October 14, 2013 – Epic Games European Territory Manager Mike Gamble is being honored as a visiting professor at Staffordshire University, where he will have the opportunity to provide guidance to computer games design students through a series of lectures.
With two decades of experience across numerous roles and companies, Gamble was already a well-known figure in video games before joining Epic in early 2011. The visiting professorship at Staffordshire University will allow Gamble to share his personal insights and professional experiences in video games to inspire and guide students as they move into the first stages of their careers or even begin studios of their own.
Gamble said: “I am really thrilled at being honored as a visiting professor at Staffordshire given the quality of their courses and the students who graduate from them. I am particularly looking forward to sharing my industry and Epic Games experience to help build the students’ knowledge, and prepare them for what to expect and how to succeed in what is a fast-changing and ultra-competitive environment.”
It was a chance meeting between Mike Gamble and Staffordshire University’s Lecturer in Games Design, James Butcher, which first formed the foundations of the collaboration. Staffordshire University impressed Gamble with its adoption of Unreal Engine technology, and was invited to be the academic partner for Epic’s Make Something Unreal Live 2013 competition. Staffordshire’s own student team, Kairos Games, went on to win second place with its game, “Polymorph.”
Butcher added: “It is great for us to be working alongside someone with such a wealth of experience. Mike’s skills and knowledge will be invaluable in enriching the experience of Staffordshire University games students and graduates. It has been a great pleasure to lead the link between the university and Epic, and with our continued use of the industry-leading Unreal Engine technology, it is a great fit for our awards and students.”
Staffordshire University is a leading educational institution for video game development based in the UK. Lead by Dr. Bobbie Fletcher, Staffordshire University’s Game Design/Technology program is a firm supporter of Unreal Engine, instructing students in its use for design, technical, and artistic applications.
Staffordshire University: http://www.staffs.ac.uk/schools/art_and_design/gamesdesign/
Follow @StaffsGamesTech and @UnrealEngine on Twitter.
About Unreal Engine
Developed by Epic Games, the award-winning Unreal Engine is known for its cutting-edge graphics technology, world-class toolset and scalability across PC, console and mobile platforms. Unreal Engine 3 (UE3) is designed to accelerate developers’ productivity for creating high-quality games, applications, training simulations, visualizations, digital films and animated entertainment. Powering hundreds of games and integrated with two dozen leading middleware technologies, UE3 holds more than 20 technology awards, including eight Game Developer Front Line Awards and six Develop Industry Excellence Awards. The Unreal Engine also owns a seat in the Front Line Awards Hall of Fame. Unreal Engine 4 (UE4), winner of multiple Best of E3 2012 awards, offers unprecedented graphical capabilities and workflow improvements that provide unparalleled accessibility for developers building the next generation of games and applications. For more information, visit http://www.unrealengine.com and follow @UnrealEngine.
About Staffordshire University
Established in 1992, Staffordshire University has evolved into one of the country’s most progressive and forward-thinking learning institutions. Quick to adapt to the needs of students, business, and industry, the University is recognised for its diverse and relevant courses and first-class learning opportunities.