August 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 September.

The Antisocial is on Summer Holiday for one more month so won’t be on this month, it will be back in September!

The usual Meet Ups will still be on, see the Events Diary below for more details on those.

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

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

Sora Sabi

‘My name is Rory Doona, I create 2D digital art and graphic design as a freelancer, I’ve been doing it for over 10 years and have been based in the Bristol Games Hub for nearly a year. About half of my commissions are for game assets which you can see on my website.

I’ve had a really diverse mix of clients and commission types over the years, including Aardman Animations, Manga Entertainment and Demon Music Group.

When I’m not working on commissions I’m interested in creating work that entertains others. I started my own webcomic a few years ago, it currently has over 4,000 subscribers and 250,000 views on Tapastic.com. However most of that is now behind me as I’ve decided to become a full time Pokemon Go trainer so please don’t contact me unless you know a good Oddish nest in Bristol!

Dev Scene News

Opposable Group

We mentioned last month that we’d be releasing new info on our own VR game, Salvaged. As promised, you can now view our new teaser trailer and also check out our new blog for the latest update on the game.

This month was an unusual one for Opposable, as we headed for the Welsh Hills on a team camping trip. You can see some of our snaps (in 360!) on our Facebook page.

We’re also hard at work on a variety of projects ranging from a brand new company website (which will be up soon and is looking very, very cool) to new VR experiences. Hopefully we’ll be able to share the details on our BIG project very soon…

Auroch Digital

We launched our Twitch channel! We’ll be using it to highlight our games and titles from around the Bristol Games Hub. We’ve already streamed Last Days of Old Earth,Chainsaw Warrior: Lords of the Night, and The Battle for Sector 219.

Backers of Elections of US America Election: The Card Game will be pleased to know that the game is currently in the office and almost ready for distribution, Chainsaw Warrior fans should check out the amazing entries from our haiku competition, and readers of Develop can flick to page 39 of the August issue to find our Producer, Peter Willington, talking about his role.

Phew! Busy! But we did get the chance to get a game of Ogre in. For work purposes, obviously.

Ground Shatter

Ground Shatter has teamed up with Ant Workshop to bring fiendish puzzle-platformer, Binaries, to PlayStation 4 and Xbox One at the end of the month.

In the game you control two lovable balls of different colours across 100 levels of platforming… but you control them both at once. It’s breathtakingly simple in its idea but absurdly difficult in its execution. It’s basically like playing two different Super Meat Boy levels at the same time with the same controller. If you can play it without inventing a brand new set of swear words you’re doing very well.

The game, which was released earlier this year on Steam, is being launched on consoles on August 30th. Find out more at PlayBinaries.com

Jobs & Opportunities

BDH – Freelance Unity Developer

BDH are looking for a freelance Unity dev for a few weeks in September to refine the user experience and mechanics of a VR project. Email dan(at)bdh.net for more info or to apply.

Pitch@Palace – Funding

Pitch@Palace offers tech entrepreneurs the opportunity to present their ideas to an influential audience of global investors who can catapult them to the next level. This year’s theme includes media, communications and entertainment technology so for more info and to apply, go to their website.

Playable City Award

Open call for ideas themed around ‘journeys’ for Playable City. The winner will receive a £30,000 commission, practical support, residency at PM Studio in Watershed and more. For full details for to apply, click here.

Reach Robotics

Reach Robotics, creators of MekaMon, are looking for a freelance contractor with game design experience to support a few areas of the project. Collectable card game and balancing experience is highly desirable. Email Silas(at)reachrobotics.com for details or 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, freelancers and the like. It’s free to use but please don’t use it to ask for work. Currently it has opportunities from Game Debate, Rendermedia and PQube.

Events Diary

Bi-Monthly Board Game Night (16th August)

The first Board Game Night in June was a huge success so don’t miss out in August! Feel free to bring along any games you want play, otherwise between Bristol Games Hub and the venue we have a huge range of great games. To RSVP go to the Meetup page. As long as you are on the list, you will receive an email with the location at lunch time on the 16th.

Bleep Your Heart Out – 8 Bit Festival (20th August)

Free entry to this music festival dedicated to music created on old school Game Boys and other consoles/computers. Go to the Facebook event page for all the info.

Unity Meet Up (24th August)

James Parker of Ground Shatter will be talking at this month’s Unity Meet Up, looking at console porting for indies. Click here for more details or to RSVP.

Unreal Meet Up (1st September)

Join the Unreal group to talk all things Unreal, from programming and assets to dev queries and latest news. Click here for full info and to RSVP.

The Internet of Us: What Does Privacy Mean in the Digital Age? (1st September)

Gregg Latchams’ Digital Media & Technology team invite you to join them for an afternoon of exploring and debating one of the pivotal social issues of our generation. Book your place here.

Women In Games Conference (7th September)

This year’s WIG Conference will be held at the University of Greenwich. With a host of great speakers, it’s not to be missed! Click here for more info and to register.

Grrrl Gamers (9th September)

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!

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