March Newsletter

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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.com for more information.
Nina can also be contacted regarding including news items in the next newsletter, the deadline for which is 10th April.

Next Games Hub Anti-Social: 31st March, 7.30pm

This month we’ve got two great games being demoed:

Alexander Birke will be demoing his procedural action bullet hellish game, Laser Disco Defenders. Survive as many computer generated levels as you can but beware, every laser you fire stays in the level so the more you shoot the harder it gets! Besides demoing the game Alexander is also going to talk about how the design of the game and the struggles of turning a game jam prototype into a full commercial release. This new iteration of the game also includes a brand new local multiplayer mode so come along and see who’s got the best moves!

We will also be hearing from aPriori Digital who will be demoing their game, Aperion Cyberstorm. A 2D sci-fi twin-stick shooter for 1-5 players with over 200 unique areas to find what remains of your lost team. You will have a chance to explode entire rooms of enemies with plasma-coated spiralling rockets, or smash an enemy to almost nothing with electricity-imbued mines before hitting their remains with lasers!
So join us then! We’re at 77 Stokes Croft on the 3rd Floor. The entrance is off Thomas Street, just up from the junction of Thomas St / Stokes Croft, above Meat Liquor.

Games Hub News

SW Freelancer/Company Dev Directory
If you’re looking for people to help on a project, or you are available for work – put your details in. 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…

Monthly Indie Spotlight

Lo-Fi Games

Lo-Fi Games has been working on its first game, Kenshi (an openworld RTS-RPG sandbox game on PC) for around 6 years, although the team only got together in 2014 when it hit Steam early access. Before that, Chris, the head dev, worked on it alone alongside his night shifts as a security guard. At the moment the rest of the team work from our office in Gran Canaria, while Natalie works remotely from Bristol Games Hub, mainly on writing dialogue, lore, world building, QA and bit of marketing and admin thrown in too. It’s been in development a long time, but they’re actually hitting the beta this month so look out for a link to that in next month’s newsletter!

Dev Scene News

Opposable Group

Opposable is heading full steam ahead now for our very own VR World Congress, which is set for April 12th. We’ve managed to assemble a fantastic virtual reality event (if we do say so ourselves) with a world class speaker line up and an expo hall filled to the brim with awesome VR games, companies and experiences. We recently added a bunch of developer tickets for those looking to get into the conference for a cheaper price, or we’re offering expo-only tickets for those who just want to try out all the cool kit!

In fact, we’ve been going conference crazy of late, as it was earlier this month that we headed to Mobile World Congress to set up FOUR VR experiences that we created for different companies as the event! MWC organisers GSMA, AT&T, Huawei and Akamaiwere all using experiences that we built over the course of the past year, although mostly in the last few months!

Auroch Digital

With Last Days of Old Earth in Early Access, we’ve been busy working on new content for the game. This week we’re launching our Deck Builder, which will allow players to create their own custom decks.

Work on our successful Kickstarter card game Elections of US America Election: The Card Game and action strategy title Dark Future: Blood Red States continues in earnest, as does work on some super secret projects we sadly can’t tell you about… yet.

I Love My Circle

I Love My Circle is a brand new game, made by Bristol based developer Joshua Burr and released on 1st March this year. It is an unputdownable, arcade style, mobile game you are trying your best to stay with your circle, the rectangles don’t approve of your love so they try increasingly harder to knock you part. It is highly addictive and worth checking out!

Evil Twin Artworks: Man O’ War

On the 15th April Evil Twin Artworks will be releasing Man O’ War: Corsair for Steam Early Access. Man O’ War: Corsair is a video game of high adventure, naval combat and exploration based on the Games Workshop classic Man O’ War table top game.

To celebrate the launch announcement, Evil Twin Artworks has created a brand new trailer to show how far the game has come since the first announcement. Click here to see the trailer.

Jobs & Opportunities

Jennifer Ann’s Group Game Design Contest

Jennifer Ann’s Group have announced they will be running their annual game design contest to tackle preventing teen dating violence. There are three top prizes totalling $11,000. Click here for full details and how to enter.

Reach Robotics are Recruiting

Reach Robotics are looking for a game developer, a full stack developer and an art lead to be involved in MekaMon, think Robot Wars meets Pokemon, an augmented reality and real-world multiplayer battle game. Click here for full details and how to apply.

Senior 3D General Artist – Opposable Group

Opposable Group are recruiting a senior 3D general artist with a minimum of 2 years experience. Click here for the full job description and details on how to apply.

Games for Change Climate Challenge

The Games for Change Climate Challenge invites you to submit a working prototype of a digital game that focuses on scientifically-grounded climate solutions. $10,000 cash prize, deadline 6th May.

Watershed Food Residency

Watershed are inviting applications from artist and creative practitioners who would like to develop an idea or project in residence at the PM Studio that combines art, tech and food. Full details.

Watershed New Talent Residencies

Watershed are inviting applications from talented and ambitious individuals at an early stage in their professional development, who are looking to explore ideas related to creative technology within an open and inspiring Studio community. Full details.

Watershed Artist in Residence

This is an open call for artist to explore ideas at the point where art and technology meet. One residency available, aimed at artists who have been practising for two or more years. Full details.

Events Diary

Spacial Storytelling for VR Talk – 18th March

This month’s Lunchtime Talk down at PM Studio is by Studio resident Catherine Allenwho will be talking about spacial storytelling for VR. Full details here.

Unity Meetup – 23rd March

Lukas Roper will be giving a talk about Corrupt Cup Contest, his game about running a corrupt sports agency. For more info and to RSVP, click here.

Nominet Social Tech Seed event Bristol – 24th March

Are you working on a project that harnesses the power of the internet to tackle a pressing social challenge? If you’re looking for early-stage funding through the Social Tech Seed programme come and get all the information you need.

BGH Antisocial – 31st March

See above for details, click here for more details and RSVP.

Grrrl Gamers Group – 5th April

A welcoming get together for women working in the games industry at any level of experience. Click here for their Meetup page.

Unreal Meetup – 7th April

Discuss the latest news and tools from Unreal Engine. Click here for more details and to RSVP.

Quick Links

Thanks all!

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