The award-winning videogames education festival, Games Britannia, returns for 2013 and will officially launch on 23 and 24 January with a 24-hour marathon of game development events and workshops.

The launch event at Sheffield Hallam University will bring together schoolchildren, students, teachers, university academics and games industry leaders for a preview of the festival in June.

The event will also launch a game designed by children from All Saints Catholic High School during the 2012 festival, and developed by Sheffield Hallam students in the University's studio, Steel Minions. The game will be released on the IndieCity app store, and all proceeds will be donated to charity Special Effect.

Festival director and Sheffield Hallam lecturer, Dr Jake Habgood, said: "We're very pleased to announce the launch of Games Britannia 2013. Getting children creating with computers is what the festival is all about, and I hope that having the chance of getting their own ideas made into a game will inspire lots of schools to take part."

SUMO-Digital's creative director Sean Millard will announce SUMO’s backing for the festival, and will unveil some of the exciting activities lined up for Games Britannia this year.

During the launch event, game development students from Sheffield Hallam will take part in a 'game jam' competition to create a Windows 8 game in just 24 hours. Experts from Microsoft will be there to judge the students’ games.

Educators from across the region will attend an exclusive event on game design, and be the first to obtain details of the 2013 game design competition, which could see their school releasing their own videogame in 2014.

YoYo games will also provide teachers with free Game Maker software licences for their schools.

The launch will conclude with a gathering of the local games industry for a Game Republic meeting at Hallam on Windows 8 game development delivered by Lee Stott of Microsoft. Lee will announce the winner of the game jam in front of an industry audience.

The 2012 festival was named 'Best university / educational initiative' at the national TIGA Games Industry Awards in November 2012.

Games Britannia takes place at Sheffield Hallam University from 10 to 14 June 2013. For more information on Games Britannia, and to register interest, visit www.gamesbritannia.com.

Notes for editors:

Media are welcome to attend the launch event on Wednesday 23 January, but the Game Republic event on Thursday 24 January is strictly for game developers.

For press information contact: Joe on 0114 225 2074 or email pressoffice@shu.ac.uk

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