A team of Goldsmiths MSc Computer Games & Entertainment students have been awarded first prize at the Student Games Jam run by the Association for UK Interactive Entertainment (Ukie).

The jam, which ran 15-16 April 2014, saw five teams from Ukie’s student membership competing against each other to create the best game possible in 39 hours.

The team’s winning game ‘Wisp’ will be an exclusive pitch on Square Enix’s Collective project and will receive a specially-made trophy for Goldsmiths. Each of the teams will also receive prizes from PlayStation First, and a published profile piece.

Leader of the Goldsmiths team James Gamlin said “I am ecstatic to be announced as the winners. The Ukie Student Game Jam has been an incredible experience. Me and the team (Tolga Zeren Kaçar, Madina Berkaliyeva, Chilun Liu and Arthur Wong) are so glad we took part. We loved developing Wisp, though at times we did think it was slightly too ambitious for a 39 hour jam, we did manage to get a lot done in the end. We can’t wait to participate again next year.”

Judge Stuart Barnett, Senior Designer at SCEE said: “I was amazed at the quality of games created from the Ukie student game jam in just two days and it was a pleasure seeing how creative and talented the students taking part were. It’s a great indication of the health of the games industry in the UK if universities are producing such talented students and I look forward to seeing how they develop their ideas in the future given more time.”

• Adapted from a Ukie press release
• About MSc Computer Games & Entertainment.