Presskit

Current Projects

Electric Alps is a 2D puzzle game based on real-world electrical engineering. Explore electricity, plan your circuitry and solve logic-based wiring problems.

Release 2025

Past Projects

Project Octopus is a 2D exploration puzzler. Use your eight arms to navigate through a fanciful underwater world and interact with the objects and creatures within.

Release TBA

Mein Energietag (My Energy Day) is a gamified top-down point-and-click adventure for elementary schools that teaches responsible energy use.

Released 2023 - Cooperative Work

Team

Dirty Paws Studio was founded by Fabian Schober and Daniela Meinhardt . They are the core team members and primary developers of the studio's projects.

Daniela Meinhardt is an UI/UX designer, graphics artist and marketing expert. She is responsible for the visual design, art, and game design of Dirty Paws Studio's projects. Daniela can be reached via email at daniela@dirtypaws.studio.

Fabian Schober is a software developer, game designer and university lecturer. At the studio, he is responsible for game design, programming, and management. He also teaches game development and multimedia technologies at the University of Klagenfurt. Fabian can be reached via email at fabian@dirtypaws.studio.

Fabian and Daniela are supported by their regular collaborators: Peter Hafele creates the music and sound design for their games, and Andreas Leibetseder aids in programming, game design, and event organization.

History

Born from passion. And local game jams.

Dirty Paws Studio was founded by Daniela Meinhardt and Fabian Schober, who have participated in over two dozen game jams since 2015 — events where developers gather to create a game in just 48-72 hours. Over the years, they have won numerous awards at these events. During this time, Daniela and Fabian also worked together in the software development industry and collaborated on small games and game-related projects in their spare time.

In 2019, they decided to take the leap and pursue game development professionally. After a period of preparation, Dirty Paws Studio was founded in 2020 as a GesbR (partnership under civil law). In 2022, they established their official legal entity, Dirty Paws Studio OG.

Startup programs

In 2019, Dirty Paws Studio was accepted into the DurchSTARTer program on startup design by the Austrian Economic Chamber (Wirtschaftskammer). In 2020, they secured funding from the KWF, backed by the EU's European Regional Development Fund, for their first game, Project Octopus. Building on this, they joined the Build! Gründerzentrum program, Build! Advanced II, in 2021.

Project Octopus

In 2020, Dirty Paws Studio began work on their first commercial video game, Project Octopus, a 2D exploration puzzler set in a fantastical underwater world, inspired by real marine life.

Electric Alps

In 2022, Dirty Paws Studio shifted focus to their new game, Electric Alps: an educational 2D puzzle game about wiring houses in a remote Austrian village, based on real-world electrical engineering.

Gamification and Serious Games for educational use

In 2022, alongside development on Electric Alps, the studio began collaborating on several cooperative projects focused on serious games and gamification. Primarily aimed at creating projects that gamify educational content for young students, they also explore gamification in other areas.

Video Games made in Carinthia

Through involvement in local game jams and educational activities, the studio has built a strong relationship with the local university. The university's dedicated efforts have greatly contributed to the growth of Klagenfurt's community and emerging industry in game studies and development. Supporting and promoting this community and industry remains a core part of Dirty Paws Studio's mission.

Visual Material (Logos, Images, Photos)

Additional logo variations for web and print, as well as other image and photo material are included in the Media Kit.