If you are a blind or partially sighted person interested in pursuing a career in the video games industry, then please read on!
Blind Burners have a few tickets to attend Develop Brighton in July this year and are looking for visually impaired people to go as part of the Blind Burners group. This includes free entry to the event, a contribution to the cost of attending, and volunteer support.
Chris Hainsworth from Blind Burners has provided a description of the opportunity:
Seeking Aspiring Video Game Talent
Develop Brighton
Our friends at Blind Burners are organising another mini-delegation of VI gamers who are either already working in the video game industry, or seriously interested in working in the video game industry in any capacity.
Why
There are not enough VI people in the video game industry. We want you to create a future in which there are video game companies which include VI talent in all departments – game design, software engineering, sound design, art, human resources, community management and general management, We know there are many barriers. A small number of VI pioneers are already working in the industry and making waves. We want to support more people in taking on these challenges, advancing in the industry towards leadership roles, and transforming the game industry into an even more creative and inclusive space.
When
The conference takes place in Brighton over three days from Tuesday 8th to Thursday 10th of July. We anticipate most participants travelling to Brighton on Sunday 6th July or Monday 7th July to settle in, and leaving on the morning of Friday 11th July. The extra days can be flexible, however many participants find that attending for the full event and allowing time to settle in and build in rest time, helps people to make the most of the daytime and evening networking opportunities, while balancing energy levels.
Where
The event is centred on the seafront Brighton Hilton Metropole, with fringe events happening at nearby venues. People generally find Brighton to be a friendly and safe place.
What
The group is able to provide tickets to confirmed attendees.
The group will provide up to £200 to each attending participant towards the cost of attending – travel, accommodation etc. In past years, the group has collectively organised a shared rented flat. Other attendees generally stay in hotels, with friends, or even camping.
The group aims to pair each VI participant with a sighted guide who is already active in the games industry, or studying video games. We do our best to match peoples’ interests and personalities, and to introduce people in advance, so the group can get to know each other and feel comforrtable.
The goal is to help where needed to facilitate our participants making the most of the opportunities to attend talks, and network with other people at different stages in their careers.
We aim to ensure that all participants are met at the relevant train station (either Brighton, or for those travelling from afar, London).
The event includes three days of talks, a large expo centre with several companies and universities demonstrating games and tools, and several networking events, many focusing on aspects of inclusion such as neuro-diversity, LGBTQ+, etc..
There are also several opportunities for our group to connect and support each other in their career development.
The group is keen to connect with folks with experience in all disciplines – software engineering, art, sound design, game design, human resources, accessibility, and general management
More information on Develop can be found here.
How to Apply
If this is of interest, please complete the Googleform here, or if you prefer please send an email to to Chris Hainsworth at chris@blindburners.com. If responding via email, it would be helpful if you could include “Develop Brighton” in the email subject, and include the following information:
- Your name and preferred pronouns
- Your email address
- Your consent for Blind Burners to contact you in relation to this event
- Where you are based
- What are some of your favourite video games?
- What roles are you interested in working in?
- Please tell us anything you would like to know about you, your interest in video games, and your interest in attending Develop: Brighton
- Please tell us anything you would like us to know about your access needs and preferences
We would ask for anyone interested to respond AS SOON AS POSSIBLE as we need to confirm participants and arrange travel and accommodation.
Thank you!