News

HEVGA Announces 2023 Fellows

San Francisco, CA – March 21, 2023 – The Higher Education Video Game Alliance (HEVGA) today announced its 2023 HEVGA Fellows at the Game Developers Conference (GDC). Four new members were inducted. Established in 2017, HEVGA’s Fellows Program recognizes senior scholars in the games domain who have made significant contributions to the field in design, […]

HEVGA Announces 2022 Fellows

Irvine, CA – June 16, 2022 – The Higher Education Video Game Alliance (HEVGA) today announced its 2022 HEVGA Fellows at the Games+Learning+Society (GLS) Conference. Eight new members were inducted. Established in 2017, HEVGA’s Fellows Program recognizes senior scholars in the games domain who have made significant contributions to the field in design, theory, or […]

New Report: Benefits of Video Games in K-12 Education

Washington, D.C. – October 26, 2021 – The Higher Education Video Game Alliance (HEVGA) and the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) today released a new report highlighting the benefits of using video games in K-12 settings. Based on an extensive review of decades of academic literature, the report, Benefits of Video Games in K-12 Education, discusses […]

HEVGA Partners with IndieCade on new showcase for college students

Horizons is a new, online, international event to showcase game students, universities, and colleges and connect them with one another, tool creators, recruiters, and the broader public. The inaugural Horizons took place June 12 & 13th, 2021 presented by IndieCade in collaboration with HEVGA. Click here for updates on 2022!

2020 HEVGA Fellows Program

New York, NY – July 16, 2020 – The Higher Education Video Game Alliance (HEVGA) today announced its 2020 Fellows at the Games for Change (G4C) Festival. Six new members were inducted. Established in 2017, HEVGA’s Fellows Program recognizes senior scholars in the games domain who have made significant contributions to the field in design, […]

MEDIA INCORRECTLY REPORTS ‘GAMING DISORDER’ INCLUDED IN ICD-11

As researchers concerned with careful, evidence-based recommendations, we note that no definitive evidence has yet been published that links video games as a medium to a disorder deserving of its own classification.Without sufficient evidence, WHO will only repeat a cycle of media scares that we’ve seen before in books, music, radio, and television. In our opinion, WHO should first demonstrate the proposed disorder is not due to other underlying evidence-based disorders or diagnoses, as opposed to video games as a medium, before including it in the ICD-11. Not to do so has the potential to cause great harm to individuals in true need of other substantiated and effective mental health diagnoses and treatments.

HEVGA to host European Symposium at Gotland Game Conference June 7 & 8

HEVGA announces 2018 Fellows

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – MARCH 20, 2018 – ​Established in 2017, The Higher Education Video Game Alliance Fellows Program recognizes senior scholars in the games domain who have made significant contribution to the field in design, theory, or research. HEVGA Fellows are elected by their peers for outstanding contributions to games-based research and design in […]

LINDSAY GRACE & MIRJAM ELADHARI APPOINTED TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – March 19, 2018 – The Higher Education Video Game Alliance (HEVGA) today announced the appointment of Lindsay Grace and Mirjam Eladhari to the Board of Directors. Both will serve on the Executive Committee, with Grace as Vice President and Eladahri in a non-officer role, filling vacant positions previously held by founding […]

HEVGA statement on the lack of a relationship between video games, school shootings, and gun violence

HEVGA opposes World Health Organization’s ‘gaming disorder’

Andy Phelps named President of HEVGA

WASHINGTON, DC – November 17, 2017 – The Higher Education Video Game Alliance (HEVGA), a professional association of video game scholars and programs at universities, announced today Andy Phelps as President. Phelps is the founder and Director of the RIT Center for Media, Arts, Games, Interaction and Creativity (MAGIC), founder and former Director of the […]

ANDY PHELPS NAMED PRESIDENT OF HEVGA

WASHINGTON, DC – November 17, 2017 – The Higher Education Video Game Alliance (HEVGA), a professional association of video game scholars and programs at universities, announced today Andy Phelps as President. Phelps is the founder and Director of the RIT Center for Media, Arts, Games, Interaction and Creativity (MAGIC), founder and former Director of the […]

Announcing HEVGA newsletter: The Alliance Monthly

HEVGA defends LGBTQ people’s right to live and work

Washington, DC – We unwaveringly support our LGBTQ faculty, students, and members and will always advocate for their right to be treated equally under the law and with respect in society. That is why the Higher Education Video Game Alliance resolutely opposes the Department of Justice’s latest amicus brief on Title VII aimed at restricting […]

HEVGA defends LGBTQ people’s right to live and work

HEVGA teams up with Uppsala University and Gotland Game Conference to expand international goals

Washington, DC – May 4, 2017 The Higher Education Video Game Alliance (HEVGA) is working with Uppsala University, Sweden, and the Gotland Game Conference to expand its international goals on a broader scale. HEVGA’s mission is to create a platform for higher education leaders which will underscore the cultural, scientific, and economic importance of video […]

