Students from the South Central Institute of Technology (SCIoT ) in Bletchley recently took part in a competition to design a brand new video game concept, presenting to judges from two world-renowned games brands. 

The SCIOT’s first ever Games Jam competition involved more than 20 Higher Education Games students teaming up to to create a working concept for a game based on the theme “Technology”. Each group was allocated workstations and given 24 hours within the week to develop a concept and build it into a working prototype. At the end of the week, the students showcased and pitched their games to a judging panel including industry experts from global gaming brands. 

The judges assessed the projects based on their creativity and innovation, how closely they adhered to the theme, the gameplay and mechanics, aesthetics and overall polish. The winning team was made up of students Sam Scotchings, Loki Walford, Kyle Allwood, Gloria Ng, Josh Cooper and Olly Inchley. 

Jim Nowell, Head of School at the South Central Institute of Technology (SCIoT) in Bletchley, commented: “We are delighted to have hosted our first Games Jam at SCIOT, providing a unique platform for our students to showcase their skills.  

“This event allowed students from various disciplines to collaborate, reflecting the diverse skill sets they have honed during their courses. Free from the constraints of the curriculum, students were able to assume roles that best matched their expertise, resulting in teams full of creativity, communication, teamwork, and problem-solving abilities. 

“I am incredibly proud of the remarkable achievements of our students. This success is largely due to the exceptional guidance of Robin Ayre, our dedicated Games Development Lecturer, who consistently delivers industry-standard tutoring to our learners. The level of engagement and the quality of the projects produced by our students was truly overwhelming and garnered high praise from our judges. They were not only impressed by the technical skills displayed but also by the professionalism and enthusiasm exhibited during the project presentations.” 

Sam Scotchings, SCIoT student, said: “The Games Jam event was the best opportunity I’ve had since starting the course, allowing me to get an in-depth look at producing games from start to finish, and has allowed me to hone my skills in working with development teams. And I look forward to returning next year as an alumni coach for any potential Game Jams.” 

To find out more about Higher Education courses at the SCIoT in Bletchley, visit Access to higher education computing.