Andrei Olaru

Studio Lead, Critique Gaming

Founded and led for 6 years an indie studio of 10 people
Developed 4 PC games
Attended over 40 conferences (GDC, Gamescom, PAX etc.)
Funding attracted: angel investors, RO grants, EU grants, publisher, outsourcing, sales
Creative Europe expert in 2024
Board member of a national educational NGO (ARDOR)
Success in advocating national policy changes in education
Worked as a trainer for 5 years
Political Sciences MA
Policy analysis background from competitive debating (ex: Oxford and Cambridge IV finalist)

INITIATIVES:

Partnerships with cultural curators:

Stands and exhibits at Romanian Design Week & Cartierul Creativ
Participation at The Institute’s DIPLOMA Show
Video game exhibitions at Art Safari, Rezidenta9, MINA, CAV, WASP, After x Image, Unfinished
Articles about developers & games in Observator Cultural, Matca, Iscoada, Scena9, Cultura la Duba
Museum Exhibitions (MNAC, MARe, ARCUB)

Dialogue with Ministerial institutions:

Offering data to ensure a strong presence within the Registry of the Cultural Sector
Dedicated analysis and policies within the Ministry of Culture’s Sectorial Strategy 2023-2030 (SSDC)
Donating video games to public libraries
Pushing for the study of some video games in literature at uni or highschool level (see Poland)