UNIVERSITY NEWS LAST UPDATED : 12 JANUARY 2010
Sixty students, 2 days, 1 goal, no sleep....
On Friday 19 February 2010buddingvideogame design and development students from all over the UK will relocate to the Birmingham City University's City Centre campus for a two-day intensive development session dedicated to gaming.
Using Microsoft's XNA Game Studio 3.1, X48 will offer the student teams an unprecedented opportunity to be mentored by and have their work reviewed by computer giant Microsoft and regional screen agency Screen West Midlands - key sponsors of the two-day game camp. The events are produced by Pixel-Lab, creators of the successful Playful conference and organisers of industry prototype programme Get in the Game.
The event will be themed to challenge the students to develop games that look beyond the traditional puzzle or first person shooter in a bid to create new conversations around gaming and attract the attention of new audiences. To ensure the teams do not prepare in advance, they will not be given the theme for their game prototypes until the opening session on each Friday morning.
Andrew Wilson, Course Director for the BSc (Hons) Computer Games Technology and Certificate in Professional Studies Game Technologies at Birmingham City University said, "Our two computer games courses have been specifically designed to give people the opportunity to learn how to use current technologies such as Microsoft's XNA game studio so they can develop games for personal computers and game consoles like the Xbox 360. The Faculty of Technology, Engineering and the Environment also has staff actively working and conducting research in the field of game and serious game development. The Digital Games and Simulations Specialist Interest Group being the focal point for this cross disciplinary work. Therefore it gives our Faculty great pleasure to be able to host Microsoft's X48 game camp this year, giving our students and staff the opportunity to experience game development in a new fun and exciting way outside of the normal classroom environment."
Andrew Sithers, Academic Lead at Microsoft UK: "Bringing together the excitement and pressure of X48 with the global impact of the Imagine Cup will give students a real opportunity to showcase the potential of the next generation of games industry leaders and innovators."
Jason Hall, Head of Innovation at Screen WM said, "Screen WM is thrilled to be sponsoring such a unique event as X48 which aims to support and discover new and upcoming talent in the games industry. Screen WM and Game Central are keen to continue to work alongside games industry partners in the West Midlands region to ensure that new talent and regional businesses gain maximum advantage from such initiatives. Screen WM will be supporting a range of activities and events throughout 2010 to create ongoing opportunities and skills provision for all levels of the games industry."
As well as having the chance to develop a game from scratch in a studio environment, student competitors will receive invaluable mentorship from industry professionals, as well as support from members of the regions many world-class digital companies.
"There's nothing quite like the atmosphere at X48. There is so much energy and excitement - a real testament to the upcoming games talent that will be the next generation of developers. So to run two events, and connecting the students with industry professionals, is a really great step for the event, the universities and, most of all, the students" said Toby Barnes, Managing Director at Pixel-Lab.
This year X48 expands, repeating at a second event at the University of Huddersfield's Canalside Studios on Friday 19 March 2010.
Birmingham City University 19-20 February:
Register for this event through Event Brite
University of Huddersfield 19-20 March:
Register for this event through Event Brite
Post-event, the playable versions of the X48 games will be made available for download at x48gamecamp.com where anyone can try them out and give the teams valuable feedback.
X48 Birmingham is supported by Screen West Midlands, Advantage West Midlands, European Regional Development Fund, and Game Central.
Added by Nicola Jones on January 12, 2010