Video Game Show to Return to Glyndwr University

The company behind an award-winning Oculus Rift windsurfing simulator and a developer who produces 3D media for the Ministry of Defence feature at a second-annual game show in Wrexham.

InitGame is taking place at Glyndŵr University on Saturday October 24th from 11am following a successful inaugural event last year.

The show is aimed at young people, students and graduates interested in working within the creative media industry and provides a series of inspirational talks and into the careers and technologies available.

Atticus Digital, which won a 2015 BAFTA Cymru award for Technical Achievement for their windsurfing simulator, are one of six headline speakers.

Glyndŵr University graduate Owain Hughes will be speaking about his role as 3D Media Developer with Babcock International, contractors for the MoD.

Rick Vanner, development director at The Game Creators; Llio Wyn, event manager at BAFTA Cymru and Ralph Ferneyhough, director of game developer Quantum Soup, also feature.

Steffen Gronning, CEO of BetaDwarf, will be joining the event live from Denmark. Renowned for the “Forced” game franchise, Steffen will be giving his take on the game development process, and his experience of working on a major Kickstarter project.

InitGame 2015 is being supported by Games Wales (North), BAFTA Cymru and the British Computing Society.

Richard Hebblewhite, computer game development programme leader, said: “We’re very proud to provide our graduates with a number of opportunities throughout the year to connect with the gaming industry at events such as this.

“This helped us to record a 100 per cent student satisfaction rating in last year’s National Student Survey.

“Last year’s InitGame was a big success and we’ve been able to secure a good mix of speakers again to give attendees a broad flavour of the kind of jobs available within the industry.”

The global video game industry is now worth an estimated £80bn, with £2.5bn of this provided by the UK.

Games Wales (North) was founded by members of video game development company TT Games to provide a social group for everyone interested in video games in the region to connect with each other. Glyndŵr University has been involved from its early days, working to organize events and engage with industry.

InitGame runs from 11am to 5pm in the Nick Whitehead Theatre at Glyndŵr University Wrexham on Saturday October 24.

Entry is free with advanced registration here. For updates about the event follow the Games Wales North Twitter feed @GamesWalesNorth