The All-Russian Marathon of Useful Games Begins: A Month of Educational Events at 'Points of Heat'

From October 8 to November 8, a large-scale Marathon of Useful Games will take place across Russia. The venues will be 'Point of Heat' collective work spaces throughout the country.

"Useful games today are one of the key trends in the development of the gaming industry and game studies. By involving the network of 'Points of Heat' in the marathon, we will engage a wider circle of students, educators, and parents in the topic of useful games, showcase modern Russian educational games and their potential for developing logical and engineering thinking, learning school subjects and cross-cutting technologies. We have prepared a variety of interactive formats for the marathon and invite everyone to immerse themselves in the world of useful games," noted the president of the Association of Technological Circle Participants, leader of the National Cyber-Physical Platform 'Berloga', Alexey Fedoseev.

Lectures, Workshops, and Playtests

The marathon program includes over 50 events: federal online lectures and in-person activities. At the lectures, experts will discuss the history of the development of useful games, their role in modern education, and methods of integration into the educational process.

In-person playtests of flagship projects of 'Berloga' and educational projects from emerging teams—finalists of the National Technological Olympiad, participants of the Useful Games Accelerator, and competitions for young developers—will take place.

Students can look forward to demo lessons, workshops, and mini-tournaments on programming in the game 'Berloga: Bee Farm Defense'. Aspiring developers are invited to a game jam, while lectures and workshops will be held for educators and parents. All marathon participants will have the opportunity to certify their technology literacy in video games.

Organize Your Event

Professionals and enthusiasts from the gaming industry, educators in specialized fields and departments can hold their own events at the 'Points of Heat' in their regions.

How to Join

Start by reviewing materials on the marathon page. Then choose a suitable format, register your venue through the Leader-ID system, and gain access to a complete set of materials for organizing the event.

Additional Resources

The marathon page is part of a larger section on 'Games in Education', which collects free materials for engaging students in technical creativity, organizing club activities, and integrating gaming methodologies into the educational process. All materials are available for free use and adaptation to specific audiences.

Marathon Results

The marathon will conclude on November 7–8 at the BarCamp 20.35 'Technological Revolution for a New Quality of Life'—the annual conference of the NTI ecosystem in St. Petersburg. Here, the results will be summarized, and the best projects will be presented. Participants will receive a certificate from the Marathon venue.

Join the Marathon of Useful Games—become a guide into the world of educational games for children and youth in your region.

Detailed program and registration: unteh.kruzhok.org/igry/marafon

Organizers: The Circle Movement of the National Technological Initiative and the National Cyber-Physical Platform 'Berloga' with the support of the Agency for Strategic Initiatives, NTI Platform, and Leader-ID platform.

The marathon website was created with the support of the Presidential Grants Foundation. Materials can be freely used for conducting events in educational institutions and centers for additional education.