BAFTA Young Game Designers competition award winner visited the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester on Friday to see their creative work unveiled as part of an interactive gaming experience.
Alfie Wilkinson, 14, from Portsmouth was announced as one of four winners of the BAFTA Young Game Designers competition at a special awards ceremony and showcase in June. His game is now available for visitors to explore as part of the museum’s Power UP experience – an immersive gaming extravaganza offering gamers the chance to get hands-on with over 160 consoles and hundreds of games for an immersive journey through the history of gaming.
Alfie’s winning game, Egglien, sees player use alien eggs to fight their foes. It has now taken its place alongside some of the most famous names in gaming from the past half century in Power UP, which has seen more than 11,600 visitors since opening at the museum in June.
Alfie topped the Game Making Category (10-14 years old) at this year’s 12th BAFTA Young Games Designers competition. The prestigious annual competition, open to children and young people aged 10-18 across the UK, celebrating creativity, skill and the imagination of budding games makers.
Alfie said: ”It’s a beautiful feeling to be featured alongside some of the greatest games of all time. Knowing that so many visitors to Power UP are going to be playing Egglien is amazing, and it’s wild to see their reactions. The celebration of my game has pushed me to achieve a future career in the gaming industry and I’m already working on something new.”
From the Atari 2600 and the Dreamcast, to the Playstation 5 and the latest in virtual reality technology, visitors of all levels to Power UP can live their best gaming-life to experience first-hand how far technologies have advanced over the years. Join beloved characters like Sonic the Hedgehog and Mario on a journey through their decades-long development. Take on friends, family and fellow gamers in the iconic multi-player Mario Kart game on a huge range of consoles, from SNES to Wii.
As well as Alfie’s winning game, visitors to Power UP can discover games made by previous winners and nominees from the BAFTA Young Games Designers Awards. Plus be inspired by local people behind the games and companies who have made a splash in the world of gaming in the new section dedicated to Manchester’s gaming industry – from early success stories such as Ocean Software and Software Creations, through to contemporary companies including indie developers like Acid Nerve and major studios like TT Games.
Mark Cutmore, Head of Commercial Experiences at the Science Museum Group and one of the judges on this year’s BAFAT YGD panel said: “The BAFTA Young Game Designers Awards is a fantastic competition. It really echoes everything we believe in at the Science Museum Group about encouraging people of all ages and backgrounds to get involved with STEM learning, and the exciting careers opportunities it can lead to, including many in the games industry.
“We were thrilled to have Alfie visit Power UP and to be able to give him this opportunity to see his hard work come to fruition. It’s such a great game and I’m sure that all the visitors will really enjoy it too. I’m also sure this won’t be the last we hear of Alfie in the world of gaming!”
Lisa Prime, Head of Children & Young People’s Programme at BAFTA added: “The level of skill and ingenuity displayed by the four winners of the BAFTA Young Games Designers competition was absolutely mind-blowing, and we are delighted that Alfie’s game will go on display in Manchester, where it can be enjoyed by a new generation of budding games enthusiasts. An important part of BAFTA’s mission as an arts charity is nurturing emerging talent so we are grateful to Science Museum for helping shine a light on this unique and important programme.”
Official Partners to BAFTA Young Game Designers include: Creative Assembly, Criterion Games, Epic Games, PlayStation, Tencent Games, Ubisoft, Warner Bros. Games and Wizards of the Coast. Further information can be found here.
The Science and Industry Museum is currently going through a multi-million-pound restoration programme, meaning some areas remain closed to the public. However, there’s still plenty to do, see and enjoy.
Tickets to Power UP grant each person unlimited access to the gaming experience on the day booked. Tickets cost £6 per child and concession, £8 per adult, £7 per senior, and there is a £1 discount per ticket for families. Tickets are available to buy now and can be booked in advance through the museum’s website (www.scienceandindustrymuseum.org.uk) or by calling 033 0058 0058.
