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Story time about being a poor student studying outside of London. I studied at @UniofSuffolk between 2011 - 2014. Being Romanian, I did not have access to Maintenance Loans or Grants, and the uni only implemented grants for non-UK students after I graduated. A yearly visit.../ https://twitter.com/paolmmm/status/1348611314915143685
To EGX was something our game design course did. We didn't even showcase, it was just so we got to meet other game devs and play games. However, that was also supposed to be paid by the students, at £20 (I believe) a head. I could not afford that in my 2nd year.../
Of uni. My partner at the time and I were living, after rent, on £50 a month which we used for groceries. We couldn't afford travelling to London (return ticket £38 from Ipswich + £5.6 on the tube to get to Tobacco Docks/ExCEL) even if we wanted to.../
So we had to hustle our games "the hard way". Finding all online competitions we could enter, working on our games diligently, putting together portfolios. Our uni back didn't have the budget to showcase at EGX, a single stand is in excess of £500 for a BARE BONES stand.../
that includes a table and chair. You bring your own table cloth, extension leads etc. My partner and I were among the lucky ones, we managed to get and keep jobs in the industry. She was better than me, she's not close to being a Lead Game Designer. I ping ponged. But when we.../
Talk about London privilege, this is what we talk about. Sure, it's shitty that EGX didn't happen, but you're already in a privileged position to afford paying £10,000+ for a Masters, to live in or close to London to attend the NFTS, and then to exhibit at EGX. Anything else.../
Is just a more level playing field. To a degree, this is why I'm happy I'm working for @TentacleZone. A big part of our work started with offering affordable, full serviced booths at EGX for decent prices (very similar to EGX's offering but with a PC included, table cloth and.../
printed banners made by professionals). A big part of my frustration at being poor in uni went into why we started @gameanglia. Why should I pay £50 to get to London on my own, when I can showcase my game and get an award IN IPSWICH? Later, this is what drove us to.../
Do smaller Game Anglia events in local hubs, because not all unis and colleges could afford (money and/or time) to travel to Ipswich to showcase their games.
Being digital this past year really leveled the playing field. Not only do I admire the work of folks like @wingsfundme
Being digital this past year really leveled the playing field. Not only do I admire the work of folks like @wingsfundme
@ifnotnowgwen , @DevRelCallum and many others who have realised you don't need to be at a physical event to have a good game or something to say, but I've also been involved in something that we're about to announce at @TentacleZone which feeds into this. Opportunities for all.
