Overview

In 2015, Iran Computer and Video Games Foundation (IRCG) realized the necessity of a cohesive and comprehensive event covering all the scientific aspects of the Gaming Industry that functions as a bridge to connects both industry and academia. Therefore, in 2017, as the official secretariat of the Serious Games Prize (SeGaP) event, The Digital Games Research Center of Iran (DIREC) held the Digital Games Research Conference (DGRC) for two years in a row to focus more precisely on the Serious Games subject. In 2019, The DGRC scientific committee decided to hold the 3rd conference in the particular field of Serious Games, with the new title: "Serious Games Symposium." Serious Games are a key part of the digital gaming industry that pursue goals beyond entertainment and help us in education, advertising, therapy, culture, and other serious areas. Developing Serious Games requires technical knowledge of game design and scientific expertise of its serious aim; therefore, it is essential to consider both sides of academia and industry. The SeGaP event includes three sections; • The International Serious Games Symposium • The Serious Games Festival • The Serious Games Hackathon. The Serious Games Prize's primary goal is to create a vast network of applied gaming activists, gamers and academics, industry, and the government to study, develop, and promote Serious Games. Every year more than ten institutions collaborate with DIREC and sponsor the SeGaP event playing notable roles in holding this event.