2025:Program/WikiGames: Play and learn about games and design your own!

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Session title: WikiGames: Play and learn about games and design your own!

Session type: Workshop - 85 minutes

Track: Wild Ideas

Language: en

🎥 Session recording: https://w.wiki/FCUe 🎥

Reading isn't have to be the only way that people use our project. This workshop will explore how content and data from Wikimedia projects can be transformed into new engaging experiences and interactive games, and you will have a go at designing your own Wikipedia game!

Description

The Wikipedia mobiles apps teams invite you to join them in exploring exploring how content and data from Wikimedia projects can be transformed into interactive games, creating new ways for people to learn and engage with our projects.

The first half of the workshop will provide a history and overview of existing games and other interactive experiences from across the Wikimedia landscape, that leverage data on Wikipedia and Wikimedia projects, including the recently released "What came first?" game by the Wikipedia mobile apps team. Taking these examples, we'll stablish some of the themes and patterns that exist, some of the challenges to be overcome. Based on these lessons, the second half of the workshop will see participants use pen and paper to design their own Wikipedia games.

Intended Audiences:

• Wikimedia contributors interested in interactive media
• Educators and content creators
• Designers and developers passionate about open knowledge

How does your session relate to the event theme, Wikimania@20 – Inclusivity. Impact. Sustainability?

Impact: This session explores how interactive experiences like games can be used as a tool to bring new audiences to our projects, deepen user engagement and create new ways of learning, thereby amplifying Wikimedia’s reach.

Inclusivity: Creating experiences that can potentially be used for all language communities is a core component of the Mobile Apps teams works.

What is the experience level needed for the audience for your session?

Everyone can participate in this session

Speakers

• ​Joseph Seddon

​Joseph Seddon is the Engineering Manager for the Mobile Apps team at the Wikimedia Foundation, supporting the Charts taskforce, and the Wikipedia iOS and Android teams. Prior to this position, Seddon served as a community relations specialist, collaborating with the Wikimedia Enterprise and Fundraising teams. As a volunteer, Seddon is an administrator on the English Wikipedia, focusing on topics related to the space launch industry and lunar exploration. Seddon was formerly involved with Wikimedia UK, serving as a Director and Trustee from 2009-2011 and 2013-2015, respectively.