Introversion: Independent's Day

Sunday June 7
2-4pm
£5

Join Chris Delay and Mark Morris in a fascinating discussion about the rise of indie game developer Introversion. Billed as “the last of the bedroom programmers”, Introversion has produced some of the finest PC games to date, among them Uplink, DEFCON, Darwinia and Multiwinia. Their inspiring talk will give an insight into indie game development, looking at the problems small teams face and how they overcome them. Anyone with an interest in how games are made, or who would love to produce their own will find time spent in Introversion's company richly rewarding. With a Question and Answer session following the main talk, an informal, relaxed atmosphere and a few surprises too, this is an event not to be missed.
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Jon Hare: Playing for England

Sunday June 14
12-4pm
 £5                 

With the football season over and no tournaments to see us through the hot Summer months, Jon Hare aims to fill the gap with a revealing insight into the making of one of Britain's most fondly remembered sports games of all time: Sensible Soccer. Norwich City fan Hare will divulge the game's deepest secrets and he will discuss how he expanded the debut game to make Sensible World of Soccer. In what will prove to be a lively debate, he will compare his game to the current footballing crop and address the question of what makes a good soccer game. And if all that wasn't enough, you can take part in a Sensible Soccer tournament and play in a final against the creator of the game himself.
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Getting Dizzy: The Oliver Twins

Sunday June 28
2-4pm
£5   

Quintessentially British, the adventures of Dizzy from the 1980s and early 1990s are fondly remembered today. Join The Oliver Twins as they chart the history of this infamous egg-like character which they created when they were still teenagers. Learn how they produced the puzzles, created the maps and developed the characters. Discover more about The Oliver Twins’ early career, how they went on to found Blitz Games Studios aged just 22 and their plans for a 3D future. There will be a chance to quiz the pair in a Question and Answer session and to sit and play some of The Oliver Twin's best known titles. Discover what has happened to Dizzy over the years, see how the series remains popular among retro gamers and discover whether the character is likely to make a comeback...
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Matthew Smith: Manic Musings

Sunday July 19
2-4pm
£5

Matthew Smith confesses his mind is mad. After all, he did give us animated toilets and pirouetting rabbits. But that “crazy” mind also produced Manic Miner and Jet Set Willy and he has gone on to earn his place as one of the best Spectrum programmers of all time. Matthew's life has been an interesting one to say the least. In 1988 he vanished without a trace leading to an internet hunt in a bid to track him down. Find out where he went, discover the intricacies of his acclaimed work as he explains why he introduced many bizarre elements to his games.
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Jonathan Cauldwell: Retro revival

Sunday July 26
11am-4pm
£5 

You may think the much-loved Spectrum is dead. Not so. Join Jonathan Cauldwell as he sets about producing a brand new Spectrum game from scratch live at Urbis throughout the day. Then hear about what motivates him to continue producing games for a system many believe had been consigned to memory. Jonathan continues to push the boundaries of the Spectrum and you can see just how he does it. It's a perfect chance to discover how the games of your childhood were made – and a great way to show children the importance of pure gameplay, addressing whether photo-realistic graphics are key to a good game.
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The Godfather: David Braben

cancelled

David Braben is one of Britain's most respected developers. His 1984 work Elite is often heralded as the best game ever made. Join him as he talks about his time in the industry, the challenges facing gaming today and how it can learn from the past. Discover how David remains an important part of gaming today and how he has overseen some of the most innovative contemporary games, including LostWinds on the Nintendo Wii.  It is a talk that is set to be compelling and outspoken, and you would be advised to book soon as this event is sure to sell out fast. 
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