USW Chosen As Regional Hub To Develop New Games Talent

The University of South Wales (USW) will be helping to develop game designers this summer as part of an innovative new government funded games talent programme. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Tranzfuser, led by UK Games Talent and Finance CIC, is designed to provide a platform for creative leaders of the future. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

It is aimed at graduates looking to break into the games development industry, with a strong focus on getting their game to market. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

USW has been named as one of ten regional hubs across the UK, which will help to mentor graduates who apply to take part in the programme. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Participants will have access to their regional hubs and leading industry support where possible, providing the best knowledge-base and resources available across the UK. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Applications are being invited from graduates to take part in the ten-week Tranzfuser programme throughout summer 2016. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Successful applicants will be invited to develop their ideas into working prototypes over the summer in a competition that culminates in a nationally recognized showcase event. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Graduates are invited to apply as: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

• Individuals looking to build their own team or
• Individuals on behalf of their team

Successful applicants will be awarded a £5,000 budget to allocate as they choose throughout the competition. At the showcase event in September 2016, selected teams will be invited to pitch for follow-on funding of up to £25k from the UK Games Fund to commercialise their game and launch a company. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Richard Hurford, Course Leader for Computer Games Enterprise at the University of South Wales, said: “We are delighted that the University of South Wales has been chosen as the regional hub for South Wales. We are looking forward to working with the regional teams as they develop their games, mentoring and supporting them through the process. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“This is a great competition for young games designers and developers to be involved with, particularly with the potential for the winners to receive funding for further development of their game. Young games designers and developers will be exposed to a range of industry experts and mentors to provide advice and guidance throughout their development journey. It is a fantastic opportunity for recent graduates from a range of disciplines to get involved in the games industry.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Applications close on April 15 2016 with successful applicants starting their ten-week game development from June 1 2016. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​