Students win funding to start their own computer games companies
Three teams of game development students at Manchester Met have been selected to compete in a prestigious industry competition that will help them to launch their own companies.
The students, from Manchester Met’s BSc (Hons) and MSc Computer Games Development and BSc (Hons) Games Design programmes, will take part in the annual Tranzfuser competition which provides a pathway for UK games graduates to launch their own game and studio, taking teams from concept and prototyping through to publishing.
It is the first UK-wide talent programme to be linked directly to a prototype fund - the UK Games Fund - allowing students to benefit from grants and interaction with a host of other early-stage games development companies.
In total, 19 teams of entrepreneurial graduates across the UK have been selected for the competition, which runs throughout the summer and will see each student project benefit from creative innovation, professional development and commercial growth.
This includes the three Manchester Met teams who will use the University as their operating base throughout the competition.
The Manchester Met teams and their concepts include:
- BlackBox Studios which is developing a competitive e-sports style sports game, BoomBall Extreme, with an early trailer already available.
- VEXT GAMES which is working on a 2.5D puzzle platformer. Some members from this team were also prize winners at the recent Game Republic Student Showcase.
- Bool Studios which is working on a rogue-like deck builder, similar to popular Indie hit Balatro, using digital logic and circuitry to present players with puzzles.
The teams will each receive £7,500 of funding as well as industry mentorship, workshops and support from Manchester Met experts to develop their own prototype game and company.
At the end of the competition in September, they will have the chance to present their games at a national games exhibition, which has previously included huge industry events such as EGX and Insomnia, with a chance to pitch for grant support from the UK Games Fund of up to £25,000.
Timothy Yiu Ting Chung, team leader of VEXT GAMES, said: “I’m very excited about the opportunity to participate in Tranzfuser this year, as it could be one of my first steps toward establishing my own Indie game business!
“This wouldn’t have been possible without Manchester Met providing me with a wealth of experience and resources, including the Rapid Game Prototyping and Games Studio modules, which have honed my game design, programming, and leadership skills.”
Each year students from Manchester Met are given the chance to apply for the Tranzfuser competition which is judged by game studios across the country.
Dr Matthew Crossley, programme leader for BSc (Hons) Computer Games Development at Manchester Met, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for our students who are taking the technical knowledge and skills they have gained through their studies into the real world.
“With the experience and opportunities from the Tranzfuser competition, along with the mentorship of our passionate games-focused staff at Manchester Met, our students can take a huge step towards a career in the games industry.”
Top stories
An inflatable Bez where Lowry once studied: old meets new at Manchester Met’s degree show
Exhibition features inflatable Happy Mondays dancer in refurbished historic building, among standout work
Max Mara’s Creative Director revives his four-decades-old student collection for the brand’s Resort show in Venice
Ian Griffiths’ Venice-inspired 1985 University designs come full circle for prestigious fashion show
Manchester Met Champions Creative Excellence as part of 200th anniversary
Campaign highlighting University's impact on the creative and cultural landscape
