GAME ON! - Teams set to do battle in Elgin over chance to create new video game
Moray College UHI in Elgin is on course to be the backdrop for the first ever Moray Game Jam, a 48-hour-long contest in which opposing teams of individuals interested in or with experience of games development come together to create a brand new video game.
Moray College UHI in Elgin is on course to be the backdrop for the first ever Moray Game Jam, a 48-hour-long contest in which opposing teams of individuals interested in or with experience of games development come together to create a brand new video game.
The inaugural Moray Game Jam is scheduled to start at midday on Friday 14th March and end at midday on Sunday 16th March. Teams must register before Wednesday 5th March.
At the Moray Game Jam, teams with skills in programming, game designing and art will battle it out to create up a new videogame. On offer to the winning team is the opportunity to be mentored by Elgin-based games publisher, Hunted Cow Studios, to refine and develop their game idea with the aim of taking it to the market.
This event signals the start of an exciting new collaboration between Moray College UHI, creative industries support body screenHI, and Hunted Cow Studios.
The game jam has become a global phenomenon since being introduced in 2009, but to date, the only ones to have taken place in Scotland have been in the Central Belt.
Anne Lindsay, acting principal of Moray College UHI said:
“This is an exciting and innovative idea and Moray College UHI is delighted to be hosting this first event Moray Game Jam.
Gaming is a growth market internationally reflected by the rapid growth of the Global Game Jam. There is no doubt the success and future growth of this type of event will put Moray firmly on the map and stimulate much needed local economic growth.”
Amanda Millen, director of screenHI, an organisation which supports the creative industries in the Highlands and Islands and beyond, said:
“Games constitute an entirely new type of media, which can incorporate music, film, the written word and so much more, within a unique interactive experience.
Scotland has been a pioneer in the video games world for the last two decades. In 2013 Scotland's developers released nearly 100 games, across every possible platform, including the unstoppable Grand Theft Auto GTA V, the largest entertainment launch of any kind.
We are delighted to be working with Moray College UHI and Hunted Cow Studios on the first ever Moray Game Jam.”
Andrew Mulholland, co-director of Hunted Cow Studios, said:
“As a successful creative business firmly rooted in Moray, Hunted Cow Studios is really pleased to be taking part in this event, the first of its kind in this part of Scotland.”
Applications to the Moray Game Jam open on Friday 14th February via the Moray Game Jam website and close on Wednesday 5th March 2014.
Prior to making applications participants are encouraged to join Moray Game Jam Facebook and Twitter links and updates and if necessary to find people to create their teams.
Teams of up to five people can enter and all members have to be 18 or over. A welcome lunch will be provided by Moray College UHI.
The teams’ efforts will be judged by a panel of experts, including Brian Baglow, Director of the Scottish Games Network, Phil James, a games industry advisor and writer, Andrew Mulholland, co-director, Hunted Cow Studios and David Cook, deputy editor of games website, VG247.com.