Train2Game Microsoft Gameathon

The Guinness Book of World Records (for largest game jam in a single location) to be set at event organised by Microsoft and Train2Game

Jan Telensky (left of Train2Game) welcomes Scott Henson (Right of Microsoft)

Luton, September 2012: The Guinness World Record™ for the largest game jam in a single location was set today and sees Microsoft Corp. and Train2Game enter the record books. Microsoft collaborated with online blended learning service Train2Game gathering 299 student developers to create mobile games for Windows 8 within 48hrs.

Train2Game and Microsoft’s game jam which took place at the University of Bedfordshire was supported by Microsoft technicians and representatives from the UK’s gaming industry. Over 20 games were produced and have been submitted for review to the Windows Store . A judging process took place with team 22 being judged as the best game with its game Royal Rush, winning a collection of Microsoft prizes including a VIP trip to Rare.

The event had students awake for a full 48 hours to complete their games, with lunch breaks taking the form of design meetings and prolonged sleeping banned during the development process. Adjudication on site was completed by Guinness World Records™ with the plaque presented to the students on the final day of the event.

Anand Krishnan, senior director, Developer and Platform Group at Microsoft UK said: “Windows 8 presents a huge opportunity for developers to build great new apps for a variety of form factors. We’re really pleased that the Train2Game students got to use Windows 8 before release this year, and it was great to see them use their creativity to build some of these incredible games.”
Myra Smallman, Course Director, Train2Game: “We did it! Congratulations to all the students, we’re incredibly proud of them. This has been a wonderful experience and now it’s over its time for us all go and get some sleep! As well as being great fun, working with Microsoft to set a world record shows the ambition we have for our students to participate in life changing experiences while studying with Train2Game. We hope that the students will continue this relationship with Microsoft in their future careers as games developers.”

Professor Carsten Maple of the University of Bedfordshire said: “The University is proud to have hosted this event for Microsoft and Train2Game. The University has one of the oldest Computer Games Development Degrees in the country so we were very excited to assist. We are committed to working with the video games industry and are pleased that our excellent facilities can be utilised to help in a world record attempt. I’m sure all participants will benefit hugely from the experience.”

See what the BBC has to say here www.bbc.com/news/technology-19622596

Train2Game teams with Microsoft to set game jam world record

Luton, 01 August 2012: Microsoft Corp. will collaborate with online blended learning service Train2Game to set the world record for the largest game jam held in a single location, at the Microsoft and Train2Game Gameathon 2012.

Students on Train2Game courses will gather at the University of Bedfordshire from 14th September to 16th September 2012, forming development teams and creating Metro style videogames for Windows 8 in 48 hours. The world record will be set with a target of 301 or more participants. Representatives from The Guinness Book of World Records will adjudicate the event.

Microsoft experts will be on hand and the contestants will use Windows 8 software. Games completed during the record attempt deemed suitable for release will be available through the Windows Store. A judging process will take place with gaming industry representatives choosing a best game of the show.

“We’re teaming with Train2Game not only to set a world record, but also to support gaming development in the UK,” said John Richards, senior director, Windows Partners and Developers at Microsoft Corp. “We’re working with the students developing for Windows 8, as they are the future of the industry.”

Myra Smallman, Course Director, Train2Game: “This is a tremendous opportunity for our students to work with one of the most respected technology companies in the world. Microsoft is a major player in the video games industry globally and being part of this relationship will be incredibly positive for Train2Game students when they look for employment in the future. The students taking part will also be world record holders, a once in a lifetime opportunity.”

For the latest Gameathon News please go to train2game-news.co.uk