Microsoft’s Imagine Cup is a global student technology competition that provides opportunities for students across all disciplines to team up and use their creativity, passion and knowledge of technology to create applications, games and integrate solutions that can change the way we live, work and play.
As part of their HND course, Paisley students Ben Tracy and Stuart Adams created the game ‘Neon Knights’ - an arena party game for four players. Players select from a roster of four characters with unique abilities and participate in a sporadic battle-royale. While building on tried-and true platforming gameplay, Neon Knights approaches the genre with the sensibilities of a competitive party-game, ensuring every match is a hilarious and engaging test of player’s mind and dexterity.
The game was developed over a number of months, with rigorous testing by pupils from Paisley’s Lochfield Primary School. David Renton, Lecturer and Curriculum Quality Leader for Games Development at the College, was so pleased with the final result, that he encouraged Ben and Stuart to enter the competition.
The competition was tough, but Ben and Stuart clearly impressed, making it into the final 3, up against students from 2 other Universities, competing for a prize of $50,000. The team travelled to Microsoft UK Head Office in Reading last week where they delivered a presentation and Q&A on the creative and technical process to panel of top Microsoft professionals - a tough challenge, but a rewarding one also.
Ben, Stuart, and Alex and Microsoft UK Headquarters in Reading
Although they just missed out on the top prize, runners up to a team from the University of South Wales, for Ben it was a fantastic experience - a super opportunity to put his brain to work and use his skills in a professional setting.
“The Imagine Cup was a fantastic experience for us! Having the chance to talk to professionals from both the world of business and video games at Microsoft was an invaluable opportunity as students and was very informative. We were able to pitch our game to them and others, and gained valuable feedback and ideas that will help develop the game in the future.”
Ben in some last minute prep before the Team's Presentation
“The competition was a great chance to take what we've learned in college out into the professional world for the first time and was an unforgettable experience. Many thanks to both West College Scotland, and our lecturer David Renton, for encouraging us throughout the competition and helping us attend the UK finals!”
Stuart too found the experience a great development opportunity, and a lot of fun.
“My experience with the Imagine Cup was truly awesome. To see the Microsoft facilities in Reading, to meet the head of ID@XBOX programme and to make so many connections was incredible. As a college student I felt honoured to be considered alongside Masters and University students, and made me feel quite accomplished in my games development skills.”
“Through the competition I learned what it was like to work on a major project to a deadline, and the importance of version control systems such as Git to compensate for the scope of such a project. My presentation skills have improved immeasurably after going through the experience of planning and performing a pitch for our game in front of a large room of MS professionals and fellow contestants. Every other presentation I give is going to feel quite insignificant in comparison! That should help me ease up a bit!”
“The information provided by the MS personnel was invaluable, and will forever change the way I look at games development from a business perspective. Seeing the inside of Microsoft and seeing the heights you can reach in this field has inspired me as a student. I am hugely grateful for the experience and would like to extend a huge thank you to both David Renton and the rest of West College Scotland for making it a possibility.”
Stuart, Alex, and Ben ready to board on the way to Microsoft UK Headquarters
Ben and Stuart were joined at Microsoft by Games Art student Alex McCauley, in his 3rd year at Glasgow Caledonian University, who worked on the Games artwork. For University and College and students alike this was a fantastic experience, both exhibiting skills at the highest level - a testament to the quality of teaching available at the College.
Alex was just as enthusiastic about the experience, and the new focus it’s given them.
“It was an incredible opportunity we were given and it's really motivating that we made it as far as we did in the competition.”
“Being able to discuss our work with other finalists and with the Microsoft professionals puts things in perspective, lets us know that we've got the potential to create something that could hold its own on the market.
“We've come out of the experience with real-world ideas of how to get where we want to be. Speaking to people in the industry means possibilities that never seemed feasible before suddenly start to make sense, and you start looking at yourself and your work like a business, ready to take your work to the next level.”
The finalists gather at Microsoft HQ
Lecturer David was delighted with his student’s success, and the new experiences they’ve gained.
“The guys did great - for HND students to be runners up to a team of Masters Students is incredible. We were told it was really close and the winners said we had them worried!”
“Not only that, but they had the opportunity meet with industry experts, who were certainly impressed. They had a mentoring session with high-up Microsoft Games professional MS who gave them great advice. The head of ID@XBOX for Europe was really keen on their work and this really opened their eyes to the opportunities available. They’ve now been asked to apply to join ID@XBOX - the route for Indie game developers to publish games to the XBOX marketplace.”
“We’re all really proud of their hard work, and can’t wait to see what they do next.”