Tranzfuser 2018 competition now open

Tranzfuser, the UK-wide search for the future creative leaders of the video game industry, has launched its 2018 competition today.

Organised by UK Games Talent and Finance CIC (UKGTF) and funded by the UK Government, Tranzfuser is aimed at graduates looking to break into the games development industry, with a strong focus on getting their game to market.

Now in its third year, teams of talented graduates are invited to apply to take part in the summer-long competition to work collaboratively on turning their game ideas in to actual working projects.

At the end of development, teams will showcase their prototype games at a prestigious consumer games show where they will pitch for a grant of up to £25,000 from the UK Games Fund.

Participants will have access to Local Hubs and leading industry support, providing the best knowledge-base and resources available across the UK. Successful applicants will be awarded a £5,000 budget to allocate as they choose throughout the competition.

Margot James, Minister for Digital and the Creative Industries said:

"Tranzfuser is not just about giving talented people a shot at turning their dreams into a reality. By benefitting from grants, peer to peer interaction, business experience and the support of our excellent universities and creative agencies, we are investing in the next generation of video game developers and the future of our thriving creative industries."

Deborah Farley, Head of Talent and Outreach at UKGTF, said:

"It's with much anticipation for the months ahead that we launch the 2018 Tranzfuser competition today. Over the past two years we have seen over 40 graduate teams create some amazing projects, with the most talented and determined individuals successfully transitioning from developing games for fun to being professional developers.

"This year, we're looking to build on past successes and make Tranzfuser 2018 the best it can be, both for our teams and our network of Local Hubs."

Over 41 start-up development teams have taken part in the competition since it started in 2016 and this year the network of Local Hubs has increased in size from 12 to 20.

The winners of Tranzfuser 2017 were Mochi Mode from Cardiff (University of South Wales) and Shuttershade Studios from Huddersfield (University of Huddersfield).

Mochi Mode wowed the judges and public alike with their game of bright visuals and simple one touch gameplay that sees players controlling a herd of cows and guiding them safely across the Wild West.

Laura Wells, Team Leader at Mochi Mode said:

"After graduating, it's tough to know what steps will help you 'breakthrough' into the games industry. That was especially true for us with the aspiration to start up our own studio. Tranzfuser has given us guidance at a crucial point of our development. Most importantly, it has allowed us to make a little magic!"

Shuttershade Studios, a small group of four individuals, created a virtual reality game, VR Party Ware, primarily consisting of a collection of various minigames that can be played globally via an online leaderboard system or locally friends.

Marcus Nichols from Shuttershade Studios said:

"Winning Tranzfuser has had a life changing effect on both me and the entire Shuttershade Studios team. We're now able to do our dream jobs which is to have very little sleep but to have a tonne of fun developing our own video games. It's the most varied job that we've all had and we wouldn't change it for the world."

The government's Industrial Strategy sets out a long term plan to boost the productivity and earning power of people throughout the UK, and a key strand of this is investing in skills and backing innovators to create better, higher-paying jobs. Nowhere is this more true than in the UK's Creative Industries which are worth more than £91.8 billion to the UK economy.