Where big games players thrive

Jan 16 2008 by Karen Dent, The Journal

World famous but unknown at home

THE North-East is home to the Animex International Festival of Animal and Computer Games, which has been staged in Middlesbrough since 2000.

The event, which takes place between February 4-8 this year, is a forum for professionals, students and people with an interest in computer games and animation to network and share their knowledge and skills.

The festival also recognises the best new game-creating and animation talent internationally with the Animex Awards, which attract judges from top studios including Disney, DreamWorks and Pixar.

Festival director Chris Williams, who lectures at Teesside University, said: "It’s very highly regarded. It’s one of the top six events internationally for students to submit their work to. Professionals also submit plenty of work too. There’s kudos if they can win one of our awards."

Although Animex has a strong profile globally, Chris is concerned about the low awareness of the event locally. "More people know about Animex in Shanghai than in Linthorpe Road in Middlesbrough," he said. "The international reputation is very high, but in a local poll in Middlesbrough town centre, only 29% knew what Animex was. It’s not just students – we want this to be something that the people of this town can get involved in."

This lack of public awareness is something Chris says extends to the computer games industry in the North-East. "Things like Driver, made by Reflections, is a huge seller, but the kids here don’t know it was made up the road. The games industry is an invisible industry. These things are made in small industrial units, or in the case of Reflections, smart offices on the Quayside. Nobody knows they exist."

The games industry may appear invisible to the general public, but efforts are being made to inform local schoolchildren about the opportunities to create a career in the sector.

"This is something they can get involved in and aspire to," Chris said. "We’re trying to open their eyes to these possibilities. Once they enter university, they’re more aware.

"We have this big push to help graduates set up their own businesses. There are all sorts of little areas of activity that students get involved in. I wish there were these opportunities when I was a student. It’s a great place to be right now."

To find out more about Animex, go to www.animex.net

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