Ukie and Sharkmob are collaborating to deliver a Collab-jam for students across the UK in November, and thanks to Sharkmob’s connections, they are inviting students from Sweden to join, too. The winning team will be given the opportunity to visit one of the studios, meet their teammates in real life and gain valuable experience through a tailor-made visit to Sharkmob in London or Malmö.
The event will take place online on November 23 and 24 and students can sign up here.
Ukie’s bi-annual student game jam, which is in its ninth year, draws from a pool of 4,000 students from 40 different institutions across the UK. Last year saw 80 teams comprising 380 students creating games across the country.
This time, each student team will be a mix of participants from different countries; a first for the Student Game Jam. Working as a team remotely across borders means that teams will need to understand how to successfully collaborate with one another.
Sharkmob was founded in 2017 by a group of like-minded industry veterans who believed it was possible to make great games differently. Part of their thinking was that it is possible to make ambitious AAA online games within a people-centred studio structure. The theme of collaboration and the international exchange between the UK and Sweden is a natural fit for the studio because across Malmö and London the teams are working on Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodhunt, plus two unannounced titles.
James Dobrowski, Managing Director, Sharkmob London said
“We’ve expanded our London studio at a time when international travel and face to face working was greatly reduced, and we’ve seen that it is possible to foster teamwork, creativity and collaboration remotely. Moreover, international cooperation is often a key part of making games - especially AAA ones, and this Gamesjam will help Ukie’s student members experience this first-hand. That being said, if 2020 and 21 have taught us anything - it is the value of real-life interaction, the importance of learning from others, and mentorship - and this is why we intend to open our doors to the winners for a bespoke developer experience in 2022*.”
Dr Jo Twist OBE, CEO of Ukie, said:
“The Student Game Jam is one of the highlights of our year, and it is so important to give students the experience of making a game together. We always look forward to playing the imaginative and innovative games that they come up with and this year’s cross-cultural theme promises to deliver some fascinating interactive experiences.”
Students can sign up for the Ukie Student Game Jam here.
Find out more here.
Note that Ts and Cs concerning what the winners will experience will be included on the website.