University News Last updated 07 March 2011
Up and coming games artists and programmers are being encouraged to get a taste of Gamer Camp: Pro at a free Open Day on Saturday 19 March.
Birmingham City University’s industry-endorsed ‘finishing school’ for gamemakers – Gamer Camp: Pro, runs for nine months from September 2011, but for those unsure whether to take the plunge there’s a free taster session.
“Today's top graduates are under no illusions that finding a job in the highly competitive games industry is easy,” says New Technology Institute (NTI) Birmingham’s Oliver Williams, who helped create the programme. “Those really serious about working in games should sign up to the Gamer Camp: Pro Open Day.
“We’ll be providing taster sessions of the highly practical training course – which features training and mentorship from experienced, working developers to top up young developers skills and experience before they enter the industry.”
The course is led by Guy Wilday, who was Studio Manager on the Colin McRae Rally games at Codemasters, and recreates a studio environment as a sandbox for developers to hone their talent and give themselves a kick-start in games development.
Backed by the likes of Sony, Codemasters, Rare, Blitz and Freestyle Games, there are three shapes and sizes of Gamer Camp, Nano, Mini and Pro.
The longest of the courses, Gamer Camp: Pro, runs over nine months during full-time hours at NTI Birmingham’s city centre studios from September, and has students working towards producing a PlayStation®3 (PS3™) game, in project teams, for the PlayStation®Network.
Pro graduates will also be awarded an MA in Video Games Development from Birmingham City University. Gamer Camp: Pro will cost EU students £8,000 and non-EU students £10,050.
The Open Day will also provide a chance for potential students to quiz mentors, and find out more information about facilities, accommodation and loans available. To attend, students should register online via gamercampopenday.eventbrite.com as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
The shortest of the three sessions, Gamer Camp: Nano, runs for one month from 4th to 29th July, and costs £499.00 per person, as up to eight programmers and four artists or animators create games for a smartphone platform.
Gamer Camp: Mini, the intermediate version of the course, lasts three months from 20 June to 22 August 2011 and costs each participant £1,499.00. Mini focuses on handheld gaming, with students using advanced PlayStation® development hardware.
People can apply for each course can be made online, where details of the courses can also be found. Payment is made upon acceptance onto a course, all of which are subject to an interview.
NTI Birmingham, a software training centre and design studio is part of Birmingham City University, hosts each Gamer Camp course in its city centre facility.