Young people across Huddersfield had the chance to learn about the world of coding and game design at two free workshops earlier this month. Around 30 budding game designers participated in the British Science Week event, gaining firsthand experience of the skills required in the digital economy.
“We’re really pleased to be supporting this event and helping young people learn the skills they need to succeed in a digital world,” said Stephen Moore, a development manager at event sponsors, CityFibre.
From the archive: Using games, such as Minecraft, to engage students in the classroom
“The digital economy is booming and, ultimately, this is where many of the jobs of tomorrow will be found. What better way to get a head start than by working with the industry’s best, and using the digital infrastructure of tomorrow?”
Participants learned how to use industry-standard software to create their own game, while trying out immersive gaming through virtual reality headsets, all under the tutelage of award-winning game developers, Ocean Spark Studios.
Sessions were hosted by Huddersfield Library, thanks to Kirklees Council’s gigabit-capable full fibre network. Built by CityFibre in 2016, the network provides connectivity to 176 public sector sites and the town’s business population.
Workshops were led by award-winning game developers, Ocean Spark Studios “We love being able to inspire the younger generation in our region to begin their journey into game development,” said Ocean Spark Studios director, Helen Andrzejowska.
“The biggest obstacle we face is being able to provide the latest industry technology and software at these workshops but, thanks to CityFibre, we were able to offer attendees incredible experiences. It was fantastic to see children of all ages learning some of skills needed to create games, and we are thrilled that they had such a fun time using the VR kits.”