Game Republic

Simon Iwasinak listens to students pitch their games at the Student Showcase

Game Republic Student Showcase is critical to graduate retention and achievement in Yorkshire and The North

Noirin Carmody sitting with a student entrant to the Student showcase

Game Republic research has revealed that 81% of graduates who are showcasing their work to regional games companies in the Game Republic student showcase are being employed within games companies in the North. The Student Showcase which is run by Game Republic, the largest and longest established games industry network in Yorkshire and The North has been running for over ten years. The news about the winners of the showcase over the last decade has been featured in the Yorkshire Post and on BBC Radio Leeds.

The Student Showcase which is run by Game Republic, the largest and longest established games industry network in Yorkshire and The North has been running for over ten years. Yorkshire-based company PitStop Productions are sponsoring the Student showcase in 2023.

With Official Partners Red Kite Games, Barclays and Escape Technology, Game Republic will, for the first time, see previous winners of the annual hotly contested event come to the region in 2023 on Tuesday 6th June at the University of Bradford for the 20th Anniversary of the network. Every year the Game Republic Student Showcase sees University and College teams compete to impress judges from games companies based across the North in categories such as the Sumo Digital Award for Game Design, the Rebellion North Award for Game Art and Animation, the Revolution Software Award for Narrative Design and the Distinctive Games Award for Level Design, Red Kite Games for Game Technology and a Best Team Award, Pitstop Productions for Games Audio.

Game Republic has tracked 136 winners over the last 10 years and has revealed that almost a third of winners are now in senior and top positions within the industry. 40% are working as artists and designers and 37% as developers, programmers and engineers within games companies.

Managing Director of Game Republic, Jamie Sefton said “90% of the winners of this competition are going on to work with games companies – well above national statistics in graduate employment. This clearly shows the calibre of Universities and College members in Yorkshire and the North. It is great to see that our work on this event with our educational partners is benefiting students and regional companies outside of London too. We are looking forward to seeing a new wave of fantastic final years impressing our industry judges and the Winners Reunion at the 20th Anniversary Student Showcase.”

As part of the 20-year celebration plans, previous winners will join competitors in the Student Showcase. Founder and Director of Pitstop Productions, John Sanderson will be joining the prestigious line-ups of judges from leading games studios.

John Sanderson, Founder and Head of Music Creation at PitStop Productions comments “Every year we see fantastic work from the students in the region. We are very fortunate to have such fantastic Universities and Colleges participating as it gives games companies like ours a chance to speak to highly impressive graduates looking to work in our industry!”

Thirty six projects will compete in the 2023 Game Republic Student Showcase from Universities and colleges including Staffordshire University, University of Hull, University Centre Leeds, University of Huddersfield, Leeds City College, York St John University, University of Bradford, Sheffield Hallam University and University of Sunderland.

Previous winners who have not yet registered can get a free ticket by contacting Game Republic. Game Republic members have a free code to sign-up for the biggest showcase of new talent in the region.

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