BAFTA reboots Young Game Designers Initiative
Campaign expanded to include 10 -18 year olds launches today at EGX London with support of Nominet Trust and games industry partners
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) has today announced the launch of its reformed BAFTA Young Game Designers (YGD) initiative, which aims to encourage young people to consider a career in games. The announcement, which took place in advance of workshops with games industry professionals at the EGX London games show, marks a significant step in the development of the initiative as it seeks to equip young people with the knowledge, skills and confidence to become the next generation of successful game designers.
Nominet Trust – the UK’s only dedicated tech for good funder – will support the initiative as headline partner, working with BAFTA to develop additional schools-focussed activity addressing the under-representation of women in the games workforce. Other supporting partners include: Criterion Games (an EA Studio), Bethesda Softworks, SEGA, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, King, Jagex, Google, Pinewood Studios Group and Unity. In addition, Abertay University will continue to support further development of the games of the winners of the annual BAFTA Young Game Designers Awards.
BAFTA Young Game Designers was first launched in 2010 as a game design competition for 11-16 year-olds. Four years later it has evolved into a year-round programme of activity for 10-18 year-olds, including: a re-vamped website (www.bafta.org/ygd) where BAFTA members, award winners and nominees share their insights and advice through interviews and exclusive video content; a web series, fronted by internet celebrity Yogscast Kim, that gives a light-hearted look behind the scenes of the games industry; a range of teaching resources; an online ‘feedback hub’ where young people can submit ideas or questions about their entry, with the chance of gaining a personalised response from a games expert; and live workshops around the country.
The BAFTA Young Game Designers competition, which will re-open for entries in spring 2015, will be expand its age range to 10-18 year-olds, divided into age-specific sub-groups. Two additional categories, aimed at inspirational leaders, will also be added to the existing Game Concept Award and Game Making Award: a YGD Mentor Award for a mentor who has inspired young people to try coding or game design; and a YGD Hero Award for a teacher, after-school club leader or other educator who has inspired children to overcome some of the barriers to entry for coding. The winners will be announced at a special ceremony at BAFTA in summer 2015.
Harvey Elliott, Chair of the BAFTA Games Committee, said: “BAFTA Young Game Designers has fast become an invaluable resource for budding game designers across the UK. With the support of our partners, including our new headline partner the Nominet Trust, we’re now able to reach more young people, from a wider age group, than ever before, with an enhanced online presence and more workshops. The two new categories for the YGD Awards will help us celebrate all the unsung heroes who give their time to help the next generation of creative game-makers.”
Annika Small, CEO of Nominet Trust, said: “Young people are crucial to the future success of the UK’s thriving creative industries. It is vital that we nurture their digital creativity and give them a broad range of experiences that will develop their understanding, skills and networks. The direct access to industry experts offered by BAFTA Young Game Designers is an incredible boost to young people looking to develop a career in games design. Nominet Trust is delighted to be supporting Bafta in this year’s campaign and we’re excited to see the ideas and games young people come up with.”
To read tips on how to get into the games industry click here.
For more information about BAFTA Young Game Designers in association with the Nominet Trust, and to sign up for the newsletter, go to www.bafta.org/ygd.
Nominet Trust – the UK’s only dedicated tech for good funder – will support the initiative as headline partner, working with BAFTA to develop additional schools-focussed activity addressing the under-representation of women in the games workforce. Other supporting partners include: Criterion Games (an EA Studio), Bethesda Softworks, SEGA, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, King, Jagex, Google, Pinewood Studios Group and Unity. In addition, Abertay University will continue to support further development of the games of the winners of the annual BAFTA Young Game Designers Awards.
BAFTA Young Game Designers was first launched in 2010 as a game design competition for 11-16 year-olds. Four years later it has evolved into a year-round programme of activity for 10-18 year-olds, including: a re-vamped website (www.bafta.org/ygd) where BAFTA members, award winners and nominees share their insights and advice through interviews and exclusive video content; a web series, fronted by internet celebrity Yogscast Kim, that gives a light-hearted look behind the scenes of the games industry; a range of teaching resources; an online ‘feedback hub’ where young people can submit ideas or questions about their entry, with the chance of gaining a personalised response from a games expert; and live workshops around the country.
