Developers joining the Games Hub at Parkside Office Village
The Eastern Enterprise Hub in collaboration with Shark Infested Custard ran the first Games Hub session on Wednesday 29 October at Parkside Office Village on the University of Essex's Knowledge Gateway. The programme was created for individuals living in Essex who have an interest in making games or starting their own studio.
The first session saw game developers, artists and enthusiasts gathered together under the tutelage of Steven Huckle from Shark Infested Custard. By the end of the day they began forming teams to conceptualise a game with the aim to eventually develop them into full-fledged gaming demos.
After finishing the course, which is fully funded and therefore free to applicants, the teams will be able to show their game to invited media, funders and publishers with the aim of getting investment to take the game to market.
The course will be covering the key pillars of development, including programming, design, art and production. The students are looking forward to the rest of the programme to start developing their games in teams and further their knowledge on the entrepreneurial side of gaming.
Professor Simon Lucas, who leads the Games Intelligence Group at the University of Essex’s School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering, said: “We are really pleased to support this programme as the games industry offers so many opportunities to developers with the right skills and exciting ideas. Our students are delighted to have the chance to join the Games Hub and work alongside other gamer developers and entrepreneurs who want to create the next big game.
“We are looking forward to sharing our knowledge, expertise and industry know-how with people joining the Games Hub.”
The EEHub is also working in collaboration with Essex County Council, Colchester Borough Council, Shark Infested Custard, Birketts and BDO to deliver the programme.
Simon Mead, CEO at the Eastern Enterprise Hub said: “With more and more people wanting to work in the game design and interactive entertainment industries in Essex, the EEHub - in collaboration with a number of organisations in the area - sees this new programme as a way to develop new business.”
Steven Huckle of Shark Infested Custard said: "The Games Hub is a way for people and teams who want to make video games to come and work with and alongside industry experts. It will give them a unique opportunity to develop an idea and help start building the games industry in Essex."