MCV/DEVELOP News, events, research and jobs from the games industry
Brains Eden, the UK’s largest student gaming event, taking place between June 26th and the 29th 2015, is back for the seventh year running. The festival, centred around an epic 48-hour games jam with a surprise theme, welcomes industry professionals to attend and meet the next pool of fresh talent entering the gaming world.
Taking place in the technology and gaming rich city of Cambridge, the jammers participate in various industry led workshops and seminars across the weekend, receiving expert advice on how to improve their games. If you would like to give something back to your industry and offer your specialist knowledge to students creating the games, please contact Clare Green for more information.
This year 30 teams from across the UK and Europe are set to descend upon Anglia Ruskin University to attend the fast-paced and highly creative occasion, which provides a challenging environment for student designers and developers using cutting edge technology.
The final day, Monday June 29th, will see each team battle it out in front of a carefully selected judging panel. The grand finale is open to all members of the public and will host to an exhibition of the games’ artwork and provide an opportunity to play the games created during the intense jam.
The festival, produced by Creative Front, ends with the awards ceremony where winners for Best Game, Best Jammer and Best BE. Mobile will be announced. Each year Brains Eden creates opportunities for real industry jobs for the budding games students, and this year is no different; the Best Jammer 2015 will win a freelance contract at Guerrilla Cambridge.
Meet, Talk, Play!
On Monday June 29th, Talk Tracks 2015 attendees will hear inspirational talks from some of the world’s leading technology companies, offering advice and guidance about the games industry along with their own personal experiences and anecdotes.
Claire Blackshaw, senior online consultant at Sony, will be giving her spin on “How not to be useless.” Discussing the trials and tribulations of working in an environment where every minute counts, Claire will be providing some quick tips and starting points on being more useful on the ground, how to deliver a solid product, and how to be trench ready.
Joseph Humphrey, co-founder of inkle, will discuss "80 Days: Whipping up a storm". How does a tiny independent studio end up developing a game that received TIME Magazine’s Game of the Year accolade, and nominations for four BAFTAs? Joseph will take a walk down memory lane revisiting inkle’s success, explaining what it can be attributed to and whether such an approach can be reproduced or repeated.
The third speaker, Jon Torrens who is a communications coach, will deliver “Critical hit! Building on your team’s story”, giving advice on how to handle meeting potential employers. Jon will cover issues such as articulating concepts succinctly, connecting with individuals and capitalising on your abilities.
Whether you are interested in getting involved in the festival by becoming a mentor, are looking for the next generation of talent for your team, or simply want to network amongst other industry professionals, then click here to find out more.
If you are interested in attending on the final day for the grand finale event please click here to sign up.
