Staffordshire University London recently hosted Games in the City Festival in collaboration with Into Games, a week-long celebration that brought together students, industry experts, and gaming enthusiasts. The event held from Monday, 11th December to Friday, 15th December, featured a diverse range of activities aimed at fostering creativity, skill development, and networking opportunities within the gaming community.
Games Jam: Unleashing Creativity in the Games Lab
The festival kicked off with the Games Jam, a week-long challenge where students had the opportunity to collaborate and create a game from scratch based on a brief provided by a game studio. Held in the Production Warehouse, students immersed themselves in the game development process, working throughout the day. The Games Jam not only provided a platform for students to showcase their talent but also allowed them to experience the excitement and pressure of real-world game development.
Talks: Insights from Industry Experts at The Arena
On Tuesday, 12th December, the festival hosted an afternoon of industry talks in The Arena. The event featured a live Q&A panel, engaging talks, and interactive sessions with industry experts from companies such as Sharkmob – known for their games Exoborne and Vampire: The Masquerade – BloodHunt, Ustwo Games – recognised for the Monument Valley series, Alba: A Wildlife Adventure, as well as speakers from Playstation. Attendees gained valuable insights into the gaming industry, learning from professionals who shared their experiences and expertise. The industry talks session provided a unique opportunity for students to broaden their understanding of the industry and connect with established professionals.
James Gallimore, Year 2, Computer Games Design student said, “I wanted to attend the Games in the City Festival as there were multiple talks, I was interested in listening to. I think students getting the chance to listen to industry professionals and ask different questions is imperative to developing your knowledge as a person in the gaming industry, whether it's design, art or programming.”
Get Ready for Work: Ubisoft-led Sessions and CV Workshops
From Wednesday, 13th December to Friday, 15th December, the festival continued with a series of Get Ready for Work sessions which were based online. Led by Ubisoft, these sessions included meetings, portfolio reviews, CV workshops, and a preparation session tailored for Level 5 students who had applied for a placement year. The workshops aimed to assist students preparing for sandwich placements in the upcoming academic year, providing them with essential skills and insights for a successful career in the gaming industry. Rose Tan, Programme Lead at Into Games stated, “Portfolios provide a visually appealing showcase of your skills and previous work, allowing potential employers, especially in creative industries like game development, to assess abilities more effectively than a traditional resume. The purpose was to support students who are at the start of their journeys to develop their portfolios, enhancing their chances of standing out to hiring teams.”
The flexibility of the schedule ensured that sessions were accessible to a wide range of participants, accommodating their availability and allowing them to make the most of this valuable opportunity. Mark Fraser, CEO of Aero Astro Arts Ltd praised the partnership, "Collaborating with the University and Into Games was a pleasure. The team made sure I had everything I needed to run the workshop! I learned a lot from the panel of speakers, even about subjects I had a lot of experience in such as networking, animation and also narrative design."
The Games in the City Festival presented by Staffordshire University London and Into Games was a resounding success, leaving participants inspired, educated, and ready to embark on their gaming journeys. The festival not only showcased the talent within the student community but also facilitated meaningful connections between students and industry professionals.
Arina Goncharova, Year 2, Concept Art student, mentioned, "The Games in the City Festival gave me inspiration to work harder and transform me into a strategic job seeker. Not only did it fuel my career aspirations, but it also equipped me with useful insights that can come in handy when applying for jobs. I now understand what recruiters value in graduates and can confidently tailor my approach to make a powerful impression. This knowledge gives me the edge I need to land my dream job and make a meaningful impact in the industry."
As the gaming industry continues to evolve, events like these play a crucial role in preparing the next generation of game developers and enthusiasts. Staffordshire University London and Into Games have set the bar high for future collaborations, creating a platform where creativity thrives, and passion for gaming is celebrated. Claudia-Noemi Vaduva, a current Computer Games Design with Animation student who doubles as an Industry Coordinator Intern for Staffordshire University London was pivotal to organising the event and speakers. Claudia-Noemi reflected, “By having such an event take place, students can gain firsthand information about the industry as professionals are present. This in return can improve the quality of entry level employees within the games industry.”
You can watch the talks in the provided links below:
Gianluca Montaque: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQchGRM0fQU
Corey Brotherson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEVX1qLH5pQ
Luigi Salas: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mM6j0NNT_gE
Keep an eye out for future events, as these opportunities are not to be missed for those eager to learn, network, and showcase their game development skills.