The CTP is spearheading a new interdisciplinary concentration that’s furthering understanding of how game‑based tools can generate richer data and open new pathways for studying how people think and learn. Check out how @cmu.edu students are shaping the future of research! 👉 tinyurl.com/3b2j3s77
🚨LAST CHANCE🚨 to submit papers to Meaningful Play 2026!
The deadline to submit papers to this October’s Meaningful Play conference in Pittsburgh is Wednesday, April 22.
Visit the conference website for full details, other deadlines, and to submit your work!
👉 tinyurl.com/34a53njn
📅🚨 One week to go for paper submissions!
The deadline to submit papers to this October’s Meaningful Play conference is April 22.
Other key submission dates:
*Games, Lightning Talks, Posters: May 15
*Hosted Sessions: June 15
Visit the conference website to submit your work! 👉 tinyurl.com/34a53njn
Inspired by NASA’s Artemis missions? Check out SpaceCHI - The world’s first conference dedicated to advancing human-computer interaction in space! 🚀🧑🚀
What could be more joyful than humanity’s return to the moon? We celebrate as Artemis II launches the first crewed mission to the moon in 50 years. Travel with Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen as they make history as the first people to orbit the moon since Apollo 17. 🚀🌕
✍️Survey Participants Needed!✍️ Are you a mobile or game developer working with AI? Researchers want to understand the real-world experiences, challenges, and insights of developers using AI tools. Take this short survey and help shape the future of AI in app development! 👉 tinyurl.com/bdr5hckz
Researchers are looking for participants to join a playtest for Broke, a board game exploring the realities of systemic poverty. Playtesters are needed from 2pm - 4pm on Sat. April 4 in Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood.
For more information, fill out the interest form 👉 tinyurl.com/3d55ap64
📢 The deadline to submit papers to this October’s Meaningful Play conference has been EXTENDED to April 22! 📢
Other key submission dates:
*Games, Lightning Talks, Posters: May 15
*Hosted Sessions: June 15
Visit the conference website for full details and to submit your work! 👉 tinyurl.com/34a53njn
🚨Meaningful Play 2026 submissions are OPEN! 🚨
Meaningful Play is accepting work for this October’s conference. Key submission dates include:
*Full Papers: March 31
*Games, Lightning Talks, Posters: May 15
*Hosted Sessions: June 15
Visit the conference website for details and to submit your work!
🚨Attention Game Industry professionals! Submissions open soon for REGENERATE Game Jam 2026. Hosted by the IGDA Climate SIG, this year’s jam is dedicated to making games that imagine sustainable futures. The submission window is March 19-22. Learn more 👉 itch.io/jam/regenera...
As Black History Month wraps up its 100th Anniversary, we’d like to celebrate a particularly playful inventor: Lonnie Johnson. NASA engineer, clean energy researcher, AND inventor of one of the best selling toys in history ... the Super Soaker water gun!
Learn More 👉 tinyurl.com/yd5u6ttp
🎉 Meaningful Play's Bluesky has launched! 🎉
Join us Oct 13-15, 2026 in Pittsburgh! Academics, game designers, and educators: If you make or study games, this is the conference for you!
Submission guidelines and registration details will be released soon! Stay tuned…
2/20/2026
新年快樂 Happy Lunar New Year! Some great games to play to celebrate include She Long Men - a fast-paced card game, and Shi Ba La - a classic dice game. But the staple for fun with friends and family is.. Mah Jong. Wishing you sharp minds, steady hands, and winning streaks all year long! 🏮🐴
Data and LEGO®, together at last! Members of the CMU community are invited to discover the building blocks of data at an interactive workshop using LEGO® Bricks. Explore data concepts and storytelling. (Maybe your minifig can give a presentation) 🗓️Feb. 18, 4-6 pm, Hunt Library
🚨Alert!🚨 Meaningful Play conference dates and deadlines announced! Join us for Meaningful Play 2026 Oct 13-15 in Pittsburgh! Key submission dates include:
*Full Papers: March 31
*Games, Lightning Talks, Posters: May 15
*Hosted Sessions: June 15
Submission guidelines will be released soon!
As we dig ourselves out of the winter weather, we can’t resist sharing a very Pittsburgh playful experience… Along with Rialto Street in Troy Hill, there are additional reports of intrepid skiers and snowboarders on Ohio Street in Monroeville and on South Negley Avenue. Shred the streets! ⛷️🏂🚦
Jan. 23 is the day the first official Frisbees came flying off the production line. While folks had been tossing pie plates around since the 1870s, the flingable branded toy by Wham-O was first produced in 1957. Don’t let a little snow stop you from celebrating with a game!
👀 Check out this nifty new open-access, online journal dedicated to exploring videogame making as an artistic, poetic, and experimental practice. Game Poems just launched its first issue - a curated collection of small interactive works presented alongside artist statements and editorial context.
🚨Current CMU Student Alert!🚨 Are you looking for an independent study centered on game development, research, or graphic design? There’s still time to meet the Jan. 12 deadline for spring opportunities with the CTP! Learn More 👉 tinyurl.com/3n7t3yv7
The weather outside may be frightful this time of year but that’s no reason to avoid outdoor fun and games! Check out this awesome list of “cool” winter games from around the world. (It says it’s for kids. We beg to differ. Enjoy your snow battle!) ❄️⛷️☃️
Want to wrap up family fun and the ultimate present in the same box? CTP Director Dr. Jessica Hammer spoke on KDKA's Talk Pittsburgh about how games and play can be the gift that keeps on giving. (There's also a nod to some amazing games designed by our @cmu.edu colleagues!)
Guess who’s going to be on KDKA's Talk Pittsburgh today? Live at 3pm Dec. 8! Watch here 👉 www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/talk-pittsburgh/
#centerfortransformationalplay
#holidaygamenight
A heartfelt THANK YOU to everyone who gave on Tuesday to support our work! Donors like you help us continue our mission of building community, doing high-quality research, and helping people solve problems through the power of games and play. ♥️
Today is the day! Dec. 2 is the 11th annual #givingCMUday when members of the Tartan community kick off their end-of-year giving by supporting meaningful areas of CMU. Your gift boosts the work we do and supports students across the game design community.
Support the CTP 👉 tinyurl.com/34tzc6nh
This Tuesday, join us in empowering current and future Tartans through #GivingCMUDay! Help us create new opportunities for bold ideas and innovation and support students across the game design community! 💝🧑🎓
Artificial Intelligence may not only be a source of data leaks, but also manipulation. The work of our colleagues at the Carnegie Mellon Software Engineering Institute warns that poor communication of AI outputs can fuel bad decisions. Learn more 👉
🎉 We’re excited to announce that in Fall 2026, we’re partnering with the Entertainment Technology Center to offer a concentration in Transformational Play as part of the Master’s of Entertainment Technology! Learn more about the program and how to apply. Applications are due by Jan. 1, 2026!
👀 What a milestone! (And what a bar for our own students to reach for … no pressure 😉) #researchgoals #GoogleScholarFamous 🎓💻
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🤖🌐 CTP Director Dr. Jessica Hammer was delighted to be part of PA State @repdanmiller.com’s latest Community Webinar. The panel discussion centered on the intersection of artificial intelligence and its use for social engagement. Check out the video! 👉 pahouse.com/miller/communitywebinars
