UK Game Developers

[ReservoirAngel]

There isn't much of a story behind this query, I just want to know and Google is proving to be irritatingly unreliable about this.

Thing is, I'm considering a change of course at University, switching to 'Game Design' course. And obviously a big part of whether I finally do decide to risk that switch and go for it would be the availability of any jobs in that field.

Problem is, I don't really know of any game development companies that are based in the UK. All the ones you always hear about are based over in the States because...well because EVERY major company of any field is based in the states.

So since Google throws up nothing but unrelated crap articles that happen to contain "game" "developers" and "UK" somwhere in them whenever I search for this, I'm forced to ask here:

Are there any actual game development companies that are based in the UK?

EDIT: To help give me more back-up against my mum's resistance to my changing courses...how does the job rate for new game designers in the UK compare to the job rate for people in the film/TV business here?

 

[AmrasCalmacil]

Lionhead and Codemasters are the only ones I can think of.
Rockstar have a group in Edinburgh as well though.

Edit: I also recall Sega having a building which I saw in London, and Rare might have something as well.

 

[Jazoni89]

Yeah, there are quite a few.

Media Molecule [Little big planet], Criterion games [Burnout], Edios [Tomb Raider] (now Square Enix Europe), Codemasters [Micro Machines], Crytek UK [Time Splitters] (who where previously Free Radical), Rare [Banjo Kazooie] (who are the most well known uk based company), Rocksteady [Batman Arkham Asylum], Jagex [Runescape], Ninja Theory [Enslaved], Rockstar north [GTA 3], Rebellion [Aliens vs Predator], Creative Assembly [Rome total war], Lionhead studios [Fable] (previously Bullfrog), and Team 17 [Worms].

Though times have not been good to the uk gaming industry recently, as their has been a lot of companies that have been laid off, or have faced bankruptcy, such as Bizzare creations [Project Gotham Racing] and Realtime worlds [Crackdown].

 

[Jasper Jeffs]

Lionhead and Codemasters are the only ones I can think of.
Rockstar have a group in Edinburgh as well though.

Edit: I also recall Sega having a building which I saw in London, and Rare might have something as well.

There's a Rockstar in Leeds and London too. I can't think of any others though at the moment, my friend who took game design in college (and is doing it at university) told me that the demand for actual game designers in the UK is quite high, which his tutor told him in college.

 

[Wicky_42]

Crytek have an office in Nottingham, and there are annual 'Game City' events there. Try the game city website for some more info.

 

[ReservoirAngel]

Additional question to help give me more back-up against my mum's resistance to my changing courses...how does the job rate for new game designers in the UK compare to the job rate for people in the film/TV business here?

 

[baddude1337]

Isn't Creative Assembly a UK based studio?

 

[TriggerHappyAngel]

Well, I'm also studying/practicing to become a Game Designer, but since I live in The Netherlands I'm already looking at possibilities to work in a different country when I'm older/more experienced.

But there are some really awesome developers in the UK (see posts above me).

P.S. Game Design isn't as easy as you might think, and it's best to start with an indie developer when you're done studying, because mayor companies will not likely hire you.

 

[ReservoirAngel]

P.S. Game Design isn't as easy as you might think, and it's best to start with an indie developer when you're done studying, because mayor companies will not likely hire you.

I wasn't going to try immediately for a major company IF I get my own way and get onto Game Design and actually finish it. I just wanted to know how many of them there are, for possible future reference, since I only knew of Lionhead.

 

[random_bars]

When you say changing courses, as in before you start next year, or you've already been doing some other course so far this year?

 

[the_pleasure_is_mine]

bottom line
DONT
its highly competive and those coding skills will get you a higher paid less likely to be fired job.

As completely true as that is. If you really want to go for Game Design, then you go for what you want.

I'm fully aware of the low job security and the fact I could be paid better in other positions, but game developing is my dream job.

OT: Yeah there are loads of UK based companies, I actually live about 15 minutes from Rare studios.

 

[RUINER ACTUAL]

Are there any actual game development companies that are based in the UK?

