Bristol Games Hub Newsletter – Oct 2015
All the latest updates from the Hub, news from Bristol & SW developers, jobs, opportunities & events.
Bristol Games Hub is a non-profit space for games and play. We run this newsletter, host events, and also rent desk space at cost price with no strings attached so you can get on with creating amazing games. Contact nina at aurochdigital dot com for more information.
Nina can also be contacted regarding including news items in the next newsletter, the deadline for which is 15th November.
Next Games Hub Anti-Social: 22nd October, 7.30pm
Join us for another evening of knowledge sharing. This month:
Alejo Acevedo: Best Veggies Release – Alejo is joining us to introduce his game ‘Best Veggies’, which is due for release on 23rd October. He will be talking about how his team approached the concept and production of this organic farming, hidden mutant vegetable, minesweeper style game.
Peter Willington: The Perils of PR Emails – Auroch Digital’s new Producer brings an expanded version of his talk from Pocket Gamer Connects in Helsinki, to the Bristol Games Hub, showcasing real world examples of dodgy press releases and shady PR tactics, revealing how any company can create better written communications.
Alix Briskham: Using HTV Vive for artwork.
Lukas Roper: Multiplayer games using the planetarium dome.
Location – 77 Stokes Croft on the 3rd Floor. The entrance is off Thomas Street, just up from the junction of Thomas St. / Stokes Croft, above what was DHS Heating.
Games Hub News:
Microsoft Visit the Hub!
The Hub will be hosting two members of the Microsoft Xbox ID team on the 10th & 11th December. This is a fantastic opportunity for you to have 30 minutes of demo and presentation time. If you would like to be considered, email nina at aurochdigital.com. We will try to slot non Hub residents in the earlier part of the first days, but it’s important that ALL attendees are at the Hub at 11am on the 10th for meet and greet and a presentation from Microsoft.
We will accommodate as many people as possible but places are limited so we cannot guarantee slots..
SW Freelancer/Company Dev Directory
If you’re looking for people to help on a project, or you are available for work – include your details in our directory (please only list info you’re happy to have in the public domain): : http://bit.ly/bghdirectory
SW Game Dev Jobs Facebook page – Find roles and post new openings here…
Dev Scene News
Auroch Digital’s Latest Update
We have been busy! We have various projects in development currently, including our next Games Workshop-licensed title, ‘Dark Future: Blood Red States‘! We’ll be able to bring you more news on this soon, keep your eyes on DarkFuture.info. We also welcomed our new Producer, Peter Willington. Some of you may know him from his work with Pocket Gamer and AppSpy. Develop recently reported on his move from journalism to development! On top of that, we have welcomed two new coders, Daniel and Josh, into the office full-time. We’re also looking at a couple of possible new projects. As such we’re happy to get CVs and cover letters from Unity-based artists & programmers and also games designers. Check out our jobs page for more info aurochdigital.com/jobs/
Ground Shatter’s SkyScrappers Released
Ground Shatter has released it’s long-anticipated first title, SkyScrappers, on Steam and PlayStation 4 and it is available to buy now!
Created by hub resident James Parker, and local artist/animator Tom Waterhouse, the game (in case you’d missed it), is a fast-paced arcade style competitive platform game, best played with a few mates and a few drinks, but with an equally riveting single-player story mode:
http://store.steampowered.com/app/403460
https://store.playstation.com/#!/en-gb/home/main
New HTML5 Framework
A student at Bristol Uni has, for the past year, been making a HTML5 game development framework called hitagi.js that’s just become stable yesterday (and is trending on GitHub!). It follow an Entity-Component-System architecture and loves to keep your code and data separate. Go and check it out!
Jobs & Opportunities
Creative Software Developer Opportunity
OpenUp Music (previously the MUSE Project) have raised the money they need to develop a new accessible, affordable and expressive musical instrument that can be played with any part of the body, including the eyes. This is something that will revolutionise musical access to young disabled musicians. To help them achieve this they are now looking to hire a Creative Software Developer. More information about the role and an online application form can be found here: http://bit.ly/1QManjC
Auroch Digital
See above, Dev Scene News, for details or visit www.aurochdigital.com/jobs
Creative England Games Development Fund
What would you do with an extra £50,000 – £150,000 in your budget? Take on extra staff? Buy the equipment to take your company to the next level? Creative England are offering exactly that to studios in regions of England outside of Greater London who can demonstrate high growth potential. For more information and application instructions can be found here: http://bit.ly/1MyT2qI
Events Diary
Unity Group Meet Up – 21st Oct
The unity meetup is on Wednesday, and will be going to Shadow Industries offices to check out a project they’ve been working on to explore a 3D mapped area of the South Georgia whaling station. http://bit.ly/1W2peYA
Bristol Games Hub Anti-social – 22nd Oct
See above for details.
Game Connection, Paris – 28th-30th Oct
Where key players from the games industry meet and do business together. The games industry meeting place since 2001. www.game-connection.com/
Grrrl Gamers Group – 3rd Nov
Doors open 6.30pm for a 7pm start.
Donations welcome but not at all obligatory to cover ongoing costs. Feel free to bring snacks/drinks to share. http://bit.ly/1GfZvKT
All 4 Games UK Roadshow – 17th Nov
Channel 4 is launching a new games publishing venture and are putting a call out to meet games developers in the area. They are looking for indies and larger studios who are interested in new opportunities and commissioned work. Register at: http://bit.ly/1M0eCnF for your free ticket.
Quick Links
Thanks all!