IPN Hosts DIGRA MX International Conference on Simulation, Games, and Digital Society

The fourth edition of DIGRA MX brings together researchers, educators, developers, and industry leaders to explore the cultural, educational, and technological impact of video games.

The Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN) is hosting the 4th DIGRA MX International Conference: Simulation, Games, and Digital Society, a forum that highlights the importance of connecting research, industry, education, and communities to strengthen video games and play cultures as drivers of cultural innovation, digital heritage, and creative development in Mexico.

DIGRA MX (Mexican Association for Video Game Studies and Play Culture) is part of the international Digital Games Research Association (DiGRA), one of the world's leading organizations dedicated to the academic study of video games and play cultures. Through its activities, the association fosters collaboration among researchers, academic institutions, and national and international communities, promoting knowledge exchange and supporting the growth of the creative and scholarly ecosystem surrounding interactive media.

During the opening ceremony, Fernando Montes Carrillo, Acting Director of Science and Technology Outreach at IPN, emphasized that the conference reaffirms the institution's commitment to creating spaces where knowledge and innovation converge. He noted that games and simulation are far more than recreational activities—they are powerful tools for understanding society and fostering creativity.

"Video games and interactive digital environments are no longer simply forms of entertainment. They have become spaces for learning, research, collaboration, and cultural transformation. They foster communities, develop cognitive and social skills, enable the exploration of complex narratives, and open new pathways for scientific and technological advancement," he said.

Speaking at the main auditorium of the Directorate of Business Services and Technology Transfer (DSETT), Blanca Estela López, President of DIGRA MX and researcher at the Autonomous Metropolitan University (UAM), described the organization as much more than an academic network. In addition to generating research projects, publications, teaching initiatives, and cultural outreach activities, she said, it is fundamentally a human community.

"Video games can serve as therapy, as educational tools, and as learning experiences. But above all, we play because they are enjoyable. They bring people together, help us make friends, and build communities."

Ruth Sofía Contreras Espinosa, co-founder of DIGRA MX and professor at the University of Barcelona, stressed that video games should be recognized not only as entertainment, but also as valuable subjects for research, education, creative expression, critical inquiry, and social transformation.

"Today we are bringing together people from different countries, disciplines, and professional backgrounds who share one conviction: that video games deserve to be studied with the same academic rigor as any other form of cultural expression."

The 4th DIGRA MX International Conference: Simulation, Games, and Digital Society will run throughout the week, featuring workshops, keynote lectures, and academic sessions. The opening keynote was delivered by renowned voice actor and dubbing director Mario Heras, who shared his professional experience and discussed the challenges facing the voice-acting industry.