Yes, many.

http://www.gamedevmap.com/

I live in the US, but would really like to move to the UK when I graduate. Change of pace/lifestyle/scenery/people, everything really.

 

[hedges1001]

ghostlight are in sheffield i believe and a tip start a games course from scratch the later modules rely heavily on basic yr1 principles and techniques

 

[ReservoirAngel]

When you say changing courses, as in before you start next year, or you've already been doing some other course so far this year?

I'm half-way into my 2nd year of a course already but frankly I have no passion for it any more and hate every second of the experience. So I'm considering lasting out the rest of this year then dropping it and starting on the Game Design course.

 

[Jazoni89]

Isn't Creative Assembly a UK based studio?

Yes they are.

I forgot to include them on my list.

 

[ramboondiea]

its an extremely competitive market, low number of jobs and a lot of people applying, especially with the abundance of game design courses out there,
what course do you have your eye on? as it could over transferable skills,
also a quick question, do you fund your own course now or use student loans?

 

[Hennofletch]

Eurocom are at derby. They did the latest goldeneye and Dead Space: Extraction.

Biggest thing to help your argument would be if the course is accredited by industry or a professional body. There are lots of bad courses out there, make sure you get some work placements as part of it.

 

[ReservoirAngel]

what course do you have your eye on? as it could over transferable skills,
also a quick question, do you fund your own course now or use student loans?

The name of the course is "Computer Games Arts" but accoridng to the information on my University's website it's not just designing art. It goes into coding, general design and areas of theory.
And I use student loans for it, since there's no way I can afford to fund it myself.

Biggest thing to help your argument would be if the course is accredited by industry or a professional body. There are lots of bad courses out there, make sure you get some work placements as part of it.

This course I got my eye on is linked with companies such as, to quote the course info: "Lionhead, Doublesix Games and Super Massive Games who work with us to inform the course curriculum and provide links for work experience."

 

[ramboondiea]

what course do you have your eye on? as it could over transferable skills,
also a quick question, do you fund your own course now or use student loans?

The name of the course is "Computer Games Arts" but accoridng to the information on my University's website it's not just designing art. It goes into coding, general design and areas of theory.
And I use student loans for it, since there's no way I can afford to fund it myself.

well in that case make sure its credited, and see what other prospects that are available to you are, (anyone in the department or career areas should have pamplets and the likes) this could help you legitimise taking it to your mother,

well if your currently using student loans how are you planning on funding your change if youve already used two years of it? most loans will not grant more the 4 maximum?

 

[ReservoirAngel]

what course do you have your eye on? as it could over transferable skills,
also a quick question, do you fund your own course now or use student loans?

The name of the course is "Computer Games Arts" but accoridng to the information on my University's website it's not just designing art. It goes into coding, general design and areas of theory.
And I use student loans for it, since there's no way I can afford to fund it myself.

well in that case make sure its credited, and see what other prospects that are available to you are, (anyone in the department or career areas should have pamplets and the likes) this could help you legitimise taking it to your mother,

well if your currently using student loans how are you planning on funding your change if youve already used two years of it? most loans will not grant more the 4 maximum?

No matter how legitimate it is (and it is due to links with Lionhead Studios and 2 other companies), nothing will help convince my mum of it. Her thinking is 'you're already in your second year, so you should stick with it'. She doesn't really know how much I hate the course and how much more difficult the 3rd year is."

She even told me to talk to the University counsellor about this, but I know how it'll go. The counsellor will tell me to do what I feel is best for me and my future in the long run, but then when I tell my mum that she'll just disagree and stick to her own standpoint. It's as if she thinks the UK film industry is a guaranteed shot at a stable job.

and I don't think my Uni's student loans work like that. When I was first looking for accommodation in town I met a guy who'd been a student for 7 years and was living from student loans. They do it on a year-by-year basis as long as you're there. as long as you eventually pay it back once you leave and get a job that pays above a certain amount, they don't really limit the number of years.

at least I'm pretty sure that's how it works...