September 18 Newsletter
News from Anti social, Large Visible Machine,Twice Circled and much more…
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.
To have your news, events and / or job opportunities featured in the monthly newsletter, you can contact Sarah info@bristolgameshub.com. The deadline for entries is 10th October.
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…
Games Hub News
Next Games Hub Anti-Social: Thurs 27th September, 19.30
Yes! The Anti-Social is back after a Summer hiatus! This month we are joined by representatives from Game Workers Unite as well as local indie dev phenomenon Tim Wicksteed.
Game Workers Unite
Game Workers Unite is an organisation seeking to unionise the games industry on an international scale. For this talk, several members of the UK chapter will be coming along to discuss with you what unionising means for game developers and the industry as a whole, how we can help improve conditions for workers in the games industry, what actions we are taking and, should you wish to, how you can get involved.
My Best Friend: Tim Wicksteed
In this inaugural installment of a new series of fireside chats, Games Hub director Nils Hellberg will sit down with Twice Circled’s Tim Wicksteed to talk about his latest release Megaquarium, a theme park management tycoon game with an aquatic twist. How did the launch go? Any lessons learnt? Which is the biggest/most adorable fish in the world? Join us to find out!
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, opposite the Canteen.
Dev Scene News
Large Visible Machine
The Gromit Unleashed 2 VR Experience
Wallace & Gromit’s Grand Appeal has partnered with the University of Bristol and Large Visible Machine to bring virtual reality into Bristol Children’s Hospital, helping patients unable to leave the hospital experience Gromit Unleashed 2 – the latest arts trail featuring 67 giant sculptures across Bristol and the surrounding area.
While some patients and their families staying at the hospital were able to go out and about sculpture hunting, patients with complex needs or those undergoing intense treatments, such as Bone Marrow Transplants, are unable to leave the hospital. Using headsets donated by the University of Bristol, patients are transported to the streets of Bristol to see the sculptures up close and personal in a live setting with the use of 360 videos.
Twice Circled
Megaquarium – the public aquarium tycoon game – arrives on Thursday 13th September. Here’s the link:
Inspired by classic theme park management games, it revolves around two main tasks. Firstly, building and laying out your tanks, filled with fish and decorations you have unlocked and powered by expensive filtration systems. The second part is the management of your team of aquarists as they go about your aquarium and keep everything running smoothly and at a profit – harder than it sounds in a large aquarium!
The game is the culmination of 2 and a half years of hard work and I’m very proud of it! Wish me luck!
Ndemic Creations
Plague Inc: Evolved for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One will soon receive a hearty new update! Five Official Scenarios – including Ultimate Board Games and Mad Cow Disease – are set to infect consoles, each of which requires a completely new strategy to win.
Cowly Owl
Somerset based indie Cowly Owl re-brands with a new focus on games that the family can play together. With a first new game Sizzle & Stew, a two player cooking game for mobile & tablet
Force Of Habit
We participated in Ludum Dare 42 – a 48/72 hour game jam competition organised online – back at the beginning of August. We created an upgrade-driven arcade/action fire-’em-up game called Deep Heat:
“Don your flamethrower, your CO2 canisters, your dancing shoes – fire & flounce your way through the deepest, darkest, hottest, hungriest underground bunker in history.”
* 10 floors of mayhem – with 6 unique enemy types.
* 15 upgrades – including sprinklers, big sacks, hot feet and night vision.
* Money, money, money! Fire! Money!
After a few weeks of community judging, the results of the competition were announced. Deep Heat scored 6th place in Graphics, 7th place in Audio, and 42nd place Overall. That’s all out of a total of 1056 entries — so pretty amazing!
Anyway, the game is playable in the browser here, and you can check out the other games here. Maybe see you at the next jam?
Jobs & Opportunities
Aardman
Are you passionate about games and have a meticulous attention to detail? We’re looking for a ‘QA Tester’ to join our Interactive team. For more details, please go to:
Events Diary
IGLAB 06
Thur 20 Sept, 18:45, Pervasive Media Studio
Join IGLAB for the final edition of six events produced by our friends at Free Ice Cream. IGLAB is a place to test and play games – games that are played in the real world rather than via a console or screen, games that are social, definitely fun, and possibly a little bit absurd. It’s a testing ground for those who have a game idea they want to try out on people, and it’s also a place for people who want to play new games.
Fuse Jam #2 – “Sounds of the Emocean”
Fri 28th Sept and Sun 30th Sept 18.00, At dBs Bristol.
This time we will also be hosting micro talks before the jam and finish the whole thing on a high note with a chip tune gig! If you fancy creating some games in a cosy atmosphere you can get your tickets here
Quick Links
Thanks all!