Teen Games Designers Show Up Developers at BAFTAs

Sourced from BAFTA

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Introduction 

The BAFTAs (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) announced back in 2017 that it would be opening up a new sector specifically focused on awarding young game designers. The programme was launched in an effort to motivate the young generations to create something of their own and stretch their talent as far as possible. 

The programme is run all year round and is specific to the UK and North America, for now. The event is not only viewed as a competition, but also a door into the very interesting and vast industry that most children will have experienced a part of by the age of 6. 

Children over the age of 10 are given access to resources and training programmes in order to harness their abilities and stand a chance of winning the YGD (Young Game Designers). The grand prize is a gateway ticket into the industry with job opportunities galore. 

BAFTAs Young Game Designers of 2024

There were 49 finalists announced in the 2024 YGD, with an impressive array of talent and interpretations. The competition runs annually and can be entered by anyone between the ages of 10 and 18. The event starts with workshops and displays and ultimately ends in a showcase of what the participants have learnt throughout the year. 

Each year, four winners are chosen from the 49 finalists by a team of experts in the field and well-known celebrity faces of the industry. 

Winners go on to receive a display showcase at the Science Museum in London as well as the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester. 

The YGD Winners

The awards span two main age categories. There are the 10-14 year olds and the 15-18 year olds. This year’s winners were chosen for their creativity, ingenuity and downright genius-ness. 

The winner of the Game Concept Award for ages 10-14 was a boy called Orson. Orson developed a game called ‘Collateral Damage’. The game is playful and shows off some truly nostalgic animation, like something out of a sketchbook from the 90s. Players in the game have to take on giant robots in order to clear up the messes made by the superheroes of the world. A good old-fashioned nostalgia game. 

The 15-18 Game Concept Award went to Tallulah for her mystical and magical piece about mythical plants and medicine. The story was the real showstopper with this one, as players have to uncover the hidden covens of the world who have been forced into hiding, discovering their witchy magic in a magical open world. 

Ethan won the 10-14 Game Making Award for his ‘DnB Bullet Hell’. This fast-paced game requires players to have at least some sort of enjoyment for DnB as well as fast-reaction skills. Players have to avoid stray bullets by keeping in time with the music. A great way to enjoy the music you love while exercising your brain’s reaction speed. 

Next to grab a prize was 17 year old Dan who developed his game called ‘Unplugged’. Unplugged is ironically a game that revolves around powering up electrical items. The trick is to solve the puzzles and work out what you need to do to get the technology up and running.

Conclusion

The YGD was created to provide young teens with a platform to display their talents. The year-long event helps boost the gaming industry significantly and keeps well-known developers on their toes. These young ones may not have graduated school yet, but they’re scoring higher than some of the developers out there when it comes to creativity and ingenuity.