This free online event provides you with the opportunity to discover wide range of fascinating topics delivered by the Games Design Department
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Date:
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Time:
12pm – 4pm
Monday 11 December
Where a career in games can take you
Prof Christopher Headleand
Join us for an enlightening session with Professor Chris Headleand, who will be sharing insights on the varied careers a games qualification can unlock. In this talk, Chris will delve into the multidisciplinary advantages of games education, offering a unique perspective on how it continually evolves and adapts to new trends and technologies. Attendees will gain an understanding of the various career paths available to games graduates, ranging from roles in the games industry, to alternative paths including training, healthcare, marketing, architecture, and heritage. This talk will suit anyone looking to understand where their games skills can take them. Chris a seasoned expert in the games industry and tech sector, having worked in games production, media, education, design, and software development.
Discover the Minecraft Library Project
Jodie Heap
Are you ready to embark on a cutting-edge educational adventure? Join us for an exclusive session to delve into the world of the Minecraft Library Project, where learning meets innovation.
The fall and rise of cloud streaming technologies
Jamie Ditchfield
Jaimie Ditchfield takes you on an adventure through the clouds (not literally) and explores the historic elements of cloud gaming, Google Stadia, and the future of the technology.
The sustainability of esports and its space in the wider ecosystem
Rhys Williams
Join Rhys as they discuss topics such as the ‘esports winter’ and how the changes coming through right now will benefit the sustainability of the ecosystem, how esports is open to everyone, the opportunity the subject has to fill the E&D space and how it can be solidified as a future endeavour as we adapt in a continuously evolving space.
Tuesday 12 December
Become a One-Person VFX Animator with Blender (and After Effects)
Anthony Martin
Anthony Martin will talk you through the process of creating science fiction shots that look like a team of artists with several million pounds of budget created, but in fact were created with some free software, some paid software, and a couple of hours after work. If you're obsessed with recreating the kind of spaceships seen in 1980s scifi movies, this is the talk for you.
A Brief History of all the Men I've Dated in Video Games (and the Mechanics Involved)
Jamie Nicholas
Associate Lecturer Jamie Nicholas takes you on an educational journey through the ups and downs of dating virtual characters in Video Games from 2011 onwards.
Love Possibly: Dissecting the tension between NPC autonomy and player agency
Jennifer Challenor
Jennifer will delve into a comprehensive exploration of the intricate dynamics surrounding the integration of love interests within the realm of role-playing video games. By dissecting the tension between NPC autonomy and player agency, the aim is to lead a discussion on the delicate balance required to engender immersive and emotionally resonant gaming experiences.
The good the bad and the ugly of season-based esports
Cameron Vanloo
In this session, we will be conducting an in-depth analysis exploring the strategic decisions made by game publishers operating within the competitive gaming sphere, shedding light on the reduction of their seasonal output. this session will exam the historical landscapes of offerings extended to gaming communities and the factors that have contributed to the normalization of the paradigm shift by publishers.
Wednesday 13 December
Bringing Heritage to Life
Robert Lambert
Digitalising the archaeological finds of the Chester House Estate and placing them at the hands of the public via the app stores.
One Game to Rule Them All: How Game Studies May Unlock the Secrets of Humanity.
Dr Andrew Wedgbury
The underappreciated philosopher Bernard Suits argued that games illuminate the core of human existence. Suits told us that games are “a voluntary attempt to overcome and unnecessary obstacle”. This ludic dance towards overcoming difficulty lies at our very essence. Classical and modern sociology echoes this wisdom. From Veblen’s theory of the leisure class to Elias’s Civilizing Process, our most pivotal theories elucidate the game-like nature of society. And yet academia overlooks the supreme importance of studying the game itself. In this lecture, I introduce my own concept of "Socioludology" to upend this folly, fusing game studies and sociology to reveal why understanding the game of life’s rules through studying the games we choose to play could unlock the secrets of humanity at the most fundamental level.
Simulating Marine Ecologies
Dr David White
Dr David White will discuss the 'Virtual Scylla Reef', a multi-stage research project on the simulation of marine ecologies and environmental education. In the first phase, a "serious game" will be showcased, and how it simulated marine life at an artificial reef to educate about climate change and pollution. The second stage involved a community-designed board game simulating and educating on the balance of marine ecosystems. David will discuss the progress and impact of this research and will provide an insight into the future of gamifying marine ecologies.
Before it’s too late: Preserving Video Game History and Culture
Dr David Murphy
In this talk, Dr David Murphy will provide an overview of industrial, institutional, and vernacular approaches to digital game preservation, focusing specifically on the gaps that exist between these current approaches.
Thursday 14 December
A life in creative and how experiences in the real lead to experiences in virtual worlds
Dr Daryl Marples
Dr Daryl Marples has spent his life working in creative industries, his wealth of experience has led to 25 years working in games in the commercial and education sectors. Daryl has a passion for seeing games concepts created in an education setting in to commercial product. In this talk he will detail the many successes that has led to and how to think about making your game a success.
From Dead Goats to Thieving Landlords, an Incomplete History of Boardgames
Prof Esther MacCallum-Stewart
A whistlestop tour through the history of boardgames, discussing how they came to be so internationally successful, and why they are flourishing today. This talk touches upon beloved sculptures, how the d20 came to be, and why copyright is such a huge deal for 'that' game about housing.
Using Games in Medical Training
Prof Christopher Headleand
Discover the innovative intersection of healthcare and gaming as we explore the transformative potential of technology in training. In this talk, we'll delve into the immersive and interactive world of games technologies to understand how they can revolutionize healthcare and medical education. From lifelike simulations to gamified learning experiences, we'll showcase the some of the diverse ways that game technologies can support healthcare.
Moral Questions - the naughty and nice of gaming!
Dr Sharon Coleclough
When we play games we all do things we wouldn't do in the real world. But, it is interesting to think about the fact that games also push us to act in ways that are uncomfortable, rewarding or at least imposing negative actions upon us as players. At the same time there are elements of gameplay that reward kindness or enable less aggressive routes to be taken through games. this talk looks at they way games ask us to behave both good and bad - and what that means when we look at the bigger picture
Schools and Colleges outreach
If you represent a college or school, and would like more information, or would like to discuss delivering a specific talk(s) for your students, please let us know by filling out our interest form.