The BAFTA Young Game Designers competition, which will re-open for entries in spring 2015, will be expand its age range to 10-18 year-olds, divided into age-specific sub-groups. Two additional categories, aimed at inspirational leaders, will also be added to the existing Game Concept Award and Game Making Award: a YGD Mentor Award for a mentor who has inspired young people to try coding or game design; and a YGD Hero Award for a teacher, after-school club leader or other educator who has inspired children to overcome some of the barriers to entry for coding. The winners will be announced at a special ceremony at BAFTA in summer 2015.
Harvey Elliott, Chair of the BAFTA Games Committee, said: “BAFTA Young Game Designers has fast become an invaluable resource for budding game designers across the UK. With the support of our partners, including our new headline partner the Nominet Trust, we’re now able to reach more young people, from a wider age group, than ever before, with an enhanced online presence and more workshops. The two new categories for the YGD Awards will help us celebrate all the unsung heroes who give their time to help the next generation of creative game-makers.”
Annika Small, CEO of Nominet Trust, said: “Young people are crucial to the future success of the UK’s thriving creative industries. It is vital that we nurture their digital creativity and give them a broad range of experiences that will develop their understanding, skills and networks. The direct access to industry experts offered by BAFTA Young Game Designers is an incredible boost to young people looking to develop a career in games design. Nominet Trust is delighted to be supporting Bafta in this year’s campaign and we’re excited to see the ideas and games young people come up with.”
To read tips on how to get into the games industry click here.
For more information about BAFTA Young Game Designers in association with the Nominet Trust, and to sign up for the newsletter, go to www.bafta.org/ygd.
Tips On Getting In To The Games industry
Learn, play, and create: BAFTA Young Game Designers offers advice on how to get into the games industry
The launch of the 2014-15 Young Game Designers (YGD) programme once again sees BAFTA embark on a series of events and resources aimed at helping 10-18-year-olds get into the games industry.
YGD was first launched in 2010 as a game design competition for 11-16 year-olds. It has now evolved into a destination for careers advice and behind the scenes access to the games industry for 10-18-year-olds. The programme utilises the experiences of BAFTA members, award winners and nominees and allows them to share their insights and advice through interviews and exclusive video content, in addition to hosting workshops around the country.
At the launch of this year’s initiative, a host of games industry luminaries have pulled together their top tips for those looking to start a career in gaming.
Learn!
“Many of the tools used by the games industry are free to try, in one form or another. Combine the availability of demos and trials for programs like Photoshop and Illustrator with the multitude of YouTube tutorials online and anyone can learn at their own pace, and for free.”
Georg Backer, Independent Game Developer
Play!
“Almost every job within the games industry requires a wider working knowledge of the games people are playing. Learning how the industry emerged from experiments by curious computer programmers in the 60s to the multi-billion dollar business it is today. You can play classic games on a variety of formats – learn from their simplicity. Embrace the new ways connected devices allow people to play. Immerse yourself in gaming.”
Harvey Elliott, CEO of Marmalade
Specialise!
“If you’ve ever sat through the credits of a console videogame, you’ll know how many people it can take to make the games we all want to play. Developing a game – be it small indie, or full-blown blockbuster – requires a host of different disciplines. Programmers, artists, musicians, level designers, 3D modellers, storywriters – these are just a few of the roles that need filling. On smaller titles, one person can be responsible for multiple jobs. Work out what you enjoy and concentrate on developing those skills.”
Ana Steiner, Lead Developer, Jagex
Create!
“Gone are the days when you used to have to learn an entire programming language before you commit key to keyboard. Nowadays, there’s a huge range of tools which enable anyone to make games. GameMaker (https://www.yoyogames.com/studio), Twine (http://twinery.org//) and Unity (http://unity3d.com) offer ways to experiment with coding, with healthy online communities for anyone who gets stuck.”
Imre Jele, Co-Founder of Bossa Studios
Meet!
“The games industry is a vibrant place to work (and play)! Those that work in it often recognise that privilege and are more than welcome to help out those aiming to join. Keep an eye on events calendars – public expos such as EGX, Nottingham Game City and Game Expo Scotland are huge events which attract many thousands of people. But also keep an eye on local listings – events where enthusiasts come together to create.”
Mitu Khandaker-Kokoris, Independent Game Developer & BAFTA Breakthrough Brit 2013
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