Tag Archives: SpecialEffect

Train2Game News GameBlast15

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The gamers’ charity, SpecialEffect, is aiming to build on the success of its inaugural GameBlast gaming marathon weekend in 2014 by calling on the UK games industry and gaming community to sign up for GameBlast15 as they look to raise over £100k towards the charity’s work.

The event, the UK’s largest game-based fundraiser, takes place 20-22 February and already has some of the UK’s top games industry names behind it including Jagex, the company behind the hugely successful Runescape. Jagex is SpecialEffect’s original GameBlast partner and last year raised almost £50k for the charity’s work in helping people with disabilities to access video games.

Along with a major marathon stream from Jagex from Friday to Saturday, the UK gaming trade body, UKIE, is supporting the SpecialEffect fundraising effort by hosting GameBlast LIVE, a 24-hour gaming broadcast from its headquarters in London. This will run from Saturday to Sunday.

Dr Jo Twist, SpecialEffect Vice President and CEO of UKIE, explained why she is so keen to get behind the SpecialEffect fundraiser, ‘They [SpecialEffect] were one of the first groups I met when I started my Ukie role in 2012 and I was bowled over by their dedication, their passion and their love. The innovative work they do to enable young people enjoy the games they love is incredibly inspiring. Games and the ability to play can enhance and enrich people’s lives in so many ways and everyone should have the right to play.’

The event, hosted by Matt Cuttle, promises 24 hours of unadulterated gaming and madness as BBC Click presenter and SpecialEffect Vice President, Kate Russell, builds on the £7,500 she raised through her Elite:Dangerous livestream at Christmas by flying a 12 hour Elite marathon alongside other enthusiasts of Frontier’s iconic space travel game. But Kate will be taking a break from space travel to battle it out with Jo Twist using SpecialEffect eye-control technology as they compete live on Twitch for the fastest lap in Codemasters’ popular Dirt 3 motor racing game. 

Kate explained why she has done so much to raise money and awareness of the charity’s work, ‘Ever since I found out about Special Effect a couple of years ago – a charity dedicated to helping those with physical limitations through illness or injury have fun playing computer games – it has been my pleasure and honour to be able to help raise funds and awareness about their tireless and dedicated work’.

If you’d like to join industry names like Jagex, Gamer Network and Multiplay and join hundreds of other gamers across the UK in raising money for SpecialEffect through the GameBlast15 gaming marathon go to:

http://www.specialeffect.org.uk/gameblast-about

Train2Game News Jagex to host SpecialEffect for Gameblast

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Jagex Games Studio, creators and custodians of the fantasy MMORPG, RuneScape and the upcoming online multiplayer action game, Block N Load, is to lead the way in SpecialEffect’s upcoming GameBlast15 games marathon weekend.

The event, which takes place between 20th and 22nd February, launches a 24-hour gamer challenge to raise money and help enable individuals with physical disabilities play games.

During the inaugural GameBlast in 2014, the RuneScape and Ace of Spades: Battle Builder communities raised more than £48,000 for SpecialEffect, and more than 90,000 viewers watched Jagex’s livestream of gameplay, interviews, and real-world challenges. In addition to holding another marathon livestream from Jagex’s Cambridge headquarters, RuneScape players will also benefit from a double XP weekend.

“SpecialEffect is a cause that’s very close to our hearts at Jagex. We had a lot of fun last year with our livestream for GameBlast14, so it’s fantastic to get stuck in once again and get even more involved in GameBlast15,” said Phil Mansell, vice president of RuneScape. “We’re really looking forward to welcoming Mick and the SpecialEffect team to Jagex, as well as holding our own 24-hour marathon and double XP weekend, next month.”

David Solari, vice president of Block N Load, added “The Ace of Spades: Battle Builder community were really supportive during GameBlast14, so we can’t wait to see how the burgeoning Block N Load player base performs this year. We’re currently in the beta phase of development, so the 24-hour GameBlast marathon will really put the game through its paces ahead of its launch!”

“We were simply stunned by the amazing generosity of the Jagex community during last year’s GameBlast, and honoured that they’re gearing up for another 24 hours of activity in February,” said Dr Mick Donegan, founder and director of SpecialEffect. “Having such a major force in the gaming industry backing our work helping people with disabilities is a great boost, and I’m personally really looking forward to being at Jagex HQ during the event to be part of their GameBlast heroics.”

