Students learn how to turn gaming into a dream career

Aspiring games designers from across northern England will be in Carlisle tomorrow (Friday 17 January) getting tips on how to carve out a career in one of the UK’s fastest growing industries.

Two professionals will be addressing 200 students from University of Cumbria, colleges and schools from across the county and North East.

Meg Rouncefield, who works for TT Games that is famous for its series of LEGO franchises, will be discussing her career and passion for games development at the climax to the University of Cumbria’s GameJam competition.

Matt Phillips runs Manchester-based Big Evil Corporation, a studio that specialises in designing new games for retro consoles.

Figures recently released by the Entertainment Retailers’ Association show that consumers spent £3.7bn on digital and physical gaming in 2019 and the popularity of video games are being immortalised in a new set of Royal Mail postage stamps going on sale soon.

The event takes place at the university’s Brampton Road campus, home of its Institute of the Arts.

Organised by games design course leaders Katy Little and Graeme Glease, the competition set participants the challenge to create their own video game concept in 96 hours.

Entries were created over four days in December and tomorrow competitors will be able to test them out before winners are announced.

University games design degree students and alumni are among those competing as are teams from William Howard School in Brampton, Kendal College and Gateshead College.

Follow the awards day on social media, using the hashtag #uocgamejam.