Latest news with #GameDesign
Yahoo
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Three Oxfordshire teens win BAFTA gaming design awards
The BAFTA young game designs awards recognised three teens from Oxfordshire in the ceremony's 15th anniversary. The winners, Isabelle Taylor and Emily Sun, both 17 and from Oxford, and Luke Rayfield, 18, from South Oxfordshire, won three of the five awards granted. Coming from the world-renowned film and television awards charity BAFTA, the young game designers competition celebrates and encourages the next generation entering the UK games industry. READ MORE: Oxford burger restaurant comeback after closing in debt The 52 finalists of this year's competition were competing for one of two awards, the game concept award, which rewards the most original and best thought-out game idea, and the game making award, which goes to the most impressive use of coding skills (on a freely available software) to create a prototype game. Each award is split into two age categories, 10-14 years and 15-18 years. Oxfordshire put forward winners in both awards. Experience the pulse of Oxford at your fingertips 🗞️ With our flash sale, Oxford Mail keeps you updated for less: only £4 for 4 months or save 40 per cent on an annual subscription. Don't miss out on what's happening locally #DigitalDeal #LocalJournalismhttps:// — Oxford Mail (@TheOxfordMail) June 16, 2025 Isabelle Taylor and Emily Sun won the Game Concept Award for the upper age group, for their winning game concept Mikka Bouzu. Isabelle Taylor and Emily Sun, both 17 from Oxford, won the game concept award for their design Mikka Bouzu (Image: BAFTA) They describe the game as being "made for players who struggle with the difficult transition from child to adult, and the burnout that it often brings." The game follows protagonist Mikka Bouzu, a game designer who has lost her passion for art, who must journey through three of her unfinished games and write endings for them to rediscover her lost creativity. READ MORE: Cotswolds company van stolen from Chipping Norton property In the game making award upper age range category, Luke Rayfield won for his game Furniture Fu, which combines two seemingly disparate skills - martial arts and interior decorating. Players can beat demons while mastering tasteful home design, in a game that Mr Rayfield describes as 'easy to learn and hard to master" where strategic furniture arranging means better monster hunting. He said: "This competition and Furniture Fu represents two huge milestones for me - firstly, an amazing accolade, and secondly, the only time I've managed to make a game to schedule. "There's something so gratifying about so much work and passion coming together, against all odds, and I am thrilled for the opportunity to share that passion with others." Luke Rayfield, 18 from Oxfordshire, designed Furniture Fu (Image: BAFTA) The winners of this year's competition were announced in a digital ceremony hosted by actor and comedian Inel Tomilson, and will go on to have their work featured at a showcase in Piccadilly from the end of June. Winning games will also be available to see at the Science Museum in London, the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester, and the National Science and Media Museum in Bradford as part of the Power Up experience. READ MORE: Oxford congestion charge would 'punish' city says councillor Dan Ayoub of SVP Digital Games and member of the judging panel, said: "It was an absolute honour to serve on the judging panel for the BAFTA Young Game Designers awards. "Beyond the joy of working alongside brilliant developers, I was genuinely humbled by the level of talent, creativity, and ambition these young creators brought. "This experience left me deeply inspired—and incredibly optimistic about the future of our industry.'
The National
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
Abu Dhabi University to offer degree in video game design
Abu Dhabi University will begin offering a Bachelor of Arts in Game Design, billed as the first degree of its kind in the region. The programme was announced after a 'landmark' memorandum of understanding was signed between the university, the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi and the video game-focused school Rubika, which has campuses in France and Canada. The memorandum was also signed with the support of Abu Dhabi Gaming. The degree will be offered starting August, the beginning of the academic year. 'The programme combines academic excellence, international best practices and deep industry integration – including structured internships, mentorships and up to 140 funded scholarships over six years,' the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi said in a post on X on Tuesday. The degree is already listed on the website of Abu Dhabi University. "This cutting-edge programme equips students with the creative, technical and industry-driven expertise needed to design, develop and produce engaging video game experiences,' the description reads. A breadth of courses are being offered as part of the programme, ranging from Fundamentals of Emotional Intelligence to History of Video Games, as well as courses focusing on different genres and platforms, including first-person shooters and mobile games. 'Combining theory with hands-on practice, the programme covers essential aspects of game design, from level design and game mechanics to narrative development and interactive media production,' the programme description reads. 'Students will master industry-standard tools, including Unity, Unreal Engine and Adobe Suite, while learning to craft immersive digital experiences for entertainment, education and simulation.' Abu Dhabi has been steadily working to develop the local gaming and esports ecosystem. Abu Dhabi Gaming – an initiative founded in 2021 that supports game developers, players, consumers and businesses – was integrated into DCT – Abu Dhabi in November 2023 as part of a move to 'position the emirate as a global gaming hub,' Abu Dhabi Media Office said at the time.
