The Barbican & TIGA offer indie devs the chance to shine at Game On 2.0

By January 28, 2015 Press Releases

 

Free competition will give five UK Indies opportunity to show their game to more than 100,000 exhibition attendees over five months

TIGA, the network for videogame developers and digital publishers in the UK has teamed up with the Barbican to offer five UK indie developers the chance to showcase their games for free at Game On 2.0.

Game On 2.0 a is a major exhibition curated by the Barbican International Enterprises in London that will take place at the Centre for Life in Newcastle, between May and November, 2015. The exhibition explores the vibrant history of videogames from 1962 onwards, focusing on the key developments up to the present day, offering insight into the limitless potential and wonderfully bright future of gaming.

The Barbican and TIGA are running a free-to-enter competition with a panel of expert judges. These include:

  • Keith Stuart, Games Editor, The Guardian
  • Debbie Bestwick, Managing Director, Team 17 
  • Chis Kingsley, Co-Founder and CTO, Rebellion
  • Patrick Moran, Barbican International Enterprise’s Exhibition Manager
  • Harvey Elliott, CEO, Marmalade and Chair of the BAFTA Games Committee
  • Marie-Claire Isaaman, Course Leader BA (Hons) Games Art and Design, Norwich University of The Arts

Game ON 2.0’s Indie Showcase Competition has five categories:

  • Best Multiplayer game
  • Best Oculus Rift experience
  • Best Educational game
  • Best mobile/tablet game
  • Best PC game

To enter, all developers need to do is send a copy of their game, 250 words on why their game should feature in the exhibition and relevant category, and a two minute (maximum) video of the game in motion, to gameonexhibition@barbican.org.uk by midnight on 28th February 2015. This is also the email address for developers to use if they have any further questions about the competition.

Visitors to Game On 2.0 will experience more than 100 playable videogames, from original 1970’s pinball machines up to the latest cutting edge technologies like the Oculus Rift. The audience will have the chance to become an active participant in the exhibition, by interacting with the works, which is especially curated to be suitable for players of all ages.

The global touring exhibition Game On has been visited by more than 1 million people across 20 countries in the last 12 years. 

Game On 2.0 was launched in 2010 due to the popular appeal of the original Game On exhibition and has continued its worldwide success and goal of offering the public the chance to experience the ultimate exploration of more than 40 years of videogame history, right up to the cutting edge of the present day.

Neil McConnon, Head of Barbican International Enterprises, the Barbican, said:

“The Barbican is thrilled to be working with Centre for Life and TIGA to provide a glimpse of some of the most exciting UK Indie Developers of the moment. We’re delighted to see Game On 2.0 staged in the UK where there’s such a fantastic tradition of game developers taking the medium to greater and greater heights of skill and artistry.”

Dr Richard Wilson, CEO, TIGA, comments:

“It is wonderful news that Game On 2.0 will be visiting the UK, especially in the North East which is such a vibrant hub for the UK videogame industry, and I look forward to seeing some of our sectors leading lights from the region being there and taking part.

“Equally positive is the opportunity UK indie devs now have to showcase their work to more than 100,000 members of the public entirely for free. It is a fantastic change for developers to raise the profile of both their studio and their work.

“The categories chosen for our competition represent some of the most exciting, high-potential areas in video games today, and I cannot wait to see what the UK’s game development community comes up with.”

“We would also like to thank the Barbican and Centre for Life for helping us provide independent developers with such a rare and valuable opportunity to shine at such a major, culturally rich and globally successful exhibition like Game On 2.0.”

 

– ends –

 

 Notes to editors

Competition Information and T&C’s

  • Submission close date: Midnight on 28th February 2015, any entries received past this date will not be accepted.
  • Judging period: March 2015
  • Final decisions will be made, and winning entrants informed by 7th April 2015
  • Address for physical copies (6 x game copies required) to be sent to: 

 

FAO Elena Zardini 

International Enterprises

Barbican Centre

Silk Street 

EC2Y 8DS

 

Submission Criteria:

CATEGORIES: 

