But three years on, with a degree under his belt, Joe is competing in a paid competition this summer thanks to the Tranzfuser programme.

Joe and his team of fellow graduates have been selected as one of 19 teams throughout the UK to take part in Tranzfuser to represent the University’s Games Design course. They will collaborate with and pitch to professionals within the games industry and, if successful, potentially form an independent game development studio.

Here, Joe shares how he has gone from strength to strength since becoming a part of the CCCU community.

Networking at Insomnia Gaming Festival

“Thanks to the efforts of our Games Design lecturer Will Henniker, my team was issued a stand at this year’s Insomnia Gaming Festival, held at Birmingham’s NEC arena - which was massive for us.

“It was invaluable because not only did the general public give us feedback, but staff and employees from some of the most recognisable names in the industry also played our game. So, we actually got professional perspectives and opinion too.

“We then took this feedback back to campus and developed our game further, in preparation for final submission.

“I spoke to hundreds of people: from visitors simply attending the event, fellow independent game developers from industry, and other universities showcasing their games, to legitimate and well-known game studios and publishers.

“I went from having 30 LinkedIn connections to about 300, with the majority being connected to the games industry. I’ve also reached out to all of them, which helped me with my application to Tranzfuser.

“Tranzfuser is a massive opportunity. I felt more informed to apply for Tranzfuser and thankfully, we got through the first round! 

“So, we now have £7000 to play with over the summer to develop our game. We’ll also be pitching our game to members in the industry, and we’re going to be assigned a studio lead from an independent game studio.

“I honestly wouldn’t have applied to Tranzfuser if it wasn’t for speaking to some pretty influential people at Insomnia who told us to apply. Insomnia gave us that foot in the door.”

Opportunities at CCCU

“The Games Design degree at CCCU places heavy emphasis on employability. It’s not just about the technical skills. Of course, they help and are invaluable: being able to program, work within games engine, create 3D models etc – but the course teaches skills applicable to so many industries other than just games development: graphics design, narrative storytelling, and digital art to name but a few.

“Without the skills I’ve learned in communication, networking, and teamwork, I wouldn’t have made so many contacts from Insomnia, which lead me to Tranzfuser.

“The University prioritises these transferable skills so we’re ready to enter a graduate role after finishing. Throughout the degree, we worked in teams on real-world business problems, simulating what it would be like to work in industry.

“We also had the opportunity to work for two real-world clients, creating simulated briefs for them, which gave us a taster of what the working world entails. We received pitches, critiques, feedback, and advice from professionals, which enabled us to practice our customer/client relations.

“Owing to the Games Design course’s amazing lecturers and support from the Careers and Enterprise team, we have been so fortunate in experiencing career altering opportunities -Insomnia being a prime example. There have been so many opportunities to connect with legitimate industry experts.”

Extra support from lecturers

“I was unsure about going to university. I had this idea of uni being quite snobby and full of posh people. But coming to CCCU, I was really surprised.

“The lecturers were approachable and friendly. We were on first-name terms with each other, and I became good friends with the Course Director, Professor Alan Meades.

“Throughout summer 2023, Alan exhibited a project called ‘Arcade Britannia’ at London’s Somerset House, part of the London Design Biennale. It celebrated the role of amusement arcades in British culture and featured an interactive digital recreation of a late 1980’s seaside arcade.

“I attended to show support and ended up speaking to another exhibitor who was exhibiting at the Indian Pavilion. He was representing The Design Village in India. 

“Bizarrely, the exhibitors remembered me and, owing to Professor Meades and my cohort’s new Course Director William Hill’s recommendation of myself, I have been invited to a prestigious design week summer school in France, which I’ll be attending at the end of June.

“University is full of opportunities. What you put in, you get out. You have to put yourself out there; speak to people; network with your lecturers. They have a lot of experience to help you land an opportunity.

“That’s the great thing about CCCU – the lecturers genuinely care and want to provide you with as many opportunities as they can.

I couldn’t recommend the University enough. Without CCCU, I wouldn’t be the person that I am today, that’s for sure.

“And I wouldn’t be competing throughout the summer with a group of close friends, with the prospect of potentially forming a video game studio via Tranzfuser, or going to France to meet with esteemed members of the international design community.

“If you’re not yet sold on CCCU, go to an Open Day. Go and speak to the lecturers and the students to get a feel of what it would be like. Nothing changes if you don’t make the change.”