Hosting SpecialEffect and taking part in GameBlast15 is the first of a number of fundraising drives for planned by the Jagex throughout 2015. During 2014, the studio and its passionate RuneScape community raised more than $300,000 for good causes, including Oxfam and SpecialEffect. RuneScape was also the first games partner of United for Wildlife, and helped to raise awareness of the plight facing the world’s rhinos with a series of in-game quizzes and limited edition virtual pets.

Train2Game News Talisman character from SpecialEffect

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A new character for Talisman Digital Edition will be immortalised with help from SpecialEffect, the charity that helps people with physical disabilities to enjoy gaming.

The proceeds of this new character will go to SpecialEffect, so more people with disabilities can be supported to reap the rewards of gaming.

A collaboration between Nomad Games and SpecialEffect will bring Talisman to people with disabilities. Not only will the game be provided to people that SpecialEffect supports, Nomad Games are asking those same people to get involved and design a character for the game.

The first step is to come up with some character ideas, and for the last few weeks Talisman Digital Edition fans have been submitting ideas for a new Talisman character. There has been a phenomenal response with over 200 entries, and it’s been a very difficult job to whittle them down to a shortlist of 6!

This shortlist will be going out for a public vote on the Nomad Games web site in January, where people will have a week to vote for their favourite idea.

When the character has been chosen, SpecialEffect gamers will create an artwork design for the new character. This will then be submitted to Nomad Games to convert into a new digital Character Card, which will go on sale over the coming weeks.

“When friends introduced Nomad Games to the work of SpecialEffect we were hugely impressed and realized that, as a games maker and publisher, we should lend our support. In an exceptional way, SpecialEffect put gamers with physical disabilities on a level playing field with every other gamer.”, said Don Whiteford, MD at Nomad Games Limited.

Train2Game News Record beat to aid SpecialEffect

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SpecialEffectChris Cook, Community Manager for GamePointsNow/GameKeysNow, has officially set a new Guinness World Record for the Longest Video Game Marathon on a Football Game by smashing the previous record by a whole 44 minutes to set a new time of 48 hours 49 minutes 41 seconds

The event took place at the Loading Bar, London from Nov 5th until the 7th and saw Chris play over 120 matches of FIFA 15, both online and offline . So far, the event has raised over £580 on behalf of its charity, Special Effect, with donations still being made.

‘I’m so glad to have raised so much for an incredible cause; but none of this would have been possible without the incredible support team of volunteers. They really kept me going throughout and I’m eternally grateful for all of their help and energy, especially when things got tough’

The event was streamed live via Twitch.tv and featured giveaways from companies like QWERTEE, Hauppauge, Boomerang Rentals, Insert Coin tees, NiftyMods and Campo Retro.

SpecialEffect is an award-winning charity that helps people with disabilities to benefit from the fun, rehabilitation and therapy of video games. They support people of all ages through assessments, equipment loans and equipment modifications.

Train2Game News Rugby Lunch Supporting SpecialEffect

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The inaugural fundraising lunch for rugby connoisseurs is bringing together three legends of the modern game to raise money for the charity, SpecialEffect.

The charity enable everyone, whatever their disability, to enjoy video games and leisure technology not just for the sake of fun but by giving individuals the means to participate, they are kick starting their rehabilitation, self-esteem, and most importantly, inclusion. Truly life changing support for the inspirational people they support.

Tables are now available for the Legends Lunch, which will feature former internationals Paul Wallace, Simon Shaw MBE and Zinzan Brooke. The event will be hosted by Miles Harrison, the Principal Rugby Commentator for Sky Sports.

A three-course gourmet lunch will be followed by entertainment and banter from the panel of rugby legends, who will be recounting their sporting and not-so-sporting experiences on and off the rugby field. There will be plenty of opportunity to put your questions to the panel and meet the players.

The event, organised by Limelight Interactive, will be held on Thursday 26 February 2015 at the Minster Exchange in central London. The beneficiary charity, SpecialEffect help people with disabilities to benefit from video games and leisure technology.

Matt Hampson, former England International is the proud Patron of SpecialEffect, having worked with the charity after his own life-changing injury;

“I know how it feels to have the opportunity to play a game at the highest level, and how it feels to lose it.  I’m very proud to be the Patron of SpecialEffect – the only national charity specifically dedicated to helping everyone with disabilities to enjoy a better quality of life through games and leisure technology”

“It’s exactly the kind of support that SpecialEffect gave me following my own injury so I know firsthand the difference it can make between watching others enjoy themselves, and joining in yourself”

– Matt Hampson, Patron of SpecialEffect

The cost for a table is £850 plus VAT for a table of 10 people, and interested parties are invited to contact Alison at alison@limelightinteractive.co.uk

Train2Game News FIFA for SpecialEffect

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Chris Cook, Community Manager at GamePointsNow/GameKeysNow, today announced that he will be making an attempt to break the Guinness World Record  for “The Longest Video Game Marathon On a Football Game” by playing FIFA 15. 

