Raw Talent: German State Universities Organise Their Own Indie Booth

Following a mini appearance at the Home of Indies Booth 2024, eleven state universities from Germany have joined forces to create their own Raw Talent Booth. Fifty teams comprising around 160 students will present their games in a 63-square-metre space.

It is the dream of many game design students to attend gamescom during their studies and showcase their own game, says Prof. Dr. Greta Hoffmann from the Cologne Game Lab at TH Köln, initiator and organiser of the 'Raw Talent' booth. "Until now, this was mostly only possible at university or federal state stands in the Business or Campus Area. Students were able to present themselves there, but they didn't have the full visibility and proximity to the community that is so important for the development of young talent."

The Raw Talent Booth is supported by a total of state universities from Germany and Austria. These include the University of Bayreuth, HTW Berlin with its DE:HIVE Incubator, TU Chemnitz, Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences, Furtwangen University, TU Graz, TH Köln, Mittweida University of Applied Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Neu-Ulm University of Applied Sciences and the University of Siegen. The booth is patronised by TH Köln.

This is the second time that the Raw Talent format has been featured at the trade fair. In 2024, however, it took place on 4 square metres as part of the Home of Indies booth. At that time, 19 teams presented themselves together in the small space. Now, 63 square metres are available in a separate booth.

And according to the initiators, it's not just about connecting with the audience. ‘In the gaming industry, people with experience are almost exclusively sought after – and that includes having presented a game at trade fairs,’ says Hoffmann. The Raw Talent Booth aims to offer all students equal opportunities, regardless of their country, state or university. At the same time, the booth is an educational format: ‘The students gain experience in organisation, teamwork and communication – all in a protected space where they are allowed to make mistakes. This gives them self-confidence and a feel for the reality of the industry,’ explains Hoffman.

Never miss anything from the German, Swiss and Austrian games industry again: subscribe for free to our Daily newsletter and get all news straight to your inbox.