The deadline for stage 1 applications is noon (12:00) on Thursday the 26th of January 2012.

The Event

Creative Industries KTN will host with IC tomorrow a Partnering For Innovation event around a £100K Funding Games contest in London in January 2012.

This briefing event will provide the opportunity to:

• Find out key information on how to apply for up to £25K funding for a games prototype project
• 1-1 sessions with prototype platform supporters Antix Labs & Turbulenz
• Network with like-minded delegates from the gaming community

Lunch will be provided and a drinks reception will follow afterwards.

The Contest

IC tomorrow have launched a games funding contest with the University of Abertay – in conjunction with TIGA.

Funding applications will fall into one of 3 challenge areas, defined in association with Antix Labs and Turbulenz.

The challenges are:

• Games on the Move – supported by Antix Labs (1 Award)
• Games in the Home – supported by Antix Labs (1 Award)
• Social Web Gaming – supported by Turbulenz (2 Awards)

Successful applicants will receive:

• Up to £25,000 for the development of a prototype application
• 6 months free TIGA membership
• An opportunity to promote their prototype solution
• Support in resolving licensing and metadata issues related to the application
• Mentoring by senior TIGA members
• Direct support from Turbulenz or Antix Labs internal engineering team, depending on the challenge category entered

In addition the successful applicants will also:

• Be given the opportunity to register their games prototype on the IC tomorrow digital testbed
• Gain exposure to premium content providers
• Retain the intellectual property

IC Tomorrow Contest Group

You will need to join the IC tomorrow contest group here in order to apply for this funding.

Contest Brief

Download the Contest Brief for more details

Key Dates

• Stage 1: 26 January 2012 at 12:00 noon – Application Closing Date
• Stage 2: February 2012 – Final Pitching Session (Shortlisted applications)
• Final Stage: Summer 2012 – Successful Prototype Live Trials

Register your place today!

The deadline for stage 1 applications is noon (12:00) on Thursday the 26th of January 2012.

IC tomorrow has teamed up with the University of Abertay and TIGA to bring you the TIGA games contest.

We are looking for innovative games ideas which fit into one of three categories:

• Games in the home – supported by Antix Labs (1 award)

• Games on the move – supported by Antix Labs (1 award)

• Social web gaming – supported by Turbulenz (2 awards)

Up to 4 successful applicants will receive: Up to £25,000  grant funding, TIGA membership, marketing, licensing and metadata support, Mentoring by senior TIGA members & support from Turbulenz or Antix’s internal engineering team.

The deadline for stage 1 applications is noon (12:00) on Thursday the 26th of January 2012.

For more information on the contest and how to enter visit the Games Contest website.

Inaugural Issue

The inaugural issue of WGE:MAG was published online last week. The Assistant Editor and World Gaming Executives (WGE) Director, John Armstrong claims that the publication, and the associated Group, “is about the individuals who make the games, gaming, mobile and comics industry what it is today…and what it could be tomorrow.” John, looking to attract readership beyond that scoped by the title, explains; “Over recent years the ‘Executives’ portion of the title (bit too late to change it now) has become somewhat of a misnomer, as the group also incorporates the people who want to become Executives in the industry or people who over time will almost certainly affect decisions made by Industry execs”.

John promises that, “this new WGE monthly digital magazine will showcase some of their work and histories in article and interview formats: to include new studio start-ups, game artists, pro game players ‘gamers’, executives, innovators, gamification, marketers, voice over actors, in fact every facet of the games world.”

The first edition really does live up to John’s billing with a broad variety of contributors. It certainly grabbed my attention right from the first article focusing on Daniel T. Ruke, Game Nation and building a video game theme park; ‘what a fantastic mom!’ [Download the mag and read the article].  As promised it includes interviews with voice over actors, cover artists, Beenox’s Executive Producer speaking about their latest Spider-Man release, game and dev students. There is a piece on Brahms Chouity, Arab Gamers and AT7ADDAK.  What a wife! “If you don’t make a business out of these video games, then one of you is out of the house” — [think I might try that one on my sons]. Brahms explains the concept and structure behind At7addak.com and his vision for making it the largest professional video game league in the Arab world.

As well as interviews with games developers and studio’s there is also a short sharp focus on the Russian Games Market and one with [PLUG WARNING] our very own Francis Charig on Antix Labs. [END PLUG WARNING]

As of yet there is not too much advertising, although you might argue that some of the articles could be construed as advertorials; but I found them to be much more than this. They delve into the origins and formulations of the associated businesses or idea’s and this is the thing that seems to bind it altogether and make the MAG an intriguing and inspiring read — the entrepreneurial spirit, drive, ambition, passion and sense of fun behind every one that is involved;  here’s to the to the next issue.

Think I’m gonna sign up to Game Nation now…

The games that are featured in the video include Raging Thunder 2 by Polarbit, Drift Away by BlueBeck, ZooCube by PuzzleKings and Quartz 2 Deluxe by Crumble Games.

The video was captured using an HTC Desire HD at 19.92 fps; navigation and game play in the video is being controlled and executed from another HTC handset.

You can try any of these games in your PC browser at the Antix Games Store. When you play a game from within your PC browser, your browser will first detect whether you need the AGP plug-in for Microsoft® Windows® from Antix Labs. The installation is consumer-friendly, working in a similar fashion to other media player browser plug-ins.

Game Developers

If you are interested in developing games for the AGP then you can find further information at antixlabs.com and can register for the free of charge Game Development Kit at the Antix Developer Support Site.