The Game Republic Student Showcase 2024 took place on Thursday 6th June at Staffordshire University, with 14 universities and colleges, 50 projects and 150 students – the biggest showcase yet, and the largest games industry Student Showcase in the UK. Participating universities and colleges including University of Hull, Sheffield Hallam University, Manchester Metropolitan University, University of Bolton, University Campus Doncaster, University Centre Grimsby, University of Leeds, University Centre Leeds, University of Huddersfield, Staffordshire University, University of York, York St John University , Leeds City College and University of Sunderland.
“The Game Republic Student Showcase has been a highlight of the annual games education calendar for years. It is a fantastic opportunity for students to engage directly with the games industry and to have their talents recognised. This is a special year for games courses, and our award-winning department at Staffordshire University and so we were delighted to have been selected by Game Republic to host this prestigious event.”
Professor Chris Headleand – Head of Staffordshire University Games Institute
Game Republic games companies including Rebellion North, Red Kite Games, Revolution Software, Sumo Digital, Distinctive Games and PitStop Productions judged the student projects and presented 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes in awards such as Game Design, Best Team and Game Technology. All the judges commented on the quality of the work presented and how difficult their job was in judging the awards – with 50 to judge, the games companies had an extremely busy afternoon of playing games and deliberation.
“This was our biggest Student Showcase yet and I’m so proud of the students, who showed off such fantastic projects to our games companies judging the awards. With this level of skill and passion, the future of the games industry in Yorkshire, the North of England and the UK is going to be very bright.”
Jamie Sefton – Game Republic
Huge thanks to our sponsor games company judges, the support staff and tutors at Staffordshire University for hosting such a fantastic event, to the university and college course leaders and students for taking part, the amazing students and teams that showcased their work and our Official Partners Red Kite Games, Barclays and Escape Technology. Gallery below, alongside video showing just some of the games and the winners!
The winners
Every student and team selected to be part of the Game Republic Student Showcase to represent their courses should be very proud. Here are the winners of the Game Republic Student Showcase 2024.
The Sumo Digital Award for Game Design
1st Prize
University of Huddersfield – Redacted Games – Ultraren
Arran Rafot, Wilfred Clay, Tyler Hewitt, Jack Hoyosa-Taylor, Matthew Leatherbarrow, Ethan Weston
2nd Prize
University of Huddersfield – Logic Labyrinth The Eternal Exodus
Elise Barry, Alexander Braekevelt, Morgan Crossley, Aleksander Seroka, Lexxie Black, George Robson
3rd Prize
University of Huddersfield – Small Man Studios – Rebound Rivals
Jake Goodes, Sarah Hellawell, Thomas Lee, Yusuf Manjra, Bradley Curtis, Jack Dyson
The Rebellion North Award for Game Art & Animation
1st Prize
University of Huddersfield – Logic Labyrinth The Eternal Exodus
Elise Barry, Alexander Braekevelt, Morgan Crossley, Aleksander Seroka, Lexxie Black, George Robson
2nd Prize
University of Bolton – Blue Dino – Fruit Frenzy
Adam Preece, Brandon Lynch, Kristian McGuigan, James Leigh, Zakiyah Patel, Ben Higham
3rd Prize
Staffordshire University – Art Portfolio
Elliot Crompton
The Distinctive Games Award for Game Level Design
1st Prize
Manchester Metropolitan University – Team BOXY – Boxy
Chung Yiu Ting (Timothy, aka Snoala), Hashaam Bin Shahzad, Babatunde Taofik Raifu, Vineet Nihalani Lalwani, Chimdi Obinna Anumudu, Will Bowles
2nd Prize
Sheffield Hallam University – TombStone Interactive – Entombed
Joshua Briggs, Liam Hamit, Oliver Callaghan, Jay Burrows, Harvey Wright, Brandon Garrett
3rd Prize
University of Hull – Spirit Studios – Moksha Manor
Travis Cook, Nathan Cooper, Abiel La Malfa
The Red Kite Games Award for Game Technology
1st Prize
Staffordshire University Non-Euclidean Geometry in Vulkan using Ray-Tracing
Morgan Zoroch
2nd Prize
University of Hull -3D Procedural Cave Generation
Louie Waterfall
3rd Prize
Sheffield Hallam University – TombStone Interactive – Entombed
Joshua Briggs, Liam Hamit, Oliver Callaghan, Jay Burrows, Harvey Wright, Brandon Garrett
The PitStop Productions Award for Game Audio
1st Prize
University of Huddersfield – Axle Authority – Call to the Cinder Circus
Louis Jonas, Rhys Wadley, Jack Beddows, Benjamin Forrester, Wimula Kanchela, Jack Ryan
2nd Prize
York St John University – OiaOrb
Joseph Maltby
3rd Prize
University of Hull – Spirit Studios – Moksha Manor
Travis Cook, Nathan Cooper, Abiel La Malfa
The Revolution Software Award for Game Narrative Design
1st Prize
University of Hull – Hidden Arts – REDACTION
Kuba Krysztofiak, Khadijah “Jas” Samsudeen, Charlie Cottrell, Damien Fee
2nd Prize
University of Hull – Spirit Studios – Moksha Manor
Travis Cook, Nathan Cooper, Abiel La Malfa
3rd Prize
University of Huddersfield – Arcane Studios – Emlis
Harvey Russell, Thomas Hickling, Jordan Hargreaves, Kaitlyn Crimson Taylor, Lewis Russell, Megan Thompson
The Award for Best Team
1st Prize
Staffordshire University – Team Ffeast – Into The Abyss
Ethan Williams, Frazer Beckett, Tori Miller, Shannon Brabbin, Amy Wozny, Freyja Weller
2nd Prize
University of Hull – Hidden Arts – REDACTION
Kuba Krysztofiak, Khadijah “Jas” Samsudeen, Charlie Cottrell, Damien Fee
3rd Prize
University of Bolton – Blue Dino – Fruit Frenzy
Adam Preece, Brandon Lynch, Kristian McGuigan, James Leigh, Zakiyah Patel
Getting into the games industry
The prizegiving finished with a panel on “Getting into the games industry” with John Stopforth (Escape Technology), Sam Hayes (Revolution), Jason Yong (Rebellion) and Daryl Marples (Staffs Uni), hosted by Dr Jackie Mulligan (Game Republic), Jackie ended the panel with the words: “Everyone in this room should be proud of themselves that they were selected to be part of the Game Republic Student Showcase – here with leading global games studios that have assessed their work. That is a huge achievement – the next part of your journey in the games industry starts now.”
Promo video of the Student Showcase with examples of projects from each university/college below. We’ll have a full video of the Showcase with interviews from the day soon.
Gallery of the Game Republic Student Showcase
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