Two video games built by students on placement at Staffordshire University have made it through to the finals of the TIGA Games Industry Awards.
Staffordshire University celebrates its 20 years of games anniversary this year
This is phenomenal news for the Games Development department and for our University which is celebrating its 20 years of games anniversary.
MentalBlock and MechHead were developed through the award-winning 1UP placement scheme this summer and are shortlisted in categories at the awards alongside submissions from major UK games studios. They have been shortlisted in Best Puzzle Game and Best Arcade Game respectively.
Professor Chris Headleand, Head of Computer Games Development, said: “This year through 1UP we developed two commercial quality games and I am incredibly proud to say that both games have been shortlisted in their categories. This sends a strong message to the sector that ‘Staffordshire University builds games’ and goes to demonstrates the effectiveness of the 1UP placement scheme which won Best Education Initiative at last year’s event.”
The 1UP scheme employs 30 students over summer to work in our in-house studio, building games under the supervision of games lecturers.
Staffordshire University has been shortlisted in a further four categories including Best Education Institution, Best Education Initiative for the Level of Detail vodcast, and the Diversity Award which recognises efforts being taken to put diversity high up on the Games Development department agenda.
The University has also been shortlisted in the Outstanding Leader category which nominates Vice-Chancellor Professor Martin Jones for creating an environment where games can flourish as an academic discipline.
Professor Headleand added: “This is phenomenal news for the Games Development department and for our University which is celebrating its 20 years of games anniversary. This year we submitted to more categories than ever before, and we are delighted to say that we have been shortlisted for everything.”
Dr Richard Wilson. CEO of Tiga said: “The finalist shortlist illustrates the depth of talent and creativity to be found among our game developers, service providers and educators. We’re excited to welcome everyone for an evening of celebration in November!”
Staffordshire University is a silver sponsor of the TiGA Games Industry Awards 2023 which take place at the Troxy in East London on Thursday 16 November.
The TIGA shortlist was announced just a week after Staffordshire University and its computer games graduates were nominated for nine awards in the TIGA UK Games Education Awards 2023. Winners in these awards will be announced on Friday 29 September.