Search For A Star 2020 Finals Day Conference

UPDATE : This event will no longer be taking place due to concerns over COVID-19. For further details please see : https://gradsingames.com/search-for-a-star/search-for-a-star-finals-to-move-online-physical-conference-day-no-longer-happening/

We're returning to Sheffield Hallam University for the Search For A Star and Sumo Digital Rising Star Finals Day with a full conference track, studio careers expo and the finals of the annual Search For A Star & Sumo Digital Rising Star game dev challenges!

In the evening we're hosted by the National Videogame Museum for the The Search For A Star and Sumo Digital Rising Star awards ceremony.

Schedule Overview:

09:00 - 17:00 : A day of industry led talks, networking and expo stands at Sheffield Hallam University. For academics this also includes our industry-academic roundtable.

17:15 - 21:00: Search For A Star & Sumo Digital Rising Star awards ceremony and networking event at The National Video Game Museum.

Relax & Play at the NVM with networking, refreshments and full access to all the videogame exhibits either side of the awards ceremony.

(18:15 - 19:00: Search For A Star & Sumo Digital Rising Star awards ceremony)

Search For A Star Finals Day is free to attend and is intended primarily for current games students, games education academics, participants of the 2020 Search For A Star & Sumo Digital Rising Star game dev challenges, partner studios and guests.

If you're interested in coming along but aren't sure if the event is right for you, email dan@gradsingames.com for more information.

If you represent a studio or publisher and would like to attend the event, please email martin@aswift.com for details (it's still free for you too!)

Conference Day - Sheffield Hallam University, Cantor Building

09:00 to 17:00

The conference day will include a series of games industry speakers with Q&A sessions, industry and academic roundtable discussions and informal networking sessions with studios. Exhibiting games studios will also be on hand to chat to you about the industry and your career prospects at our careers expo.

Academic Roundtable

In the afternoon session all available academics and studio representatives are invited to take part in an open discussion and insight panel on strengthening the links between studios and games education.

Confirmed Conference Speakers

Sitara Shefta, Head of Studio - No Brakes Games

Sean Oxspring, Games Designer - Deepsilver Dambusters Studio

Jo Daly - Head of Production - Wushu Studios

4th Industry Speaker - TBC (watch this space for updates)

First Year In Industry Panel - Q&A session with recent graduates who have completed their first year in the industry, including participants from last year's Search For A Star challenge:

Sam Jones - TT Games | Gabriela Woch - The Chinese Room | Caleb O'Brien - Firesprite | Scott Leatherbarrow - Vocala

Careers Expo Exhibiting Studios

Sumo Digital

TT Games

nDreams

d3t - A Keywords Studio

Kwalee

Awards Ceremony - The National Videogame Museum

From 17:15 onwards

Search For A Star & Sumo Digital Rising Star 2020

The culmination of one of the industry’s biggest student game development challenges. Finalists across five categories will find out who are this years' winners of the Search For A Star and Sumo Digital Rising Star awards.

Character Art
Environment Art
3D Animation
Game VFX
Games Programming

Further information can be found at: gradsingames.com/game-dev-challenges

We've got free reign of the National Videogame Museum for networking, complete with refreshments & access to all the games exhibits!

Thank you for the support of all of our partners and patrons, without whom this event couldn’t take place:

If you represent a studio or publisher and would like to attend the event, please email martin@aswift.com