1. Best Multiplayer game

2. Best Oculus Rift experience

3. Best Educational game

4. Best mobile/tablet game

5. Best PC game

  • Entrants must provide 250 words and a 2 minute (maximum) video about the submitted game, which includes footage of the game in motion
  • Only independent developers are eligible for the competition
  • Entrants must be based in the UK
  • Submitted version of game must be a complete experience i.e. no incomplete levels or micro transactions, this is required for it to be shown and played as part of the exhibition
  • Game must be usable without bespoke hardware
  • The game must not contain: real world violence , hate speech, sexually explicit content, or promote real world gambling
  • Content must be according to PEGI 16+ guidelines, or younger
  • Game must be able to be played offline
  • Before submitting an Entered Game, the Entrant must have obtained the written permission of all persons or entities having any rights in the Entered Game
  • Judges will not be held responsible if the game does not work on the judges’ devices
  • All physical entry materials become the property of the Barbican and will not be returned. Barbican will not distribute submissions to third parties
  • 1 Entry per developer across all categories
  • Games can be submitted physically, or via email or download link, or via a free download code for e.g. Apple App Store, 5 x codes will be required
  • Entrants by submitting a game agree to licence its use as part of the Game On 2.0 exhibition for 2 years (2017)
  • Entered games must have been released in full between January 30th 2014 & January 30th 2015
  • The awards will be administered by the Barbican
  • The Barbican has appointed a panel of judges who will decide on a winner for each category.
  • The decision of the judges is final and binding, and no further correspondence will be entered into.
  • All entries must contain contact details for further enquiries that the judges may have. The judges may reallocate an entry to a different category, if they see fit.
  • Winners agree to participate in promotional activities for the Game On 2.0 exhibition
  • All entries require an email to be sent to gameonexhibition@barbican.org.uk
  • The Barbican will take no responsibility or any organisations associated with the awards for delayed or lost entries.
  • By submitting your entry you are confirming that the information it contains is correct. If the information is found to be inaccurate the nomination will be withdrawn.
  • We will notify winners by email, unfortunately we are not able to email all entrants individually to confirm if they have not been successful, so if you have not heard from us by 1st April 2015, you have not been successful
  • The Barbican reserves the right to make any changes to the judging process.
  • Any physical copies of games sent to The Barbican used for judging will unfortunately, be unable to be returned. Please do not send us anything that you require back.

 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

If you have any further questions please email: gameonexhibition@barbican.org.uk

1. WHEN IS THE FINAL DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES?

Midnight on 28th February 2015

2. HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO ENTER?

It is completely free

3. HOW DO I ENTER?

All entries must come via email to gameonexhibition@barbican.org.uk

4. WHO SHOULD ENTER?

Any UK based independent game developer who has released a game between 1st January 2014 & 28th February 2015

5. CAN EUROPEAN / INTERNATIONAL GAMES STUDIOS ENTER THE COMPETITION?

No, this award is for UK studios and developers only

6. WHAT ARE THE CATEGORIES?

  1. 1.Best Multiplayer game
  2. 2.Best Oculus Rift experience
  3. 3.Best Educational game
  4. 4.Best mobile/tablet game
  5. 5.Best PC game

7. CAN I ENTER MULTIPLE CATEGORIES?

No, developers can only enter one category

8. WHAT PROMOTIONAL ACTIVITY WILL BE INVOLVED IF I WIN?

Nothing too arduous or that involves international travel, we will just need a photo of you, a quote for a press release, and for you to attend the launch day of the exhibition on 22nd May, 2015, in Newcastle.

9. WHEN IS THE EXHIBITION?

Game On 2.0 will run in the UK from 22 May – 1 November 2015.

 

About the Barbican:

A world-class arts and learning organisation, the Barbican pushes the boundaries of all major art forms including dance, film, music, theatre and visual arts. Its creative learning programme further underpins everything it does. Over 1.5 million people pass through the Barbican’s doors annually, hundreds of artists and performers are featured, and more than 300 staff work onsite. The architecturally renowned centre opened in 1982 and comprises the Barbican Hall, the Barbican Theatre, the Pit, Cinemas One, Two and Three, Barbican Art Gallery, a second gallery The Curve, foyers and public spaces, a library, Lakeside Terrace, a glasshouse conservatory, conference facilities and three restaurants. The City of London Corporation is the founder and principal funder of the Barbican Centre.

The Barbican is home to Resident Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra; Associate Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra; Associate Ensembles the Academy of Ancient Music and Britten Sinfonia, and Associate Producer Serious. Our Artistic Associates include Boy Blue EntertainmentCheek by Jowl and Michael Clark Company. International Associates are Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra of AmsterdamNew York PhilharmonicLos Angeles PhilharmonicGewandhaus Orchestra Leipzig and Jazz at Lincoln Center.

About the International Centre for Life:

The International Centre for Life opened in 2000, born out of an entrepreneurial spirit and a commitment to creating a self-sustaining science village.

Almost 600 people from 35 countries work here: researchers, doctors and nurses work alongside people in the fields of education, public engagement and business. What unites everyone is a passion for science. 

At the heart of the science village is the Life Science Centre, which attracts around 250,000 visitors annually and is the largest provider of schools science workshops in Europe

On site partners include Newcastle University, who chose Life for the location of their Institute of Genetic Medicine; the NHS Newcastle Fertility Centre; the NHS Northern Genetics Service and several young and vibrant biotechnology companies.

Life is an educational charitable trust; we don’t receive public funding.  For more information, visit www.life.org.uk

About TIGA

TIGA is network for games developers and digital publishers, and the trade association representing the UK video game industry. We help developers and digital publishers build successful studios, network with the right people, save money and access professional business advice. We also have traditional publishers, outsourcing companies, technology businesses and universities amongst our membership.

TIGA is 90% funded by independent UK businesses. 80% of our board members are developers and/or from UK owned businesses, and 50% of our board are UK business owners themselves. Since 2010, TIGA has won 20 business awards.

TIGA focuses on three sets of activities:

  • Political representation
  • Media representation
  • Business services

This enhances the competitiveness of our members by providing benefits that make a material difference to their businesses, including a reduction in costs and improved commercial opportunities. It also means our members’ voices are heard in the corridors of power and positively represented in national, broadcast and UK video game trade media.

Get in touch:

For further information, you can also contact:

 

 

Cookies

We use cookies on our site to track activity and visitor numbers - please help us by allowing us to use them on your visit.