Open Days

Registration for the Blitz Games Studios 2010 Open Days is now closed. We hope to run further similar days in 2011: watch these pages for further information in the coming months, or sign up for our occasional information emails.

For the last five years Blitz have been running Open Days at our Leamington Spa studios. These annual Open Days are part of Blitz Games Studios' commitment to improving the knowledge base of the future of the industry's game developers.

The student days are intended for anyone who wants to work in game development; that doesn't mean only people who are on actual games courses, it could also include those studying (for example) Computer Science, Audio Technology, Illustration – any one of a number of courses where the core skills are related to games development. If you're not sure about these, take a look at our Blitz Academy website where there is a wealth of information about the jobs and skills needed in development.

The aim is to give people who want to work in games a chance to experience a little of the reality of that industry, to give them a feel for what the work entails and to pass on helpful information and experience from our talented and enthusiastic employees. The day includes overview presentations from the main games disciplines - 2D Art, 3D Art, Animation, Audio, Game Design, Programming, Project Management and Quality Assurance - as well as talks by Andrew and Philip Oliver, who founded the company back in 1990, about the business side.

There's a studio tour so that you can see the range of games that we're currently working on and during the afternoon you will get at least an hour to sit down with someone who is doing the job you want to do, and ask them as many questions as you like! You can also bring your portfolio and get direct, constructive and helpful feedback.

We are running three days in 2010: one is aimed at second and third year students (all disciplines), one is aimed at first year students (also all disciplines), and the third is for animation students only.

These days are open to anyone studying a games-related course: Friday 26th February 2010 is open to first and second year students and Friday 19th March 2010 is open to final year students.

We are also running for the first time a day specifically aimed at animators, which will be on Friday 5th March 2010 – so if you're studying animation, whether that's for games, film or TV, please do sign up!

If you think that you would benefit from knowing more about your chosen career, this is absolutely for you. Please note that anyone wanting to attend one of our Open Days has to complete a work sample and send it to us – this is because we get a huge number of applications and need some way to sift them so that the places go to really deserving people! But don't think you're not good enough to gain a place – we pick a mix of people from really polished near-graduates to first years with potential.

If you have applied before but didn't get the chance to attend, do feel free to apply again – but if you have attended a previous Open Day, you will not be eligible for the 2010 Open Days.

All the days are free to attend and lunch and refreshments are provided.

The closing date for student work submissions is Monday 11th January 2010.

Student feedback from the 2009 Open Days included:

"I just want to say thanks for yesterday, it was a pleasure meeting the staff and I had a wonderful experience, the event left me feeling very happy and inspired. I now have a much clearer idea of how to take the next step in my career."

"I had a brilliant and extremely educational time seeing how you guys work and play."

"It was a very useful and inspiring day and I'm so impressed that the concept artists gave up hours of their time to go through our work."

"Excellent day and awesome staff!!!"

"Thank you all for this wonderful opportunity."

"All the people we talked to were so welcoming and friendly, it encouraged us to speak up and ask questions."

We have not yet scheduled any lecturers' days for 2010, but please do watch this space for further developments.

If you have any further questions regarding the Open Days, please contact us at OpenDays@BlitzGamesStudios.com.