With seven weeks down and two to go, the Games Innovation Challenge is well underway! Students have been tasked with creating the most innovative and competitive game with the hopes of getting a chunk of the £5,000 prize pool for the top 3. The deadline for entries is on Thursday 18th March and then it will be down to our panel of industry experts to decide on which games will take the crown.
Want to make a game of your own and join the challenge? You can still enter! Visit the Games Innovation Challenge page here.
Today we’re thrilled to announce the first half of the judging panel. Those joining the 2021 Games Innovation Challenge panel are:
Dr Jo Twist OBE, CEO Ukie
Dr Jo Twist OBE is the CEO of UKIE, the trade body for UK games and interactive entertainment, making the UK the best place in the world to make, sell and play games. She is also Deputy Chair of the British Screen Forum, London Tech Ambassador, Chair of the BAFTA Games Committee and BAFTA Trustee, an Ambassador on the Mayor of London’s Cultural Leadership Board, Creative Industries Council member, and Honorary Visiting Professor at Ravensbourne University.
She is a VP for games and accessibility charity SpecialEffect, Patron of Safe in Our World a mental health and games charity, as well as a Trustee for Royal Historic Palaces.
In 2016 she was awarded an OBE for services to the creative industries and won the MCV Women in Games award for Outstanding Contribution. In 2019 she was named MCV Industry Hero and Devcom Hero for Leadership in the European games industry. She was also named as one of the Evening Standard’s Progress 1000 Most Influential People in 2019.
Will Attwood, Marketing Esports Manager, Ubisoft
Will joined Ubisoft in 2020 heading up esports in the UK and Ireland focused on Rainbow Six Siege and the UK Ireland Nationals. Previously he worked for ESL supporting national leagues and other European initiatives across Rainbow Six Siege, League of Legends and many other titles.
Matthew Colclough, Esports lead within Barclays Games and Esports Team
Having worked in banking for almost 10 years, in a number of roles, Matthew now leads the Esports stream, within Barclays Games and Esports Team. With a background in games design and as an endemic gamer himself, Matthew is uniquely placed to understand the industry and its financial needs.
Matthew’s day to day role sees him manage, develop and grow Barclays offerings and connections in the esports sector. Matthew is responsible for esports partnerships, ensuring all partnerships are leveraged in an authentic way to ensure Barclays is always adding value to the esports community.
Becky Wright, Social Media & Community Manager, NSE
Becky joined NSE last year as the social media and community manager and has previously worked in a variety of graphic design and marketing roles. With a love for gaming and as an avid Dota fan, she is also a weekly co-host on the Dota 2 podcast, Fourth Spirit, and co-manages the women’s Dota 2 community, Desoladies.
As for the rest of the judges, we’ll be announcing them within the next two weeks. Visit the Games Innovation Challenge game jam page here and remember to enter your game before Thursday 18th March.
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