OPPORTUNITIES AND POWER OF APPLIED GAMING

This panel features voices from across the ecosystem: a commissioner, a start-up, an established studio representative, and an educator. Together, they’ll discuss how applied gaming can expand the creative and professional horizons of studios and devs, demonstrating that impact and imagination go hand in hand.

Laura de Looff (B’Game / Otter Worlds) worked as a publishing producer on more than 30 commercially released indie titles (digital and physical) for PC and console. She’s currently handling business development and community for B’Game incubator, and is the founder and publishing producer of Otter Worlds. Otter Worlds is a company offering advice, supports, and self-publishing services for game companies.

Since January 2025, Heleen Rouw has been program director of the Creative Industries Immersive Impact Coalition (CIIIC), a National Growth Fund program that stimulates the development of immersive media within the creative sector. Prior to that, she was director of Cinekid (2020-2025), where she revamped the festival with a hybrid format and an interactive, immersive experience for young audiences. She previously worked at Artis, the Netherlands Film Fund and AVROTROS, and began her career in film distribution at Polygram and Warner Bros. With her broad experience in film, broadcasting and culture, Heleen is committed to strengthening imagination, empathy and social engagement through immersive media.

Henriët Eilander stood at the basis of the CMGT program in Groningen: a broad bachelor program that trains students for working with new technology including games. She’s the prom manager of this international program which holds around 700 students. In the past years Henriët was a board member of the Dutch Games Association for Education.

Olivier Hokke is the co-founder of Game Tailors and the creative  mind who transforms complex ideas into effective and enjoyable learning experiences. After completing his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Computer Science at Delft University of Technology, Olivier used his technical expertise and didactic insight to found Game Tailors together with his team. His strength lies in identifying the customer’s real needs and translating them into strong game concepts and robust technical solutions. He has worked on a wide range of projects, including KlankKr8, which helps children learn to read letters, Bouke Bouwt for language development disorders, MaX: Make and Experience to introduce VMBO students to AI and robotics, DigiHandig for digital skills, and Held for CPR training.

Olivier is motivated by the smiles of satisfied, customers, the ‘aha’ moments of participants when a complex skills finally clicks, and the pursuit of efficiency in every project. Outside of Game Tailors, he relaxes by playing strategic board games, 3D printing, and enjoying his new role as a father.

Fyrne Studios specialises in the visual development of game, animation and illustration projects. The studio focuses primarily on 2D animation, concept art, character design and storyboarding. Their team met at the art academy of St. Joost and has been working together for quite some time. After completing their studies, they continued to their collaboration within the B’Game incubator. Fyrne is currently working on a serious game called Emotion Detective, in which children aged 9 to 12 learn about emotion regulation. The studio consists of Annelieke Lammers van Bueren, Emma van Wanrooij, Isabel van loon and Jacorien Treur.