Dr Sabiha Ghellal is Professor of Experience & Game Design at HdM Stuttgart and chairwoman of the German Computer Game Awards jury for the second year. We talked to her about the responsibilities of a jury head, the importance of game awards and her teaching style.
What does the position of jury chair mean to you?
I’m genuinely grateful for the trust placed in me. What I appreciate about the role is the entire process: being part of the expert jury and engaging with an unfiltered selection of games submitted by the games studios in Germany, playing and discussing the nominated titles, guiding the discussion and selection process at the main jury meeting, and finally helping to celebrate the results at the award ceremony. It allows me to engage deeply with games from many perspectives and to stay closely connected to what I care about most: games as a diverse and creative medium.
This is your second time in the role. What is different this year?
The jury work has just started, but I would say: different games, different jury, different dynamics. The overall framework and jury rules stay the same, but new jury members—there is a regular fluctuation, with reappointments only possible after a one-year break after a two-year term—and new submissions always change the conversation. That’s what keeps the process engaging and fresh.
