BAF Game 2010

BAF Game 2010, Bradford Animation Festival’s strand dedicated to exploring the connections between video games, animation, and film, is back for its sixth year at the National Media Museum on Tuesday 9 and the University of Bradford on Wednesday 10 November. 

BAF Game gives festival goers a real insight into one of the most creative industries in the world, packed with even more screenings, workshops, talks and discussions led by industry experts.

Confirmed guests for BAF Game 2010 include Guy Midgley and James Stephenson of Ninja Theory, Tim Appleby and Laurel Austen of Splash Damage, Andy Brunton of Lionhead, Tim Heaton from Creative Assembly and gaming industry expert Charles Cecil.

Tom Woolley, director of BAF Game said: “BAF Game gets more exciting year on year and continues to attract key speakers who can share the stories and challenges behind the games we play today.  Anyone hoping to have a career in gaming should come along for the rare opportunity to hear some of the inside secrets that could help them break into the industry.”

Ninja Theory’s lead animator Guy Midgley and senior animator James Stevenson will talk about animating the characters, motion capture and scriptwriting for the new Playstation 3 game Enslaved: Odyssey to the West.

Lead character artist, Tim Appleby and senior concept artist, Laurel Austin, from Splash Damage will give an insight into the concept art and character design behind new action game, Brink.

Andy Brunton, lead animator at Lionhead will speak about his work on Fable III, the latest instalment to the action-packed, popular Fable series.

For retro-gaming fans, key figure in the British games industry for over 25 years, Charles Cecil will be attending.  Charles formed Revolution Software in 1989 and is the creator of acclaimed PC adventure games Lure of the Temptress, Beneath a Steel Sky and the multi award-winning Broken Sword series.  Charles Cecil has recently directed the new Dr Who: The Adventure Games for the BBC and will be joined by Sumo’s creative director Sean Millard to unravel the secrets of bringing the Doctor’s interactive adventures to the PC.

BAF Game will conclude with a panel discussion that focuses on the new wave of stereoscopic 3D, motion sensing controllers and mobile gaming which will be chaired by Jamie Sefton, sector manager at Game Republic, and will feature experts including Ian Bickerstaff from Sony’s stereo 3D team and Ian Palmer, Dean of Informatics at the University of Bradford.  

Organised by the National Media Museum, in strong partnership with the University of Bradford and Screen Yorkshire’s Game Republic, this exciting festival explores the creative elements of gaming in all its forms.  BAF Game 2010 will have a strong focus on the future of gaming, which includes discussions on the influence of independent gaming and new technology.

Tickets for BAF Game are on sale now from the National Media Museum Box Office (call 0844 856 3797 or visit www.baf.org.uk).   Passes for both days are priced at £55 (£45 concessions) – book your pass now for special early bird prices £50 (£40 concessions) available until 8 October.  Day passes cost £40 (£30 concessions) and group discounts are also available.  Bradford Animation Festival runs from 9 – 13 November at the National Media Museum.

The Department of Creative Technology at the University of Bradford, development partner for BAF Game 2010, organises the festival strand in conjunction with BAF and provides venues for a selection of events and talks.  Creative Technology offers a high quality student learning experience on dynamic, dedicated and industry focussed Animation and Games courses.  Blending their extensive teaching experience as one of the earliest Departments to offer courses in Animation and Games and working with an extended family of professional partners, Creative Technology are also members of the Yorkshire and Humberside Skillset Media Academy.  Information on the Department and its courses can be found at www.scim.brad.ac.uk.

The principal sponsors of BAF 2010 are The WOW Academy and Bradford College. Housed within the Innovative Technologies Centre at Bradford College the WOW Academy is a unique educational training facility aimed at inspiring young people, students, graduates, trainees, and employees to develop an interest in digital and creative media using state-of-the-art technology. Find out more at www.nationalmediamuseum.org.uk.