InGAME X StoryFutures Academy- Immersive Game Lab

Ready to apply?

This page contains all the information you’ll need to prepare your application for the Immersive Game Lab. Please read the criteria carefully to ensure you are eligible for the scheme and that you give yourself the best chance of being selected. If you feel ready to get started with your application, please navigate to the appropriate form below.

What is the Immersive Game Lab?

The Immersive Game Lab aims to upskill 12 writers and narrative designers from a variety of backgrounds to prepare them for working on narrative immersive videogames, and offers 3 game developers valuable narrative training, networking with writers, plus the chance to receive funding for the creation of a story-based immersive game prototype to be showcased at a high profile industry event. Applicants can apply to one of two open calls – the first is a national call for writers wanting to break into games or increase their skills in games writing, and the second is for developers from the Dundee Games Cluster wanting to be partnered with writers to explore ideas for narrative-led games.

What happens if my application is accepted?

Longlisted writers will undertake a fully-funded 2-day narrative workshop (March 31^st to April 1^st 2020) held at InGAME, Dundee, where they will explore immersive experiences, meet developers and expand their interactive writing skills. This will be run in partnership with world renowned immersive theatre company Punchdrunk. A shortlist will then be selected to undertake a 4-week paid scoping phase where the writer will co-design an idea for a narrative-led immersive game in collaboration with a games development studio from the Dundee cluster (for which both the writer and developer will be paid a fixed stipend of £2,500).Teams will then pitch these ideas to an expert panel who will select one idea to receive £50,000 of funding for a 12-week development period. The winning writer/developer team will also receive a program of user testing, audience insight and commercialisation support from InGAME, with the completed project being shown at a high profile industry event in late 2020.

Application Criteria

• Please note that this project is not intended for existing story or game ideas that are already in development. The intention is for new ideas to be developed collaboratively between the selected writers and developers, with a shared IP agreement between them.
• Please note that neither StoryFutures Academy or InGAME seek to retain any IP of the final piece, however both organisations require access to the final piece for educational, research or marketing purposes. This includes providing access to that will allow for SFA and InGAME to do meaningful audience insight research via qualitative or quantitative means. This insight may be shared or published for academic or training purposes.
• Applicants and all team members must be 18+.
• All applicants are expected to grant InGAME and StoryFutures Academy the use of anonymised data related to the project in academic and industry-facing research publications.

Writer Criteria

1. Writers should be able to demonstrate a clear interest in or experience of writing for interactive. Writers may be from any discipline and of any experience level, but we will look favourably on applicants who have experience of creating interactive work. This could be writing credits on released games titles, but games experience is not essential and self-published work in programs such as Twine or Ink, interactive theatre, interactive film or any other forms of interactive narrative would all be considered valuable, relevant experience.

2. Applicants may be from anywhere within the UK.3. Applicants must commit to engaging collaboratively with Game Lab project activities to include, at minimum:

• • Attending both full days of Game Lab workshops, plus the evening networking event, in Dundee on March 31^st and April 1^st Reasonable travel expenses will be reimbursed.
  • In the event of being paired with a development studio, undertaking regular production meetings (these may occur remotely, e.g. via Skype or conference call) during the 4-week scoping period
  • In the event of being paired with a development studio, contributing to the creation of a pitching deck and video presentation
  • In the event of receiving the commission, completing the necessary work on the narrative-led game by September 30^th 2020
  • In the event of receiving the commission, contributing to audience testing sessions (this may occur remotely, e.g. via Skype or conference call)
  • In the event of receiving the commission, participating in a planning session for event showcase (this may occur remotely, e.g. via Skype or conference call)

Games Developer Criteria

1. Developers should be able to demonstrate their ability to deliver a prototype within the timescale and budget. Developers must be able to demonstrate their track record through a body of work and/or credits and/or demonstrable ability to drive a project through production to delivery. 3 developers will be selected to participate in the workshops and scoping phase, with one being selected for the commission.

