Ukie has launched a new student membership scheme in partnership with the IGDA with a UK wide student game jam.

The Game Jam, sponsored by Square Enix’s Collective, sees teams from the Student Membership network pair up with industry mentors and competing over 48 hours to create a game based around a theme, to be revealed just before the jam begins on Monday 14 April.

The new membership scheme will offer Ukie Students access to discounts, support and resources including:

• New internship and placement opportunities unique to Ukie Students.
• Unique access to dedicated student are of the soon-to-launch new Ukie website; industry news, research, interviews, career advice, guide to the industry and industry student specific blog posts
• Student live stream knowledge sharing talks and Q&As the year with industry experts
• Access to exclusive games industry insight, data and resources
• Discounts off games events across the UK
• Exclusive member discounts from third parties
• 20% off first year off Ukie membership for any student member who goes on to establish a development studio and joins Ukie as a full member.

Currently more 300 students from North West Kent College, Birmingham City University, Norwich Arts University, the National Film and Television School, Southampton Solent University and Goldsmiths University are signed up as part of the Ukie student membership.

The partnership with  IGDA gives them access to the benefits of both organisations, a better support network, and the IGDA Scholars programme.

Dr Jo Twist, CEO of Ukie said: “We have had the Student Membership in Beta for the last few of months and it has been really great to see how much it is helping inspire and support our industry’s future superstars. We are delighted to be working with the IGDA to help give these students the best possible chance of getting the skills, knowledge, and relationships they need to get into the industry. We have already managed to open up internship and placement opportunities and give data and insight for student dissertations.”

We have already done some live streaming of talks by Mike Bithell and Andrew Smith via our Twitch.tv channel to students across the country, and we are planning a conference. . We are committed to improving the skills pipeline from 8 to 80 and now that we have tax breaks for the industry, it is important to nourish our growing sector.”

Kate Edwards, Executive Director of the IGDA said “Given its mission to support game developers worldwide, the IGDA welcomes this great opportunity to partner with Ukie. Beyond our collaboration on the game jam, the linking of our student memberships not only provides the IGDA with a stronger connection to the UK but empowers students in the UK with a broader connectivity to the global game industry.”

The winning game jam teams game will be an exclusive pitch on the front page of Square Enix’s new project “Collective” (who will also be sponsoring pizzas for all teams throughout the jam), a 6 month free membership to Ukie if they go on to establish a studio, exclusive coverage in Develop magazine and all winning team members will receive an unannounced prize from Sony.

Phil Elliott, project lead for Collective commented: “One of the aims of Collective is to help uncover new talent, so helping to support this event is perfect, game jams are a great opportunity for people to flex some creative muscles, and I can’t wait to see what’s produced.”

“We’re delighted to be supporting the Ukie Student Game Jam”, Luke Savage, Academic Development Manager at Sony Computer Entertainment Europe added. “Through PlayStationFirst we’re championing the highest quality of university game development and fostering the next generation of game developers.  And this Game Jam is a terrific opportunity for students to showcase their talent and skills.  We can’t wait to see what they come up with.”

The results of the game jam will be revealed on Thursday 17^th April.