Gamer Camp: Nano
Application deadline extended for month-long iPhone game development course at NTI Birmingham.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
14th October 2010
Whether leaping over a spike-filled chasm, gunning down an enormous boss or saving civilisation (as we know it), gamers always get a second chance to save the day. So, it makes sense that would-be gamemakers should be lucky enough to deserve one too.
That's why NTI Birmingham is extending the deadline for applications to its Gamer Camp: Nano (gamercamp.co.uk) – a month-long training course simulating the real-world environment of games development, till Tuesday 19th October 2010. The course is seeking animators, designers and coders serious about kick-starting a career in the games industry.
Budding gamemakers will be trained in how to build an iPhone game, and receive practical tuition and mentoring from industry professionals, as they work in teams to build a working game.
Gamer Camp: Nano costs £499 per person upon acceptance onto the course, which runs between 8th November and 3rd December 2010 at NTI Birmingham's city centre facility (ntibirmingham.co.uk).
Those interested should head to GamerCamp.co.uk to apply online or to find out more.
Background to Gamer Camp: Nano
The course takes place at NTI Birmingham, part of Birmingham City University, and is led by former Studio Director at SEGA Racing Studio, Guy Wilday.
Gamer Camp: Nano includes mentoring, support and coaching from gaming giants Blitz Games Studios (Dead to Rights), Codemasters (Colin McRae: DIRT) and Rare (Kinect Sports) to find and nurture the next generation of talented gamemakers.
“The Gamer Camp programme is designed to provide graduates with a unique opportunity to get real ‘hands on’ experience of developing video games in a ‘simulated’ industry environment.” says Guy.
“After a week of intensive tuition the Nano course delegates are divided into teams which will then go onto develop unique iPhone games under the guidance and instruction of key industry figures. At the end of the course, the games are then submitted to the App Store for approval and availability worldwide.”
Running over full-time hours for four weeks between 8th November and 3rd December, Gamer Camp: Nano will be accepting twelve people (8 programmers and 4 artists) onto the course.
Guy explains, “Having recruited a host of graduates over my career, I’ve found that their skills grow enormously as a direct result of working through a complete game development cycle. The Gamer Camp programme is designed specifically to provide this experience.”
Nano, Mini and Pro
Gamer Camp: Nano is one of three schemes of differing durations being run over the coming year by NTI Birmingham, a training and media studio, and part of Birmingham City University.
Nano will be followed by Gamer Camp: Mini, where gamemakers will be given 3 months to build a PSP game from March 2011, and Gamer Camp: Pro, in which thirty participants will have 9 months to create a game for Xbox 360 or PS3. Those interested should register their interest at gamercamp.co.uk.
Programming applicants should have, and be able to demonstrate C / C++ programming skills, experience working with Windows, Mac OS or Linux API's, and must be able to present a game demo or design document for a game at interview.
Games artist applicants meanwhile, should be able to demonstrate an ability to draw, 2D & ideally 3D design skills, animation skills, and must be able to present a game demo, portfolio, design document or application at interview.
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITOR
- For further information on the Gamer Camp programme or Gamer Camp: Nano, or to request bespoke content (e.g. feature articles relating to the course), please contact David Allen on david.luke.allen@bcu.ac.uk or 0121 202 4816.
- Gamer Camp was run for the first time in 2009. It is currently managed by Birmingham City University’s NTI Birmingham.
- NTI Birmingham deliver training in media software, a variety of funded projects, and produce websites, graphics and video on a not-for-profit commercial basis.