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As many as ten promising iOS titles were built in 48 hours during this month’s Epic Game Jam, with four development teams marked as finalists with a chance of winning a full Unreal Engine 3 licence for Apple’s smartphone.
The event, which took place at University of Bedfordshire from November 4th to 6th, brought together ten teams from a pool of about 100 aspiring and student developers. Teams had to build an iOS game using the Unreal Development Kit, with the uniting theme of Guy Fawkes.
Four of those projects have now been awarded finalists, each now preparing for the grand final of the event, which will take place at the Gadget Show Live in Birmingham next April. It is not yet known if any of the ten projects will become full commercial titles.
“The ultimate prize represents an opportunity beyond anything amateurs can come across by themselves. As well as the commercial license, there’s the coaching by industry veterans, the support of Epic and the fantastic exposure that will accompany the winning game,” said Train2Game course director Tony Bickley.
The four finalists include The A-Team, who created a side-scrolling action game set in a 17th century provincial town; Nova Eye, whose tongue-in-cheek title tasked the player with attack on Santa’s workshop; Team Gandalf (pictured), whose first-person puzzle game that throws in the ghost of Guy Fawkes; and a fourth team comprised of some of the best talent who were not in the winning three teams.
These teams are now beginning production of four brand new iOS games using UDK, with projects being coached by senior members of Epic Games, Train2Game, Deep Red Studios as well as other industry professionals.
“All the Game Jam participants can wear their battle scars with pride, and for the winners, it’s just the start of the biggest opportunity of their careers so far,” said Epic Games Europe territory manager Mike Gamble
“More surprises for this competition are in store. We are on track to bring new games to the App Store through this effort, and it’s great history in the making.”
