September 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 October.
The Antisocial is back on this month!
After 3 months off, we’re kicking things off with two talks on September 29th at 7.30 PM:
SN Systems – An insight into PlayStation development tool – Bernard James, VP Development will present an overview of SN Systems and its role in the PlayStation development process. SN Systems are a Bristol-based , SIE-owned company with over 25 years of console development tools experience, developing a range of tools including debuggers, compliers, profile analysers and more.
The dark art of R&D and VGTR – James Gibbs will be joining us from F6S to be the champion on your side when dealing with the dark art of VGTR and R&D Tax Credits.
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
Large Visible Machine
Nils Hellberg has been running Large Visible Machine out of Bristol Games Hub since it’s inception in 2014. The main focus is on digital board and card games and the latest project, Lew Pulsipher’s Doomstar, was released on Steam on Friday! Doomstar is a collaboration with fellow hub resident Rich Wallis and the ability to bring in people as needed has been one of the main benefits of being based in the Hub. Other activities apart from games making include beard/black kale growing, beer drinking and watching Pro Wrasslin.
Dev Scene News
Mega Best Cat Adventure Kickstarter
Psychedelic twin-stick shooter SUPER MEGA BEST CAT ADVENTURES mixes the crazy intense wave-based action of classic arcade games such as Llamatron 2112 and modern rogue-like exploration of games like The Binding of Issac. Inspired by classic Williams-style arcade shooters and modern rogue-lites, it’s crammed to the brim with kaleidoscopic colours and mind-melting visuals. Hyper stimulating gameplay thrills are a direct result of the focus on fast, unrelenting action through randomised mazes and destructible environments.
SUPER MEGA BEST CAT ADVENTURES is currently live on Kickstarter and Greenlight, check them out!
Auroch Digital
The Steam page for Dark Future: Blood Red States is now live! You can Wishlist our new game here and ICYMI we put together all our vehicle videos from Dark Future here.
We’ve been sharing pre-alpha footage of our digital adaptation of Steve Jackson’s Ogre with Kickstarter backers and receiving a ton of great comments and positive feedback, and in other community news our Twitch channel is slowly but surely picking up pace – you can catch up with any streams you’ve missed by visiting our Youtube channel. Plus a great new podcast called “Futures and Skills” invited us onto their show, and we were interviewed in Programme.
Evil Twin
‘Evil Twin Artworks’, are excited to announce the latest update for our Early Access title ’Man O’ War: Corsair’ and it’s a big one! We have wanted to bring out more of the elements that make the Warhammer world what it is, and so we felt it was time to bring the Dwarfs and Skaven to the Great Western Ocean. Not only that, we are also beginning to introduce the different colleges of magic, as well as allow players to launch flying monsters and shoot flying enemies from the sky with unique and bizarre anti-air weapons. It all really gives the game an extra dimension.
Click here to see the brand new trailer.
Opposable Group
Plans are afoot for VR World Congress 2017! If you don’t already, be sure to follow our VRWC Twitter and Facebook accounts as we’ll be posting all announcements there first. Quick insider tip: keep April 11th, 12th and 13th of 2017 free…
Later this month we’ll also be providing equipment for our friends at Simpleweb as part of their Challenge Hack Day here in Bristol. Well worth checking that out if you’re interested!
Laser Disco Defenders Boogies Its Way Onto PS4 And Steam
After having been out on Vita for a couple of months the first game from Out Of Bounds Games is ready to dance its way onto Steam on the 29th of September, and PS4 the 4th of October. The Vita release received praise for the core mechanic and overall presentation but received some criticism for a lack of variety and the high difficulty. Based on this initial feedback the game now features a brand new zone, enemies and the addition of powerups, as well as having been rebalanced. Sound groovy? Well If you find your way to EGX this month you will be able to play this updated version on the show floor.
Force Of Habit
Last week we revealed and released a new game that’s been bubbling in the pan since January. ‘makenines‘ – an ambient logic-puzzle game, about making numbers equal 9. Lots of people have been playing and enjoying it, with TouchArcade saying “impressive in its incredible sound and visual design”, “aesthetically beautiful” and “a title that any puzzle fans should definitely download”. It’s completely free too (pay what you want) so give it a shot (Android, iOS) and let us know what you think.
Jobs & Opportunities
Slitherine – Junior Art and Programmer
Epsom based publishers Slitherine are looking for a junior artist and programmer to join their team. Email career(at)slitherine.co.uk for more info and how to apply.
Alto’s Adventure – Unity Programmer
Seeking a talented Unity Programmer to join Team Alto in the South West, for the full list of requirements and ideal qualities click here.
Creative England – Tech & Digital Funding
Follow @TechDigital_CE on Twitter to keep up to date with business investment info, case studies, technews and innovations.
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
Grrrl Gamers Group (20th September)
This month’s Grrrl Gamers group has been moved to the 20th. A welcome get together for women working in games. Click here for more details and to RSVP.
Antisocial (29th September)
See above for full details or RSVP on the meetup page.
Games For Better: 48hr Games Jam (30th September)
The theme for this years Games For Better Games Jam is ‘Antibiotic Resistance’, an international issue and a genuine threat to humanity. For full details and to register for free visit their EventBrite page.
Grrrl Gamers (4th October)
Next month’s Grrrl Gamers meetup will be back in its usually spot, first Tuesday of the month. Click here for full details and to RSVP.
XX+ Game Jam (14th October)
REFIG UK is running an international, 24hr Games Jam for women on 14th to 15th October. This is a great opportunity for women who like games and want to create one to get together, network and have fun. There are 4 other UK sites, along with sites in Canada. Click here for more info or to register. Registration closes on 24th September.
Quick Links
- More games released on STEAM in the first 8 months of the year than in the entirety of 2015
- Does it now take $10 million to make it in mobile?
- Myst creator on role of luck in making it big
- Study: Video games can actually help kids learn
- More romance in games!!
Thanks all!