Tranzfuser, the graduate talent development competition from UK Games Talent and Finance CIC (UKGTF) and funded by the UK government, has today announced the 18 winning teams taking part in this year’s competition across the UK Local Hub network.
Heidi Love, Learning Manager at Eastern Enterprise Hub said:
“We are very excited to be involved with the Tranzfuser programme for the 3rd year running. We have had great success stories so far, and we are sure that the team will do brilliantly this year and we wish them all the best and look forward to working with them. We also thank the University of Suffolk for their support with the Tranzfuser programme.”
Now in its third cycle, Tranzfuser is the only UK-wide talent programme with a direct link to a prototype fund allowing new teams to benefit from grants and interaction with a host of other early stage games development companies.
Margot James, Minister for Digital and the Creative Industries said:
Tranzfuser is not just about giving talented people a shot at turning their dreams into a reality. By benefitting from grants, peer to peer interaction, business experience and the support of our excellent universities and creative agencies, we are investing in the next generation of video game developers and the future of our thriving creative industries.
In a year’s time, one of the teams could be pitching their game to interested publishers with the goal of securing substantial funding towards development. 2017 Tranzfuser winners Mochi Mode has spent the last year doing just that.
Laura Wells, Producer at Mochi Mode, said:
Sometimes when the heat dies down we sit around as a team and look back on how far Mochi Mode has come in just a year. I think we all breathe a collective sigh of relief that we took the opportunity to be a part of a competition like Tranzfuser. It has been a steep learning curve, a welcome challenge, a needed incubator and an incredible amount of fun!
In the space of a year we have created two great games, joined NatWest’s accelerator, joined the welsh game dev network, gained inspiring mentors and friends and much more. We’re now at the stage where we’re pitching to publishers and working with contracts. I can confidently say that Tranzfuser has opened doors for us that we couldn’t have imagined. Having the UK Games Talent team supporting is an absolute blessing and we’re super excited for what the future brings!
The UKGTF community of funded companies and supported teams is now well in excess of 100, giving this year’s Tranzfuser teams the unique opportunity to be affiliated to some of the best and most promising independent games development talent the UK has to offer.
Deborah Farley, Head Talent and Outreach at UKGTF, said:
“Our network of Local Hubs for this year’s competition is the broadest spread across the UK we’ve seen to date. Talented teams of graduate games developers are in the unique position of working with and benefiting from the wealth of expertise at each of the Local Hubs. Every year the bar is raised by the teams and we’re anticipating Tranzfuser 2018 to be another outstanding year.”
Successful applicants will develop their ideas into working prototypes over the summer in a competition that culminates in a nationally recognised showcase event.
The teams and Local Hubs are as follows:
Abertay University (East Scotland)
- Darkroom Interactive
Glasgow Caledonian University (West Scotland)
- Deep Fried Games
- Studio Six
- Mujo Games
- Steel Rose Interactive
- Animal Puree
- Goat on a Stick
Manchester Metropolitan University
- Wiptail Games
- Coffee Box Games Ltd
- OatCake Games
Teesside University – Teesside Launchpad
- Tiny Planet
- M!schief Games
- GlassSpy Games
- Antler Studios
- Nebula Games
University of Huddersfield (Enterprise Team)
- Gentlemen Worldwide
- Out the Window Games
- Samurai Duck
Successful applicants have been awarded a £5,000 budget paid in stages to replicate the real world for them to allocate to allowable costs throughout the competition. At the showcase event later this year, selected teams will be invited to pitch for follow-on funding of up to £25k from the UK Games Fund (also operated by UKGTF) to commercialise their game and launch a company.
Follow the progress of the Tranzfuser Teams via our Facebook page.
Follow @Tranzfuser for the latest information about Tranzfuser.