MCV/DEVELOP News, events, research and jobs from the games industry
The Yorkshire Games Festival saw an increase in attendees this year of over 15 per cent to just under 9000 people. Held at the National Science and Media Museum in Bradford, the festival ran for five days, with the first day put aside specifically for education.
School children from the local area could attend for free from both primary and secondary school levels, while the event was open to all from day two. Talks from individuals like Arthur Parsons from TT Games and Martin Korda who was a writer for Desinty 2 and Naughty Dog artist Iki Ikram helped raise the profile of the event.
“The Yorkshire Games Festival has the potential to become one of the key annual UK games industry events,” said Martin Korda. “Its audience of established game development professionals and students aspiring to one day become a part of the industry provides the event with an excellent balance of experience and enthusiasm. It was a real pleasure to speak at such a vibrant and welcoming festival.”
Also speaking at the event was Ninja Theory commercial director, Dominic Matthews.
"This was my first year attending the Yorkshire Games Festival and it was great to see such enthusiasm for the games industry running throughout the speakers, organisers and attendees,” said Matthews. “The quality and breadth of talks were excellent and the audiences eager to learn. Altogether a hustling, bustling event of enthusiasm and optimism for the games industry set in the aspirational setting of the National Science and Media Museum.”
The weekend also offered special family tickets and free events including Minecraft workshops and premium shows including the interactive comedy show WiFiWars.
"It may only have been the second Yorkshire Games Festival, but the event already feels both established and growing in scale and scope,” added the festival’s director, Kathryn Penny. “It’s so exciting to see the mixture of experience – our amazing speakers – and excitement from the large number of students and delegates the festival attracts all mingling together, exchanging ideas and debating the issues. It’s an event that really lights up the museum.”
