The 79 teams currently registered, comprising 330 students, will be mentored by industry professionals from Jagex, Ninja Theory, and other leading game development experts before competing to create their very own original computer game.
The Festival is a free education initiative for students aged 12-19 in Cambridgeshire, founded to drive social mobility in the region. By helping local students to explore game design and development, FXP Festival encourages students to consider how coding, writing, art, and design can be applied to the creation of a game and provides an insight into what careers in the technology, creative digital, and related industries might offer.
The participation of Cambridge’s leading game development companies means the Festival can connect the industry with schools across the county, including those located in the most disadvantaged areas, to share knowledge and elevate career aspirations.
FXP Festival comprises three core modules: game narrative; game product and design; and game production. Teams will apply what they learn to a final project, which includes a detailed overview of their game’s concept and storytelling, illustrations of its design elements, and a playable game that reflects the theme of ‘Curse’. Prizes will be awarded to the top three teams in each category and students will have the opportunity to win work experience, and an exclusive studio tour, at Ninja Theory.
Alison Taylor, Co-founder of the Festival and Managing Director of Conscious Communications, commented: “We’re so pleased to bring back FXP Festival for 2022 and combine virtual and in-person events for the first time. The Festival was founded with the purpose of introducing students in our county to opportunities that they may never have considered for themselves, and providing them the chance to develop their teamwork, communication, and collaboration skills. The Festival allows for a holistic approach where young people can apply their subject skills and valuable soft skills such as communication, creativity, and organization to games development.”
Mark Ogilvie, expert lead for the Game Concept & Design module and FXP Festival Co-founder, added: “It’s exciting to see FXP Festival return this year with a dual delivery system, making it accessible to all students wanting to participate, no matter where they are. Each year I’m blown away by our young contestant’s imagination and creativity, and how they apply these to the task, no matter what they perceive their skillset to be.”
Dom Matthews, Studio Head, Ninja Theory, said: “A core goal for us at Ninja Theory is to nurture the next generation of game developers, so we’re thrilled to be involved with an initiative that sets out to enhance the creative capabilities of those across our region. The future of video games is a bright one and we’re excited to be a part of opening the door of game development to the stars of tomorrow.”
FXP is a registered charity and remains free for all participants thanks to supporting from companies in the game development and technology sectors which, over the years have included: Arm, Cambridge Regional College, North Cambridge Academy, Table Flip Games, Rizing Games, Jagex, Ukie, Ninja Theory, Microsoft, Anglia Ruskin University, The Curved House, and Crown House Publishing.
About FXP Festival
FXP Festival is now in its 5th year and will run from Monday 26 April 2021 until Monday 11 July 2021.
Bringing together the world of game design and development with the technology industry, and the computer science, art, and design curricula, FXP Festival encourages students to connect what they learn in the classroom with what their dream future career could be. Working in teams, students are given an invaluable opportunity to develop their teamwork, communication, and collaboration skills.
In 2020, FXP Festival officially became a registered UK charity (1190579). FXP Festival’s charity objects are to act as a resource for young people from 12 up to the age of 19 living in Cambridgeshire by providing advice and assistance and organizing programmes of physical, educational, and other activities as a means of:
- advancing in life and helping young people by developing their skills, capacities, and capabilities to enable them to participate in society as independent, mature, and responsible individuals;
- advancing education;
- providing recreational and leisure time activity in the interests of social welfare for people living in the area of benefit who have needs by reason of their youth, age, infirmity or disability, poverty, or social and economic circumstances with a view to improving the conditions of life of such persons