World of games and film come together

Nov 12 2009 by Andrew Mernin, The Journal

THE region's video games firms will be given the opportunity learn more about how they can expand into the movie industry.

More and more videogame developers are starting to expand beyond simply making games and into film and television work as the genres become increasingly intertwined.

An audience of around 100 people from the games and film industries are expected to attend an event next month in Newcastle to find out how they can take advantage.

The Creative Collision event, at The Other Rooms, will feature a presentation by Gareth Edmondson, studio manager at Ubisoft Reflections in Newcastle.

The company is one of the world’s largest games companies and has produced some of the most successful titles in the history of video gaming.

Also there will be Simon Prytherch, CEO of Lightning Fish - a company which uses video-based actors, rather than computer-generated avatars, to make their games more approachable.

They have their own 'green screen' TV studio which allows them to shoot footage for use in their games.

Steve Walmsley, managing director of Newcastle production company Mere-Mortals - which has worked on a number of award-winning films and videogames, including Slumdog Millionaire - will also take to the stage.

For more information on the event go to nebusiness.co.uk/events.