Bristol Games Hub – May Newsletter
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 June.
Next Games Hub Anti-Social: 26th May, 7.30pm
This month we’ve got:
The Oliver Twins – Over 30 Years of Making Games. This month we are very honoured to have Andrew and Philip Oliver who have been programming computer games since the early 1980’s. In 1986, it was reported that an estimated 7% of all UK games sales were accredited to The Oliver Twins. At the age of 22 they started Interactive Studios, now called Blitz Games Studios, as well as porting a number of prominent games to theSage platform, including Theme Park and Syndicate.
Jonathan Smith – UKTI. Jonathan has worked a lot with Chinese games companies and will be providing an overview of the games industry in China, a description of the key differences between what is popular in China and in the UK.
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 MEATLiquor.
Games Hub News
Bristol Games Hub – The Guardian
Bristol Games Hub was featured in an article in The Guardian about how the game development scene is changing!
CCG/LCG Meetup (25th May)
Hey folks! Our semi-regular card game meetups are expanding, and we’re looking for new games to play and new people to play them with. If you play (or are interested in checking out) any CCGs or LCGs why not come along and find some new opponents? We’re mostly playing Netrunner and 40k: Conquest at the moment, but anything is welcome if you bring decks and are willing to teach.
We meet in the Auroch Digital office, on the first floor of Bristol Games Hub from 7pm. See you there!
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
Joe Blakeston
“Hey guys, how’s it goin?
Sooo while I was studying Animation at Birmingham I was doing work experience as an animator and concept artist for a games studio called Flaming Pumpkin. They were kind to me and paid in Subway sandwiches. Once I’d graduated they took me on full time and although I was now getting real money it just meant there was a middle man between me and the Subway sandwiches.
When I moved to Bristol I quickly got a desk at Bristol Games Hub because I had learnt that working from home makes me fat and lonely. Once I was there I slowly managed to worm my way into Opposable Games as a 2D artist/animator using a mixture of proximity and irritation. I was there for nearly two years before leaving to spread my dirty, ginger wings as a freelancer which I have been doing for the past year and working with clients such as Aardman Animations and the BBC.”
Dev Scene News
Twice Circled – Big Pharma
Tim from Twice Circled has released an expansion for last year’s Big Pharma, the pharmaceutical strategy sim. The expansion, Marketing and Malpractice, offers a range of new features looking at the more nefarious side of the industry. Check out the trailerhere.
Auroch Digital
We unveiled in-engine footage of Dark Future: Blood Red States at Warhammer Fest 2016, and it was incredibly exciting to see the superb reaction from the audience. Last Days of Old Earth continues its Early Access journey this month with the release of the Campaign content update, and Develop spoke with our own Tomas Rawlings (among others!) about the wonderful world of games hubs.
Staying In Podcast
Auroch Digital’s Producer, Peter Willington, has recently launched a new podcast called Staying In. Covering video games, board games, comics, movies, and more, the show champions the best of geek culture. You can get the show here and if you have a project you think would be a good fit then drop them an email.
Jobs & Opportunities
Commission: EUPORIAS – Met Office – Kaleider
Our friends at Kaleider in Exeter have a great call out to encourage makers across the globe to imagine and propose a piece of artwork using climate data for the EUPORIAS General Assembly in Oct 2016. Award includes £15k, residency at Kaleider’s studio in Exeter, dev time with Met Office scientists and full support. The deadline is Friday 10th June, click here for full info on how to apply.
Plus… South West Games Dev Jobs
There is a Facebook group for devs to post opportunities; South West Games Dev Jobs. It’s for companies seeking new people, feelancers and the like. It’s free to use but please don’t use it for asking for work. Currently it has opportunities from, Game Debate, Rendermedia and PQube.
Events Diary
Unity Group (18th May – Tonight!)
For the May meetup, Alexander Birke is back with another talk. This one is a bit special since it’s one he’s going to give at Unite Europe at the end of the month, but you get to see it first! The talk covers how to use the Mesh API in Unity to create 3D models at runtime, a technique Alexander is using extensively in his upcoming self inflicted bullet hell game, Laser Disco Defenders. Signup to the meetup here.
CCG/LCG Meetup (25th May)
See Games Hub News above for full details.
Bristol Games Hub Antisocial (26th May)
See above for more details or click here to RSVP on the Meetup page.
Unreal Meetup (2nd June)
Come along to chat all things Unreal at the monthly Unreal Engine Meetup.
UWE Degree Show (2nd June)
Environment and Technology Degree Show 2016. You’ll have the opportunity to view emerging student talent from a wide range of subjects including computing and creative technologies. Click here for more info.
Grrrl Gamers (7th June)
The monthly Grrrl Gamers will be held from 7:30pm onwards and is open to women at all levels of the industry. Click here for more info or to RSVP.
Quick Links
Thanks all!