Strand Forge at Fantastická Ostrava 2025: When Education Breaks into Cosplay and Sci-Fi
This year's Fantastická Ostrava 2025 festival (more at www.fantastickaostrava.cz) drew sci-fi, fantasy, comic, anime, and video game fans from all over the country to the Trojhalí venue in Ostrava. Our Strand Forge team was right there in the mix, collaborating with Bohemia Interactive.
We brought Ylands EDU and ten computers where visitors could experience interactive lessons focused on learning through play. We demonstrated how Ylands connects school subjects with gaming experiences and showed that creating games can be just as exciting as playing them.
When Games Become School
Our presentation featured selected lessons from Ylands EDU covering topics such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, programming, and history. The festival audience was predominantly older, which is exactly why they were so intrigued by the video game editor included in Ylands EDU.
Many tried their hand at creating game environments, scripts, and logic for the first time, leaving with a newfound respect for the work of developers. It was a clear demonstration that educational tools can offer creativity, freedom, and fun.
Robin Ferro: Passionate Gamer and One of the "Players"
Our booth was visited by Robin Ferro from Divadlo Mír, whom you might recognize from the popular film project Hráči (The Players). He came to personally thank us for bringing Ylands EDU to the festival and for our partnership with Bohemia Interactive, whose games he has long admired.
He shared a brief story about how he once wanted to personally thank the team at Bohemia Interactive but couldn't find a direct connection at the time. It was clear this was personal for him—he spoke about games with both passion and deep respect. Meeting him was a wonderful surprise; whether as an actor or a dedicated gamer, Robin Ferro is someone who sees that games can have profound meaning and impact.
An Eleven-Year-Old Game Designer
One of the most powerful moments of the festival was meeting an eleven-year-old boy who fell in love with the editor instantly. Not only did he master advanced functions, but he naturally thought like a game designer. His parent revealed that he is often bored at school because he is intellectually ahead, and it had already been recommended that he skip a grade.
After our conversation, we decided to give him a Ylands EDU license for free so he could continue exploring and developing his skills. Perhaps one day we’ll see his name in the credits of a game we all play.
What the Cosplayers Say
During the event, we also interviewed cosplayers to see how they perceive education through gaming. Whether it was Jinx from League of Legends, or characters from various anime and Warcraft, the reactions were overwhelmingly positive. Many saw game development as a natural extension of their own creative interests. It turns out that people drawn to costumes, storytelling, and fantasy deeply appreciate tools that allow for learning through play.
The Gaming Industry Isn't Just About Coding
The program also featured a presentation by Patrik Bartošík, who spoke about how to break into the gaming industry. He explained that working on a game isn't just about code and visuals; marketing, community management, testing, and scriptwriting play vital roles. A key takeaway was that a great game can remain undiscovered without marketing. That’s why we’re glad to show young visitors that the gaming world offers diverse opportunities for all kinds of talents.
A Festival Full of Creativity
Fantastická Ostrava offered a rich program of cosplay parades, competitions, workshops, and gaming zones. We saw dozens of stunning costumes and original ideas from people who turned their creativity into a personal experience. That is the magic of such events.
For us, it was the perfect opportunity to show that education can be creative. School doesn't have to be a boring monologue; it can be a place where children create, question, and discover.
Looking Forward to Next Time
Fantastická Ostrava 2025 showed us that education and pop culture have much in common. Both seek new ways to engage and inspire. Thank you to everyone who stopped by, tried Ylands EDU, joined our discussions, or shared their experiences.
We look forward to the next edition and hope to meet more enthusiasts who believe that learning can be an adventure.
Teaching doesn't have to start with a blackboard. It can start with imagination.