2, Applications must be made by or through a company registered and centrally managed within the Dundee Creative Clusters area (City of Dundee and adjacent local authorities of Angus, Fife and Perth and Kinross).3. Applicants must commit to engaging collaboratively with the Game Labs project activities to include, at minimum:

• At least one team member attending each day of the Game Labs workshops, plus the evening networking event, in Dundee on March 31^st and April 1^st 2020
• At least one team member to provide feedback on ideas pitched by 12 writers to aid the shortlisting process
• Undertaking regular production meetings (these may occur remotely, e.g. via Skype or conference call) during the 4-week scoping period
• Contributing to the creation of a pitching deck and video presentation
• In the event of receiving the commission, completing the necessary work on the narrative-led game by September 30^th 2020
• In the event of receiving the commission, contributing to audience testing sessions
• In the event of receiving the commission, participating in a planning session for event showcase

Costs and Funding

• StoryFutures will cover accommodation and travel costs for writers to allow their full participation in the workshops. Any further travel costs (e.g. for follow-up meetings with developers) must be covered out of stipends or project budgets.
• No travel or accommodation will be provided for developers due to their proximity to the workshop and event locations.
• Stipends of £2,500 each will be paid to shortlisted writers and development companies for the 4-week scoping phase. This is a flat rate and it is up to the individuals to decide how much time they wish to commit to the project during the 4-week period, however all applicants will be expected to demonstrate value for money at this stage.
• A project budget of £50,000 will be paid for the final selected writer and developer team. This budget for the winning prototype is expected to be split appropriately between the writer and games developer. It is up to the individual teams to agree fair and reasonable terms, based on the scope of the work to be undertaken during this phase, and a fully costed budget will need to be provided.

Commitment to Diversity

StoryFutures Academy is committed to supporting storytellers from a range of diverse backgrounds to work with immersive technology. This includes a commitment to reach a minimum of 50% female and 20% BAME participants across our programmes. Applications will be asked to set out the gender and ethnic make-up of their teams with reference to these targets. We will take a portfolio approach to applications, ensuring that across supported projects this target is met.StoryFutures Academy is also committed to regional diversity, and aim wherever possible to represent a range of writers and narrative designers from across the UK within the cohort.StoryFutures Academy is also committed to making its initiatives as accessible as possible. If you have a disability, or are yourself a carer, you are entitled to apply for a bursary to cover additional expenses related to these needs that you may incur as a result of applying for, or taking part in a StoryFutures Academy programme (such as special assistance arrangements). Please contact [email protected] for more information.

Application Judging Process

Applications are judged by a panel of StoryFutures Academy and InGAME staff, however external specialists will also be consulted in some circumstances. All applications are treated in confidence.StoryFutures Academy will take a portfolio approach to applications, and the judging process will look to ensure a variety of different expertise from both writers and developers.Both writers and developers will be selected based on their relevant experience, quality of work and appropriateness for the programme (i.e. that they have demonstrated a passion to explore immersive games and interactive storytelling, and that they are likely to benefit from taking part).

Deliverables for Writers accepted onto the programme

• Writers who have completed the lab should submit a written pitch for a narrative-led immersive game (Unpaid)
• 3 shortlisted writers will receive a stipend to produce a fully scoped idea for a narrative-led game created in partnership with a development studio and submitted in the form of a pitching deck and video presentation
• One finalist will be paid to produce a complete polished prototype for a narrative-led game created in partnership with a development studio

Deliverables for Games Developers accepted onto the programme

• Feedback on 12 immersive narrative game ideas to aid selection of final 3
• A fully scoped idea for an immersive narrative-focussed game created in partnership with a writer and submitted in the form of a pitching deck and video presentation (to include budget, timescales and milestones)
• (Finalist) A build of a complete polished prototype for an immersive narrative game created in partnership with a writer.

Additional deliverables for finalists include:

• A build of the immersive prototype or final piece in a format which can be previewed and used to conduct audience testing
• A copy of the associated marketing/concept material generated for the project (e.g. trailer and promotional image.

Dates and Deadlines

Pre-Production Phase

24^th February – Call closes

9^th March – Selected 12 writers and 3 developers notified

31^st March – 1^st April – Game Lab Workshop for 12 writers, developers introduced during social event on 31^st

14^th April – 12 writers submit paper proposals for narrative-led games

Scoping Phase

26^th April – Writers notified of shortlist and 3 shortlistees are paired with developers

4^th May – 29^th May – Developers and shortlisted writers scope ideas, submitting pitch deck and proposal video on 29^th May

8^th June – Finalist selected, participants notified

Production Phase

22^nd June – Production commences

30^th September – Production complete

Mid October – Final piece showcased at high profile industry event

How Do I Apply?

To apply as a writer, please complete the application form made available by StoryFutures Academy. To apply as a Games Developer, please complete the application form below.