The search is on for Cambridgeshire's new gaming superstar

Could you carve out a career in the gaming industry?

The hunt is on for the next superstars of the gaming industry and the annual FXP Festival could make their dreams come true.

Cambridge’s Jagex is among a host of leading companies in the region’s technology and creative digital sectors, who will again provide their support for the event - won by students from Parkside school last year.

Hosted annually by Cambridge Regional College, FXP delivers an exciting hands-on game development experience, involving students with a wide range of abilities, from those experienced in coding, to individuals more interested in the creative concept and artistry of game design.

Receiving first prize in the Level One Development category at last year’s FXP, Parkside’s team ‘No Spoon’ have since enjoyed unparalleled access behind the scenes at Jagex, met with games designers and developers, and learned more about everything that goes into creating some of the world’s biggest games.

As well as a full tour of the campus, including the areas usually ‘off-limits’ to visitors, the students experienced exclusive mentoring sessions with members of the Jagex team, as well as user-testing some of the company’s top secret new developments.

Now, with this year’s festival just a month away, the race is on to find the next gaming gurus with Jagex design director Mark Ogilvie, ready to pounce.

He said: “Supporting FXP is enormously important for us at Jagex, as part of our community work, but also from a recruitment perspective.

“As well as helping out with mentoring and judging during the festival weekend, we are always pleased to offer ‘an afternoon at Jagex’ as the first place prize for each of the four competition categories. It is fantastic to be able to inspire creative minds as young as just 13 or 14, and to give them an insight into careers in the games development industry. We look forward to welcoming the winners of FXP Festival 2018 this July.”

Over the course of the festival weekend, July 7-9, teams of students, aged 13-19 (Year 8 – 13, and FE), are tasked with designing an original computer game concept, based on a surprise theme.

FXP Festival is supported by major companies in the region’s technology and creative digital sectors, which provide expertise, mentoring and coaching to students and their teachers. Last year’s supporters included: Amazon, Anglia Ruskin University, Jagex, Microsoft, ARM, Hacklab, Rizing Games, and Cambridge Regional College.