Wrexham Designers Showed Off Their Skills At Top Computer Game Exhibition

Leading designers showed off their skills at this year’s Wales Games Development Show. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Wrexham Glyndwr University’s Computer Game Development lecturers and students joined the exhibition to display their work and help promote the town as the prime location to study game design. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

More than 500 people attended the event, which acts as a meeting place for anyone interested in games, and serves as a showcase for the ever-growing industry in Wales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The university’s game design students took the opportunity to showcase their work, including Alyssa Griffiths, who presented her successful murder mystery game, Lost in Dark Ridge, on the main stage in front of hundreds of people. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Wrexham Glyndwr University also sponsored the BAFTA Cymru Game Awards ceremony held at the same forum in Cardiff. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Senior lecturer and programme leader for Computer Game Development, Richard Hebblewhite, said: “Hundreds attended the event and our exhibit was very busy throughout. We had several high quality student game projects on display, along with some promotional videos and Wrexham Glyndwr freebies. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“It was an absolute pleasure to be involved as a guest speaker, and in the BAFTA ceremony as myself, and the team were able to take centre stage with the winners as part of the main presentation. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Overall, it was a hugely successful trip, with our students getting the chance to gain experience of exhibiting their work at a major national game development show, in particular, alongside some of the country’s largest developers and publishers.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

He added: “It’s another great example of why our programme was rated as one of best places in the UK to study game development last year with 100% student satisfaction.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

As primary sponsors, the Wrexham Glyndwr team were invited onto the stage as the final BAFTA Cymru award for Best Game was given to Rant Media for TV Sports Soccer. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Exhibitors also presented new releases, upcoming products and the event held workshops, masterclasses and discussions with leading industry guest speakers. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

This event follows Wrexham Glyndwr University’s successful Level Up Expo last month which showcased student projects and local developers. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​