Technology

Posted on March 29, 2018 by staff

Yorkshire-based VR gaming firm takes national prize

Technology

A new Huddersfield-based game development studio has won a pitching competition at Pocket Gamer Connects London, an international industry conference.

Shuttershade Studios is formed by a group of game design graduates from the University of Huddersfield.

The studio’s winning game, Hyper Party Ware VR, is a collection of virtual reality mini-games including basketball, darts and ping-pong.

The company says it was created with the aim of bringing people together to experience VR gaming in a less isolated way.

“Everyone can become involved whether they have the headset on or not,” said co-director Marcus Nichols. “The game allows other players waiting their turn to interfere and distract the main player, causing them to make mistakes.”

Nichols, alongside co-directors Parampal Singh and Chris Vickery created a pitch about the game which was delivered to five pairs of judges in a ‘speed-dating’ style competition. Their prize was a marketing package worth US$3,000 and a XR Indie Pitch trophy.

This is Shuttershade’s second major award in less than six months. Last year the studio won £25,000 in from talent development programme Transfuzer.

The trio have said that they will continue to polish, Hyper Party Ware VR and will be exhibiting it around the country.