The attempt aims to smash the current record of 48 hrs 5 minutes and help raise funds on behalf of the awesome charity Special Effect.

“I’ve been playing FIFA games since they first started way back on the Mega Drive, so couldn’t think of a better way to raise money & awareness for a truly amazing cause,” said Chris Cook, “As someone who has seen firsthand how gaming can help enhance lives, I could not think of a better charity to lend my support to”.

The event will be taking place at the popular gaming themed cocktail bar Loading Bar in Dalston, North London between the 5-7th November 2014 and members of the public are encouraged to come a long and join in, have a drink and more importantly, donate to Special Effect!

Online donations can be made via Chris’ JustGiving page: https://www.justgiving.com/FifaWR

The record attempt will be streamed live (internet stability permitting) via Twitch.tv (http://www.twitch.tv/GamePointsNow) and will feature giveaways from big name supporters like Insert Coin Tees, QWERTEE, Campo Retro clothing, Papa Johns Pizza, Hauppauge and more. There will also be opportunities for people to challenge Chris to online matches throughout the entire attempt.

Train2Game News Play Games to help SpecialEffect

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SpecialEffectSpecialEffect are hosting another Gameblast in February of 2015. This is your chance to play games and help people in need!

The gaming marathon weekend will take place from February 20 – 22 and the idea is that you play games for an extended length of time, whether it be 48 hours or 24 hours is entirely up to you, and get your friends, family and whoever else to sponsor you to do so.

This gaming marathon is entirely down to your self to decide what you can do. Do as much or as little as you want to and try and raise as much money as you possibly can to help SpecialEffect to raise money that will go towards supporting disabled gamers back in to the game.

Last February gamers raised an incredible £70,000 in GameBlast14, and every penny and cent went towards levelling the playing field for gamers with disabilities. This time SpecialEffect are aiming for £100,000, so they’re going to need all the help you can give!

If you want to find out some helpful tips and sign up for this event you can go to http://www.specialeffect.org.uk/gameblast-about

Train2Game News Jagex support GameBlast 15

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SpecialEffectJagex Games Studio, makers of the multi-award winning fantasy MMORPG RuneScape and upcoming Transformers Universe, today announced its continuing corporate support of GameBlast, the annual charity games marathon weekend in aid of gamers’ charity SpecialEffect.

Jagex held its own 24-hour games marathon as part of the previous GameBlast weekend in February 2014, which was live-streamed online to 90,000 unique viewers over the course of the event. Both staff and selected members of the RuneScape community played RuneScape and Jagex’s Ace of Spades: Battle Builder throughout the 24 hour period, raising over £48,000 as a result.

Riaan Hodgson, chief operations officer at Jagex, was vocal about the company’s continued support of GameBlast: “It’s great to see our staff get behind such a worthy cause once again, especially one so suited to our core company principles. At Jagex, games are a way of life and if we can have fun while welcoming others into this medium, then that’s definitely a good use of our time and resources.”

GameBlast is the UK’s biggest charity gaming marathon event, and is next scheduled for the weekend of 20-22 February 2015. Hoping to improve on last year’s total of £70,000, SpecialEffect is targeting a figure of £100,000 and is calling upon other games companies to join in and help people with disabilities benefit from the fun, friendship and inclusion of video games. The charity is hoping that other studios recognise the huge internal and external corporate social responsibility benefits from taking part, as well as the ability to directly benefit gamers in the best way possible.

“Jagex’s support was a major part of the success of GameBlast14,” said Dr Mick Donegan, founder and director of SpecialEffect. “We’re incredibly grateful for the generosity of its staff and communities, and we’re delighted that they’ll be participating again in 2015. The money they raise will enable even more people, whatever their age or physical disability, to enjoy video games and leisure technology.”

Donegan continued: “We know we can achieve so much more if the rest of the UK games industry follows Jagex’s lead and pledges their support for GameBlast15. There’s a warm welcome awaiting any developers, publishers or gaming communities who want to get involved, whether that’s at a small scale stream or at industry partner level.”

