Payload Studios today announced Green Man Gaming as a partner for their new inclusion initiative – a game incubator open to early-stage studio founders from across the UK from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds.
In addition, Helen Churchill, SVP Publishing at Green Man Gaming will support the programme as a mentor.
Ian McGregor, CMO, Green Man Gaming said:
“Inclusion is a core value at Green Man Gaming, we believe games are for everyone and everyone should have the opportunity to create them. We are excited to partner with Payload Studios on this initiative to help support creative talent from underrepresented groups and drive diversity within the UK industry.”
For more information please see the official press release below or visit https://tentacle.zone/incubator/
Payload Studios Launches Games Incubator for Underrepresented Developers
Launched with support from industry partners, this fully virtual programme is open to founders from underrepresented backgrounds in the UK.
Partners include Creative England’s Creative Enterprise, Tonic Games Group, Green Man Gaming, University of Greenwich and Ukie.
- Up to 8 sponsored places available for early stage studio founders across the UK from underrepresented groups.
- Peer-to-peer learning with existing Tentacle Zone residents.
- Applications close on February 24th, 2021. Programme starts in March 2021 and ends in June 2021.
Applications open from January 13 – February 24, 2021
London, January 13th 2021 – Payload Studios today launched its new inclusion initiative for 2021. The creators of TerraTech are calling for up to eight early-stage game developers from underrepresented groups to apply to its new Tentacle Zone Incubator programme. The incubator, with support from partners Tonic Games, Green Man Gaming and Creative England’s Creative Enterprise, will offer sponsored places for founders from backgrounds traditionally underrepresented in the games industry. These groups include, but are not limited to, POC, lower socioeconomic backgrounds, LGBTQ+, people from underrepresented genders (cis women, trans women, trans men, non-binary), disabilities and neurodiversities.
The successful applicants will benefit from peer-to-peer learning with more established studios, as well as mentoring and tutoring from a diverse group of industry experts in five key areas, across a four month business support programme:
- Soft skills sessions – confidence, public speaking, networking
- Business planning; preparing your studio for the future
- Production, design and development
- Marketing and PR
- Funding and finance
The incubator’s academic partner, the University of Greenwich, has been chosen due to the institution’s strong understanding of the social barriers facing students in game development, especially from underrepresented groups.
For details of how to sign up go here: LINK
Russell Clarke, Co-Founder and CEO of Payload Studios and Nisha Valand, Programme Director of Tentacle Zone Workspace stated:
“Making workplaces and the industry more inclusive is not an overnight task, but the more we learn about diversity and inclusion, the more we realise that we should and can, be taking action to challenge the inequity in the games industry. We are delighted to be working closely with our partners Creative England’s Creative Enterprise, Tonic Games Group, Green Man Gaming, Ukie and the University of Greenwich as well as those industry professionals who have signed up to help deliver our new incubator programme. At Payload, we have always valued the benefits of being part of a strong community of game developers and we hope that via our Tentacle Zone platform and the learnings from our Game On initiative so far, we can help drive positive change by supporting early stage founders from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds.”
Dr. Jo Twist OBE, CEO of Ukie, stated:
“The Tentacle Zone Incubator is a perfect example of how the principles of the industry-wide #RaiseTheGame pledge can be turned into meaningful action. Initiatives like this play an important role in making our sector more equal, diverse and inclusive and we encourage founders from all underrepresented backgrounds to apply.”
Haley Edwards, Creative Enterprise Programme Manager, added:
“The UK’s games industry continues to be an impressive driving force for the nation’s economy, yet research shows, for example, that people of colour and women remain underrepresented, particularly in leadership roles. We’re proud to be collaborating on this vital programme to give opportunity for underrepresented founders from across England to grow their games businesses with support from the industry’s leaders.”
Darrenlloyd Gent, Programme Leader and Principal Lecturer, Games and Digital Media at University of Greenwich stated:
“At the University of Greenwich we’ve sought to support the games industry as well as our local community, and this initiative very much mirrors the diverse nature of our university, as well as the independent and resourceful graduates that our games degrees produce”.
Ian McGregor, CMO, Green Man Gaming said:
“Inclusion is a core value at Green Man Gaming, we believe games are for everyone and everyone should have the opportunity to create them. We are excited to partner with Payload Studios on this initiative to help support creative talent from underrepresented groups and drive diversity within the UK industry.”
Luke Gibson, Director of Business Operations, Tonic Games Group stated:
“At Tonic Games Group, we believe that games are for everyone! That means backing a future that includes more diverse creators, players, and games. We want to support a wider set of people and help equip them with the skills and opportunities to build rewarding careers and amazing studios. The Tentacle Zone has a remarkable track record of amplifying voices, so we’re delighted to partner with them in their mission to create more and better opportunities for founders from underrepresented backgrounds.”
This year’s incubator programme is the evolution of Payload Studios’ established Tentacle Zone initiative, which includes a virtual community of games studios and digital programme for existing residents, exhibition stand, a co-working space and incorporates the principles of the company’s diversity initiative, Game On.