On 8 March, games manager Marc Bosch will run for mayor in Neufahrn near Munich for the second time. In an interview, he reveals what motivates him, how gamification and AI can change local politics, and why he is even taking a break from his dream job in gaming to do so.
Six years ago, you ran for mayor of Neufahrn. Why are you trying again?
Marc Bosch: Because I didn't win the first time! I wanted to become mayor to improve things and also because I believe, that with my perspective from outside politics and my background in gaming, technology and AI, I can do many things better. Back then I was in my late 30s and felt settled enough, but far from satisfied, and I still feel that way today. And I wanted to give something back. I have been intensively involved in politics over the past few years, attending local council meetings every four weeks as a member of the audience and asking uncomfortable questions. I believe that, compared to those around me, I know what I'm good at and what I'm not good at, what my talents are and how I can use them to make things a little better.
You say that you're back in game development, more specifically at Aesir Interactive. Will it be difficult for you to give up the industry if you win?
I've been in the games industry since I was 18, and in fact, since I started working for a game development studio again, I feel like I'm 20. It's an absolute dream for me to be involved in where games are created. But mayoral elections are only every six years. I want to build on the momentum I started six years ago. In six years, I'll be almost 50 and might just be seen as one of the ‘oldies’ who prefer to manage politics rather than shape it. Besides, there are important developments coming up.
What are they?
Regardless of whether I become the next mayor or not, local authorities and municipalities in Germany will be overwhelmed by the AI revolution in the coming legislative period. An administrative employee who doesn't know how to write a prompt today will either be out of the game tomorrow or will be sitting around even more, waiting for their ‘A38’ pass [Editor’s note: a bureaucratic runaround from the French comic series Asterix]. However, I have been involved in the ‘game’ of digitalisation for a long time, I am familiar with AI and AI-generated content, and I know how to use these things to improve administration. By the way, even if I become mayor, that doesn't mean I won't return to the games industry one day.
As GamesMarkt, we reach the games industry and not your potential voters. I would be interested to know what can be achieved in local politics in terms of the games industry?
Of course, it's not just about games, but about technology and digitalisation in general. Naturally, the 22,000 residents of Neufahrn won't become super gamers overnight just because their mayor comes from the industry. But I do think that I can change a lot with gamification. Administration can certainly be viewed as a game with easier and more difficult levels, whether it's applying for a building permit or picking up identity documents. It's about making processes more pleasant, efficient and better for the user – and that includes both citizens and administrative staff.
To put it in gamer language: we're now playing through bureaucracy. And when we're done with version 1.0, we'll know where we can and must tweak things. And when the big 1.5 update comes out in about a year, administration will be more fun and participation in local politics will be more accessible to everyone.
Are you already planning ahead? The topic of digitalisation is not limited to Neufahrn. On the other hand, the industry and you have good contacts in state and federal politics...
I think it's mainly about setting an example. If we manage to build the best ‘administration game’ in Germany, then as far as I'm concerned, every municipality can replicate this game without any licence fees. But seriously: imagine there's a kind of Pokémon Go! for the community. Instead of collecting Pokémon, you collect and share activities, such as events organised by local clubs. You have a poster, take a photo of it and post it on the Neufahrn or community app. There it is multiplied and made accessible to all citizens. Or I see a broken street lamp, take a photo of it and click on ‘Report’. Then the building yard knows about it, the community can bill for it and a replacement is ordered seamlessly.
A good solution, but only up to the city limits of Neufahrn...
The app is based on the Bayern app, which already exists as a platform for local and state administration. If everyone gets on board, then municipal boundaries will no longer matter. I'll be able to find everything that's important to me in my respective environment. It's a mixture of Pokémon Go and Second Life, only in real life.
And when will gamescom take place in Neufahrn?
(Laughs) We actually have a problem in Neufahrn, and that is attracting businesses. In my opinion, it's embarrassing that we are unable to become a thriving, liquid community despite our location at the Neufahrn motorway junction, where the A92 and A9 meet, and the direct S-Bahn connection to the S1 between the airport and Munich Central Station. Here, too, I hope that my preference for cooperation will benefit Neufahrn. Whether it's state or federal politics, companies or sponsors, when I become mayor on 8 March, everyone knows already that I am open to discussion so that companies can have their needs for space, connections or infrastructure met in Neufahrn. And if it doesn't work out, we'll have a party on 9 March anyway.
