021. Originally planned as a game jam aboard the train Rajdhani Express in India, a digital format for the Game Mixer evolved in response to the risks and travel restrictions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. After game mixer stations in Brazil, Germany, Indonesia, and South Africa, five international teams collaborated via Zoom and Discord on games to promote "Digital Literacy." The games will be deployed by the Goethe-Institut at BKD schools in India, to sensitize students on how to go about in the digital realm.
The program was conceived as a mix of various virtual events. In the course of a two-day digital barcamp driven by Games Bavaria, the participants got to know each other and shared their personal backgrounds and professional experiences with their peers. Afterwards, they pitched their game ideas to each other and, under the guidance of mentors, came together in five teams of four, each taking different approaches to the development of a game. The teams' approximately two-month work phase was interspersed with virtual studio visits in Germany and India. The program was complemented by workshops on various aspects of game development held by the mentors. Finally, the participants presented their projects to an international audience at a virtual showcase.
