Computer games can take years and millions of pounds to develop – but University of Derby students had only 12 weeks to create ones they’ll be publicly exhibiting just before Christmas.

Around 100 Derby students and graduates will take part in the  Games@Derby free public exhibition from 3pm to 7pm on Wednesday December 19, in the Atrium at the University of Derby’s Kedleston Road site in Derby. It is being sponsored by global software giant Microsoft.

Visitors are welcome to come and play working computer games featuring alien landscapes, comic characters and high octane thrills.

The games have been created by current students of the BSc (Hons) Computer Games Programming (CGP) and BA (Hons) Computer Games Modelling and Animation (CGMA) degree courses. The courses are taught by former games and software industry professionals.

Also at the free event will be displays by independent games companies set-up by Derby’s students, such as Derby-based Indieskies and Pillowdrift, who have published their own games on Apple and Google app stores; as well as for the Xbox 360, and Windows Phone and Windows 8.

Dr Tommy Thompson, University Programme Leader for Computer Games Programming, said: “Computer games on sale in the shops, such as  Halo  and  Call of Duty, can take years to develop.

“We’ve put our student teams, each with five programmers and five artists, through a very stripped down version of that process, giving them 12 weeks to go from initial concept to a playable game. Our lecturers on the CGP and CGMA courses have utilised their industry experience to guide these students as they handle a range of creative pressures.”

Microsoft staff alongside peers from other games companies will join University of Derby lecturers in a judges’ panel on December 19, which will assess the students’ work and award prizes to the best games on the day.

Industry professionals have been invited to the event, which will also feature second-year degree students seeking work placements.

To find out more about the Games@Derby free public exhibition see website  www.derby.ac.uk/events/games-derby-showcase

For further information on Computer Games courses at the University of Derby see link  www.derby.ac.uk/games

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITOR

The University of Derby achieved University status in 1992 and is home to a diverse community of more than 20,000 students from the UK and overseas. Professor John Coyne has been Vice-Chancellor since 2004.

Students have the choice of studying in four faculties: Education, Health & Science; Business, Computing & Law; Art, Design & Technology; and University of Derby Buxton. There is also the option of studying for a degree online through the University of Derby Online Learning.

The University Quarter in Derby incorporates sites at Kedleston Road, Markeaton Street and Britannia Mill to the west of Derby city centre. The University of Derby Buxton is based at the magnificent 18 ^th Century Grade II* listed Devonshire Dome campus in the heart of Buxton.

University of Derby Students’ Union, research centres and academic schools –including The Derby Business School – are based at the Kedleston Road site. Facilities include the £1.5m Clinical Skills Suite, a £3m state of the art gym, and a pioneering computer games development suite.

The University’s corporate training and development division, University of Derby Corporate (UDC), is based at the Enterprise Centre, Bridge Street, Derby.

Buxton College of Further Education, based at the Buxton campus, and Leek College, based in the centre of Leek, are also part of the University of Derby group.