HEVGA TEAMS UP WITH UPPSALA UNIVERSITY AND GOTLAND GAME CONFERENCE TO EXPAND INTERNATIONAL GOALS

Washington, DC – May 4, 2017 The Higher Education Video Game Alliance (HEVGA) is working with Uppsala University, Sweden, and the Gotland Game Conference to expand its international goals on a broader scale. HEVGA’s mission is to create a platform for higher education leaders which will underscore the cultural, scientific, and economic importance of video […]

HEVGA Applauds Sen. Hassan for Introducing the Reigniting Opportunity for Innovators (ROI) Act to Alleviate Student Loan Debt

Washington, DC – April 12, 2017 The Higher Education Video Game Alliance (HEVGA) applauds New Hampshire Senator Maggie Hassan (D) for introducing the Reigniting Opportunity for Innovators (ROI) Act to help alleviate student debt by supporting young entrepreneurs to grow small businesses. Young entrepreneurs have declined while student loan debt has sharply risen. The act […]

GDC Member Meeting 2017

WELCOME 2017 FELLOWS

Washington, DC – February 27, 2017 – Today, The Higher Education Video Game Alliance (HEVGA) proudly announces their Fellows program, inducting 30 scholars into their inaugural cohort of leaders in games in higher education. Established in 2017, The Higher Education Video Game Alliance Fellows program recognizes senior scholars in the games domain who have made […]

GDC MEMBER MEETING

Washington, DC – February 10, 2017 – The Higher Education Video Game Alliance (HEVGA), with generous support from iThrive, is excited to announce it will host a member meeting on Sunday, February 26. Held at the Intercontinental San Francisco in Telegraph Hill from 1:00 – 6:00pm prior to GDC, the meeting will bring together leaders […]

Arizona Sen. Flake criticizes government-funded video gaming (12News)

An ASU professor is pushing back against criticism by Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake of government-funded video game development. “Whether or not you like them as a platform for learning, to condemn these programs for which there are hundreds of emerging game designers is to really lock out your state of an emerging industry,” said James […]

Correct the record on the importance of video game programs at our colleges and universities

Washington, DC – January 11, 2017 To my friends and colleagues: I have a favor to ask you. Today, Arizona Senator Jeff Flake published his 2017 “Wastebook,” complete with Pokémon-inspired cover artwork. This document is in keeping with a long tradition of the Senator’s efforts to highlight some of the most outlandish government expenditures. In […]

Achieving a More Level Playing Field: The Gender Gap Narrows in Campus Video Game Programs (HigherEdJobs)

ESA Foundation Supports Next Generation of Video Game Industry

“Students Create Digital Diversions for the 50+ Crowd” (AARP Bulletin)

Andy Phelps, HEVGA Board Member, talks “Digital Game-Based Learning in Higher Ed (EdSurge)

HEVGA President Constance Steinkuehler to Speak at Event During Democratic National Convention on “The Future of Video Games, Interactive Media & Play”

PHILADELPHIA, PA – The Higher Education Video Game Alliance (HEVGA) announced today that HEVGA President Constance Steinkuehler will speak at an event during the Democratic National Convention on Tuesday, July 26 as part of a series of talks hosted by think-tank NDN on the future of America and American politics. Her talk, “The Future of […]

“UC Santa Cruz team wins game design competition at E3 event” (UCSC News)

AARP and ESA Announce UCSC’s Trainwreck Games as Winner of Social Connection GameJam Competition at E3 2016

“Miami University students help develop gaming ideas for AARP crowd” (Journal News)

AARP & ESA Host GameJam with HEVGA Connecting Adults 50+

AARP teams up with students designing games for 50 plus

HEVGA names Jonathan Elmergreen as Interim Executive Director

Take HEVGA’s 2nd Institutional Survey: Deadline March 31

ESA Foundation Now Accepting Applications for Video Game Scholarship Program

Congressional Caucus on Competitiveness in Entertainment Technology

HEVGA co-hosts Video Game Industry & Higher Ed Meet-Up in WI (Isthmus)

HEVGA Social at Games+Learning+Society Conference

“Higher Education Video Game Alliance Recognizes Leaders With Awards Program”

“New Survey Shows Video Game Programs in Higher Education Have Greater Gender Diversity and Retain Students at a Rate Higher than National Averages”

“ASU Joins Higher Education Video Game Alliance” (AZ Tech Beat)

“University Alliance Promotes Discipline of Play” (Campus Technology)

“Video Game Alliance Forms to Promote Educational Uses” (Education News)

“Q&A: UW’s Constance Steinkuehler Helps Shape Video Game Policy” (Capitol Times)

“UW-Madison Faculty Leading Higher Ed Coalition to Promote Importance of Video Games” (Madison.com)

“Groundbreaking Alliance Brings Together Top Higher Education Game Design Programs”

“Prominent Educators Launch Higher Education Video Game Alliance” (Gamasutra)

“NYU Helps Launch Groundbreaking Games Alliance” (Daily Game)

“UW-Madison Faculty Leads New Higher Education Video Game Alliance” (University of Wisconsin-Madison News)