Apologies for the lateness of February’s newsletter, its been a crazy busy month for us all at the Hub.  Also as you may or may not know, everything we do here is on a voluntary basis so there will be times when the paid work has to take priority.

And I’m looking for a volunteer to create a proper newsletter for me to just drop the text in every month.  Any offers very much appreciated, and we’ll credit you on our website.

Quite a few people looking to fill job roles this month so please see below for details in Job Opportunities!

 

The games hub is hosting its first boardgame night on the 20th march. Come along with your favourite game or join in with some of the ones we have planned. We’re aiming to play Relic, the Warhammer 40K version of Talisman at this first session but other players and games welcomed! Email tom@aurochdigital.com if you have any questions or would like to join in the session.

 

Games Hub News – Global Game Jam a Huge Success – Thanks all!
We want to say a huge thanks to all who took part in January’s Global Games Jam. The Hub hosted over 70 developers from all over the South West to make 13 amazing games. It was really inspiring and there were many newbies at the event as well as some experienced hands.

Main Winners:
1st Place – Senseless Runner by No Sense (See here: http://bit.ly/MyWrOe )
2nd Place – Sanbiki No Saru by Opposable
3rd Place – Mutable by Circular Mongoose

Other Category Winners:
Best Technical Achievement: Whiteout by TEAL (Which is on the Google
Play store: http://bit.ly/1hlZ4yQ )
Best Artistic Achievement: MMME by MMME
Best Gameplay Achievement: Sanbiki No Saru by Opposable
Best Sound Achievement: AHOD! by AHOD!

Well done to everyone! 

And many thanks to Jake Manion from Aardman Digital, Tess from Opposable Games and Tom from Auroch Digital for judging, what proved to be a really tough competition! 

Auroch Digital
We’re extremely proud to announce that we have been working with Ndemic Creations to bring Plague Inc. to desktop. The new version sees the same captivating gameplay with the addition of multiplayer, user-generated content and much more. Plague Inc: Evolved launched on Steam Early Access on the 20th February and we’re continuing to work hard to bring you the extra features in this hugely successful, multi-award winning, viral hit. The game’s official page can be found at http://plagueincevolved.com and you really should watch the trailer, its awesome and shows just what our amazingly talented team have been up to 😉

See job opps below for some openings we have!

 

Evil Twin
Our new website for our upcoming game Victory at Sea has launched!In Victory at Sea players start out as a Destroyer Captain early in the war and can travel across the Pacific, Atlantic and the Mediterranean, seeking out and destroying enemy shipping and capturing ports. Control and fight against over 65 classes of ships across 3 theatres of war, in the battle for the seas. War will be declared Summer 2014 for desktop platforms, with the game launching on mobile in the Autumn. You can see it here http://www.victoryatseagame.com/ and see more about us here http://eviltwinartworks.com/

Deeperbeige Games
White-Out, our entry for Global Game Jam 2014 is now available completely free on iOS and Android. Built in just 48 hours at the Bristol Games Hub, it’s had some modest organic success on the app store with around 6000 installs so far.

iOS: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/white-out/id817420135?mt=8

Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.deeperbeige.whiteout

Lonewolf
Lonewolfwilliams (Gareth Williams) has nearly finished working on an advanced Unity tutorial ebook “Design patterns for Unity” which should be useful for intermediate to advanced level developers working in teams on larger-scale Unity projects. The ebook will be available for free and comes with supporting videos and a demo project, Game Hub people can preview here: http://bit.ly/1obandH and feedback to Gareth@lonewolfwilliams.com

Events & Opportunities
iDocs 2014
This two-day event dedicated to the rapidly evolving field of interactive documentary will focus on these pressing themes; Production Models, Engagement & Evaluation and New Territories. The event is at the Watershed on 20th/21st March and will feature the projects supported by the REACT documentary strand. Find out more and sign up here:http://idocs2014.dcrc.org.uk/

TechSPARK Event – Silicon Gorge
Silicon Gorge (26th March, Engine Shed, Bristol) will showcase web and tech startups drawn from the Bristol and Bath area to an audience of angel and institutional investors from London and beyond. It will combine the resources of the world renown SETsquared Bristol and Bath centres, the new WebStart Bristol Web Incubator and the Bath and Bristol TechSPARK network to present a carefully selected showcase of what our region can offer.
If you want your startup to be considered for a pitching slot at Silicon Gorge, you need to complete this application form: http://bit.ly/1fMkfto
Silicon Gorge is about showcasing the best startups in our region, and
therefore, there is a selection process that goes something like this:

(i) Submit your application form by 6pm, 5th March;
(ii) If selected, you will get an invitation to pitch to a selection panel;
(ii) Pitch to a selection panel (either on 11th March in Bath or 14th
March in Bristol); and
(iii) If selected by the judges, you will be awarded a slot at Silicon Gorge (26th March)

Silicon Gorge is sponsored by Invest in Bristol + Bath.  The selection panels are supported by RocketMakers and SETsquared and are organised by the Bath and Bristol TechSPARK network. Thanks and if interested, make sure you get your form in fast!

Service Jam Bristol
From the 7th to the 9th of March 2014 there will be a Service Jam event here in Bristol, this is an event where you will collaborate in the development of an idea in a creative and innovative environment – potentially leading to new products, businesses and services.  There is an opportunity to apply for up to £10,000 from WebStart Bristol to further develop an idea at the end of the event.
See: http://www.gsjbristol.com/
Plus if you are interested in joining the team and working on amazing
new games for Steam and mobile and want to get ahead of the crowd,
please do send us your CV if you are a Unity coder or Unity artist –
debbie at aurochdigital.com

PM Studio
Graduate and new talent competition (two places available) – £500
bursary and a minimum of one month in residence at the Pervasive Media
Studio, Bristol, UK

The PM studio is looking for people to join thier vibrant community of
artists, creative companies, technologists and academics. The
residencies will take place in September 2014 and will include a £500
bursary for each selected applicant. They are looking for two
individuals who have recently emerged from education, or are at an
early stage in their careers. You have fantastic ideas and want to
explore how to make them a realit and your ideas fall into one or more
of the following: Interaction/Experience design, Games design, Digital
Storytelling etc. Feel free to contact them for a chat
admin@pmstudio.co.uk

A Room Full of Talent – an evening showcase for employers on Tuesday 11 March, 5-7pm. Knowle West Media Centre (KWMC) and the Creative Skills Hub (West of England LEP Skills) invite you to ‘A Room Full of Talent’:

Over the last five months eight young people have been working at KWMC as Junior Digital Producers – supported by the Creative Employment Programme for their first roles in the creative and digital industry. They have worked with IBM and artists, using technology to generate data feeds and visualise the information in exciting and accessible ways.

Come and meet them, network, enjoy refreshments, and explore their cardboard creation ‘The Living Living Room’ – an interactive art installation and gaming zone that gathers information about our lifestyle choices and our perceptions of our community.   www.datapatchwork.co.uk 

On this journey the Junior Digital Producers have learned many new skills that we understand employers are crying out for. They’re now coming to the end of their employment with KWMC: Could you be a mentor for them, or even their next employer?

This is a great opportunity to meet new creative talent and find out how your organisation can support young people into further employment.
Do let us know if you would like to attend or want more information about the event. For further information please contact nicky.williams@woeskills.co.uk
Directions:  Free parking and accessible access  http://kwmc.org.uk/contact/