Published on 27 February 2018
Showcasing Sunderland’s Games Software Development programme at one of the UK’s biggest gaming weekends is providing key links with industry contacts and fertile ground for creativity.
Senior Lecturer Adam Clayden was invited to attend the PC Gamer Weekend at Olympia London, which annually attracts thousands of dedicated gamers, alongside the industry’s top companies, specialists and developers.
Adam was there to network and showcase the undergraduate programme at the University, designed to create the next generation of game developers. He was able to answer questions to those looking to pursue a career in the games industry and advise on the best path towards learning, as well as offer first-hand accounts of what the study of games development is like.
The university lecturer was also there to discover more about the latest trends and technology at the forefront of the industry, ensuring the content on the Sunderland programme is at the very cutting edge of the software sector.
Adam explained: “It was great to be invited to the PC Gamer Weekend in London.
“We were able to secure some important contacts with industry experts and organisations, keen to work alongside the University and our students, from projects to placements. Hopefully those collaborations will come to fruition in the near future, providing students with the skills they need to develop games that are polished and have innovative gameplay elements.
“Our stand at the exhibition proved very popular with those interested in studying an undergraduate Games Software Development degree at Sunderland, we even ran out of flyers and information leaflets, which highlights the level of interest in our offer.”
He added: “This is an exciting time to be involved in this $116bn global industry, especially with the popularity in mobile games, which in terms of revenue has recently taken over console gaming for the first time.
“It is competitive and you have to have imagination, dedication and passion to succeed, but it is a fantastic career and the rewards are enormous.”
The annual event was developed off the back of overwhelming feedback from the PC gamer community and other universities invited to attend were Coventry and Suffolk.
Professor Alastair Irons, Academic Dean for the Faculty of Computer Science, commented: “We are delighted to be taking the opportunity to participate in exciting, cutting edge events. It’s great to showcase and celebrate the wonderful work that is taking place in Sunderland. Attending game jams and gamer conferences will help to enhance the provision at Sunderland and hopefully attract even more students.”
Adam Clayden, Senior Lecturer in BSc Games Software Development current research interests involve an area of development known as 'serious games'. This involves projects such as gaming for the visually impaired, virtual reality applications, and early years’ educational games. He is also interested in pedagogic research, with an emphasis on the gamification of teaching and learning.
In addition to research Adam is also dedicated to developing games.