Get in the Game

15 December 2009

Five independent game developers and media production companies from the North West and Yorkshire have successfully pitched their game ideas and each won £10k to use in prototype development.

The companies have been selected as part of ‘Get in the Game’, a commissioning project initiated by Northwest Vision and Media in partnership with Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) and produced by Pixel-Lab.

Now in its second year, the scheme is designed to encourage companies from the digital content and games sectors to collaborate and improve their pitching talents.

14 companies attended a 2-day workshop in Liverpool during October, giving them advanced training in pitching and agile production methods in preparation to pitch their projects for the prototype funding.

After a competitive pitching process, Liverpool firms Milky Tea and Pixinworks, Manchester companies Savvy Productions and Connect2Media, and Leeds based Grant Midwinter are each receiving £10K of prototype funding.

During the next 3 months the companies will be mentored and guided by games industry veterans, and return in spring 2010 to show their prototypes to Sony, Blitz, and Channel 4, pitching finally for full development funding.

Enda Carey, Head of Games and Digital Content at Northwest Vision and Media said: "This is the second year we've run Get In The Game and we’re delighted that there was such an increased amount of interest. The variety of proposals was phenomenal, and I can't wait to see how the prototypes develop".

Toby Barnes added: "One of the best things about Get In The Game is that it's attracting companies that don't make traditional games, and they often bring fresh, innovative ideas that are a bit left field. This year we have had a rush of new multiple platform projects, digital distributed games, and interesting control mechanics. It's exciting that this project could lead to some very unusual games being produced".

Get In The Game was instigated by Northwest Vision and Media, and is produced by Pixel-Lab. For more information visit www.getinthegame.org.uk

Notes For The Editor:

Companies producing prototypes:

Savvy Productions: www.savvyproductions.net

Grant Midwinter: www.grantmidwinter.com

Connect2Media: www.connect2media.com

Milkytea: www.milkytea.com

Pixenworks: (Website forthcoming).

About Northwest Vision and Media: Northwest Vision and Media works on behalf of the digital and creative industries in the Northwest to create a world-class digital and creative economy within the region. We provide strategic leadership, help to build businesses, develop skills and talent, encourage and invest in production and inspire audiences. Find out more at www.visionandmedia.co.uk or follow us on twitter: @Visionandmedia

Northwest Vision and Media is funded by the UK Film Council, the Northwest Regional Development Agency, European Funds, Skillset, local, city and council authorities across the region.

Contact:

Sarah Tulley

Communications Executive

+44 (0) 870 609 4481

saraht@visionandmedia.co.uk

About Pixel-Lab: Pixel-Lab are a computer games and digital media development agency working across the UK’s computer game and digital media industries.

Pixel-Lab advises, develops and delivers strategies to support growth in the games industry from skills development to support infrastructure.

Pixel-Lab also works with organisations outside the industry, enabling them to understand games industry. www.pixel-lab.co.uk

Contact:

David Hayward

Project Coordinator

07976 216 029

david.hayward@pixel-lab.co.uk