More information about next year’s GameBlast can be found at http://www.specialeffect.org.uk/gameblast

Train2Game News Vote for SpecialEffect

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SpecialEffectIn the games industry? If so, SpecialEffect need your help! They have been selected in the vote for the fantastic, grant making, games industry charity GamesAid.

Last year they made an amazing donation of £52,000 to SpecialEffect to help them meet their growing demand to help amazing young people like Ben who is now rocking Minecraft, FIFA and many other games!

SpecialEffect are in the fortunate position to once again be amongst the charities nominated for GamesAid support but your help is needed to secure a grant. All you need to do is vote at the link below.

SpecialEffect is by no means the biggest cause in the list of nominees so every vote counts.

If you work in the industry then please do visit the link below and consider a vote for SpecialEffect. Current members have to email their choice of charity and user name to GamesAid and new members can register for FREE and cast their vote.

http://www.gamesaid.org/vote-now-2014-voting-re-opens/

You can view the story of Ben in the heart warming video below. SpecialEffect have helped Ben and many others like him to experience the pleasure of gaming as much as we all do.

Train2Game News UKIE outlines new manifesto for games industry

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UKIE LogoOn Tuesday, Ukie, in partnership with Activision Blizzard and Ubisoft, hosted its largest ever Westminster Political Reception to announce a range of policy recommendations and to celebrate the cultural and economic importance of the UK games sector.

The event, held at Millbank Tower, was attended by more than 200 members, MPs, Peers, policy makers and industry figures from a range of creative industry sectors.

The event saw the launch of the new Ukie Policy Manifesto for the next Parliament that outlines initial plans for how to further grow the UK games sector following the introduction of tax breaks earlier this year, and the introduction of the new Computing curriculum earlier this week.

Created with input from Ukie’s members, the Policy Manifesto calls for action on three headline areas of policy support:

· Support to help UK games companies grow across the UK – including regulatory stability, better infrastructure and a long term roadmap where games businesses can access public funding and support proportionate to the other screen industries

· Promotion of the UK games industry abroad – demonstrating that the UK is one of the leading videogame industries in the world, including a focus on funding, fully supporting and working with industry on trade and investment activity such as trade missions and helping UK businesses to reach overseas marketplaces

· Building a strong and diverse talent pipeline – including supporting the new Computing Curriculum, investing in careers guidance and extending and making permanent the Skills Investment Fund

The reception heard from Justin Tomlinson MP, PPS to Ed Vaizey, on the work that the coalition government has done to support the UK games sector.

Justin Tomlinson MP said: ““The UK games industry is going from strength to strength, recovering some of the ground lost to other countries over the last few years. This growth has been helped very much by the hard work put in by Ukie and the major policy initiatives introduced by this government, such as a new computing curriculum and the recent introduction of production tax relief. However, more can of course be done and in my new role working closely with Ed Vaizey I very much welcome Ukie’s new Policy Manifesto and look forward to discussing its recommendations with Jo and her team in more detail over the coming months.”

The guests also heard from Dr Jo Twist, CEO of Ukie, and Roy Stackhouse, General Manager for Activision Blizzard UK and Ireland, discussing Ukie’s manifesto proposals and the strength of the UK as a place to make games.

Ukie CEO, Dr Jo Twist said: “We were delighted by the introduction of games industry tax relief earlier this year but quickly realised that it is essential that we maximise the opportunities that the new scheme presents. We have therefore spent the last six months speaking to our members from across the breadth of our sector about the measures that they would like to see the UK government introduce to truly put the UK’s games industry on the global map. Our Policy Manifesto outlines our members priority asks and we will be following this up with more detailed papers and briefings to MPs to continue our push to make this the best country in the world to make and sell games.”

UK MD of Ubisoft, Rob Cooper commented on the importance of the Westminster Reception in maintaining a positive view of the UK games sector: “Events like these are vital in showing the significance of the UK games industry, both culturally and economically, to a high profile audience of policy makers and other VIPs. We are delighted to support this year’s event and Ukie’s work generally in giving a voice to UK games businesses of all sizes from multinationals like Ubisoft, to smaller developers, making and selling some of the most vibrantly creative interactive entertainment in the world.”

Guests at the reception had a chance to play some of Ubisoft and Activision Blizzard’s latest titles including Valiant Hearts: The Great War, Just Dance 2014, Diablo III and Skylanders: Trap Team. Charity Special Effect were also there demonstrating their latest innovations to help young people with different abilities enjoy games.

You can find Ukie’s Policy Manifesto for the New Parliament here: http://ukie.org.uk/news/2014/09/ukie-westminster-reception