BAFTA Young Game Designers Winners 2012

25 November 12

The BAFTA Young Game Designers initiative aims to inspire the game designers and game-makers of the future, by giving young people aged 11-16 the chance to design and create their own video game and develop it with industry professionals.

Game Concept Award:

BAFTA/ Richard KendalThe Game Concept Award is for an idea for a new game, including a description of the characters, the world of the game, and how it will be played. 15 year-old Charlie Hutton-Pattemore from Taunton in Somerset was named winner of the Game Concept Award for his game Vacuum Panic (aka Suck It Up).

The game requires players to vacuum a series of rooms before their mum gets home, whilst avoiding various hazards that trigger time-wasting mini games. The jury, chaired by Harvey Elliott, Managing Director & COO at Marmalade, and Chair of BAFTA’s Children’s and Games Committees, described the game as “a stylish design to make the mundane into a fun, rewarding experience”.

It was really good fun for me to work on this game idea and it’s a dream come true to win. I’m really pleased that I entered!

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Game Making Award:

13 year-old Christopher Purdy from Horsham in West Sussex was named winner of the Game-making Award presented by Sony Computer Entertainment Europe for his game Smiley Dodgems. The Game-making Award presented by Sony Computer Entertainment Europe involved building a game using game-making software or programming languages.

The game requires players to keep a “smiley” character alive as long as possible against an onslaught of enemy shapes. The jury, which was chaired by Jonathan Smith, Head of Production at TT Games, described the game as having “clean visuals and compelling gameplay with impressive finesse”.

I’m very excited to be given the opportunity to develop my game further and I can’t wait to visit a real games studio.

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The winners’ entries were chosen from hundreds from across the UK by a jury of games industry professionals, educationalists and celebrity gamers. BAFTA YGD Ambassadors Tyger Drew-Honey (Outnumbered, Friday Download) and Anna Shaffer (Hollyoaks, Harry Potter) presented the awards on stage at the British Academy Children's Awards on Sunday 25 November 2012.

Charlie and Christopher will now work on their games with experts from the University of Abertay Dundee, and will visit SCE London Studio, makers of the BAFTA Award-winning EyeToy® and SingStar® franchises.

Find out more on the BAFTA Young Game Designers website >

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