University News Last updated 03 July 2013
Sony Computer Entertainment Europe’s (SCEE) academic programme ‘PlayStationFirst’ are to fund four scholarships and offer the chance to land a job at their studios, for students applying to Birmingham City University’s ‘Gamer Camp’ Masters degree courses for games developers.
The ‘PlayStationFirst Scholarships’ will be awarded by Evolution Studios to the strongest applicants to Gamer Camp’s MA/MSc in Video Games Development and MSc Video Games Enterprise and Production. Two of the scholarships will cover the student courses fees in full, while another two scholarships will cover half of a student’s course fee, normally £8,000.
“PlayStationFirst works in partnership with select universities in the UK and Europe as we see the development of new development talent in the UK crucial to the continued success of our European studios and the wider video games industry,” says Dr. Maria Stukoff, Head of Academic Development at Sony Computer Entertainment Europe.
“Gamer Camp students get hands-on development studio experience using our professional PlayStation3TM development kits. It’s these industry-specific abilities which make the students job-ready for PlayStation studios and other game developers.”
Unusually, Gamer Camp’s postgraduate students are treated as actual game studio employees, and work ‘9-5’ over one year, building working games for PC, iPad and PlayStation 3.
“Being awarded the PlayStationFirst Scholarship jump-started my career in games development,” said Simon Foster, a 2012 graduate from the course and now Character Artist at SEGA. “Not only did the course give me the experience and portfolio that the games industry looks for, it provided abundant contact time with video games industry veterans and outstanding mentors.”
All applicants to Gamer Camp’s Video Games Development, and Video Games Enterprise and Production MA and MSc degree courses before the deadline of Friday 19 July 2013, are automatically considered for a PlayStationFirst Scholarship. The strongest applicants are then shortlisted for interviews with Evolution Studios, who will award the scholarships to students who show the most potential.
“The course’s strong links to industry proved pivotal in securing my first job in games and undoubtedly enhanced my creative development,” added Simon.
“Gamer Camp left me with a solid platform of skills, industry connections and experience which lead to fantastic opportunities working within indie studios and pitching mobile game products, ultimately enabling me to pursue my career as a character artist. Opportunities that without the support of the PlayStationFirst Scholarship I would have missed out on!”