Vision On

Synergy, the University of Wales, Newport’s innovative games research group has been asked to contribute, curate and partner two high-profile digital media events in Cardiff in 2009.

The first of these events is ‘May You Live in Interesting Times’, Cardiff Festival of Creative Technology from 22-24 October. This 3-day festival is all about 'do-it-yourself' and celebrates creative use of technology and social innovation, enabled through shared ideas. The University’s involvement supports internationally renowned American/Israeli game artist Eddo Stern’s first UK solo exhibition and involvement in the ‘Game Pit’, also part of the packed programme.

The second event is ‘Vision On’, the digital season at Cardiff’s ffotogallery that runs from 22 October - 10 December. The focus of Vision On is the opening up of channels of inclusion to new ideas, new networks and new solutions for digital life. Broadly the series is themed around weekly subject areas that will be explored, shown and hosted in situ in the gallery with a mix of invited speakers, workshops and public sessions. By building a series on themes relevant to contemporary digital practice the season offers an environment to seed new collaborations. Themes are playing, seeing, hearing, sensing, making and disrupting things. Guest artists include Tale of Tales, developers of independent game projects like The Path and FATALE.

“Synergy is particularly proud to welcome these world-class game artists and developers to South Wales this October,” said Emma Westecott, Games Research Fellow at the University of Wales, Newport. “Both Eddo Stern and Tale of Tales will be presenting and discussing their latest work and these events represent a unique opportunity to see some of the most talented artists working in game form today, it is a real coup for the University.”

Further information about the Synergy games research group, the events taking place and artists involved can be found here:-

Synergy Games Research Group: http://synergy.newport.ac.uk

May You Live In Interesting Times: http://mayyouliveininterestingtimes.org.uk

Ffotogallery: http://www.ffotogallery.org

Eddo Stern: http://www.eddostern.com/

Tale of Tales: http://www.tale-of-tales.com

Ends

PR106/10/09

Notes to Editors

• Synergy engages in practice-based and theoretical research into the creative aspects of computer game form and related interactive moving image media. It draws on the established practice and experience of games designers, producers and theorists’ research into the intersection between games and understanding of other art forms.

• Synergy seeks to explore (through play), critique (through theory) and expand (through practice) the nature of the gaming experience. The purpose of project-led activity is to extend the reach of game form to a wider audience, with the goal to initiate and conduct novel and innovative research that explores and shares new visions of games and game play.

• Work carried out by ‘Synergy’ is one example of how Newport’s University has grown its research capabilities in recent years. The latest Research Assessment Exercise, published in December 2008, revealed the University had moved up the overall UK table to rank 55th out of 132 universities (from 61st in 2001) and 5th out of 10 in Wales. All research subject areas submitted by the University of Wales, Newport achieved international recognition, with 55% of its research classed as of quality that is internationally excellent in terms of originality, significance and rigour (3*) and 7% classed as world-leading in terms of originality, significance and rigour (4*).

Further information from:

Phil Mansell, Press and Communications Officer

Tel: 01633 432822 Mob: 07821 028668 Email: press@newport.ac.uk