AMC's Gaming Series
Please join us every other Wednesday at 20:00 MSK, from June 18 to July 30, for a new four-part speaker series on video games. Hosted by Russian-American scholar Nikolai Lvov, the series will feature expert guest speakers from across the video game development world.
Wednesday, June 18, 20:00 MSK: "Representing Russian Culture in Video Games"
In the first event of AMC’s Gaming Series, explore how Russian culture, history, mythology, and fairy tales are represented in modern video games, and how games representing Russian and Eastern European culture became popular in the United States.
Featured games: Atomic Heart, Black Book, The Witcher, Indika, Militsioner
About the speaker: Nikolai Lvov is a Russian-American scholar with a strong record of facilitating cross-cultural engagement between the United States and Russia. He is currently working for the U.S. Department of State as a content creator for the social media platforms of the US Embassy in Russia, where he highlights cultural and educational initiatives. He is also a video game journalist and writes reviews and essays about video games for various online platforms. With a background in academic research, Nikolai has presented at numerous scientific conferences, focusing on cinema and video games art forms. He has taught secondary and higher education and recently delivered a lecture on the representation of Russian culture in video games at the United Nations International School. His work on the cinematography of Orson Welles was published in the academic journal Art & Culture Studies, and he is currently working on a Ph.D. thesis expanding on that research.
Friday, July 11, 20:00 MSK: "Light and Shadow"
(rescheduled from Wednesday, July 2nd)
In the second event of AMC’s Gaming Series, please join host Nikolai Lvov in conversation with professional 3D and lighting artist Maksim Zharkov. In this session, we will explore the crucial role of light and shadow in 3D art for video games and how lighting enhances storytelling, directs player attention, and deepens immersion.
Guest speaker: Maksim Zharkov is a Russia-born, Spain-based game developer and 3D artist. Currently, he works as a professional lighting artist, where he helps architect unique visual experiences for the fantastical worlds created in the studio’s video games. The most recent example of his lighting design can be seen in Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader, which has recently sold over one million copies. Maxim also possesses extensive knowledge of the history of art, sculpture, and architecture, which he incorporates into his work.
Wednesday, July 16, 20:00 MSK:
Wednesday, July 30, 20:00 MSK:
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ALL AMERICAN CENTER IN MOSCOW EVENTS ARE FREE OF CHARGE / ALL EVENTS OF THE AMERICAN CENTER IN MOSCOW ARE FREE OF CHARGE
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To watch this event live, tune in to the American Center in Moscow’s YouTube channel and VK page. You can also watch the recording of this event on the same platforms after the event’s end.
You can register below and leave your valid email address to receive a reminder 30 minutes before the online event begins.
To join other AMC Online programs, please check the American Center’s website and TimePad calendars.