Member Article

Newcastle University partners with Ubisoft for internship scheme

Four students from Newcastle University have joined Reflections, a Ubisoft studio, for internships in video game design and programming.

Computer Game Engineering postgraduate students Alex Brown, 21, Wojciech Musialkiewicz, 23, Lauren Brown, 22, and Dimitrios Kamileris, 25, have started a one-year internship at Reflections.

The interns, who are working with the teams developing Just Dance 2015, The Crew and Tom Clancy’s The Division, are the latest in a long line of recruits at the studio from Newcastle University.

Alex, from Seaton Sluice Northumberland, said: “Being involved in a wide-range of projects and working with multidisciplinary teams is extremely rewarding. The feeling of achievement when you help bring a quality product to millions of people around the world is amazing.

“This internship is a great opportunity to continue learning and building up on my academic training. I would recommend a placement to anyone who considers a career in gaming – it’s a great way to build a portfolio of skills and practical experience.”

Lauren, who is from Lichfield near Birmingham, is a part of the gameplay team developing Tom Clancy’s The Division. She said: “Going from the lecture theatre to the studio and working on one of the biggest names in the gaming industry is a great opportunity to do something I’ve been passionate about since I was a kid.

“A highly anticipated game like the Division demands quality and high standards. Luckily the Computing Science courses at Newcastle University have given me the skills and experience to tackle the challenge”, added Lauren.

The gaming industry in the UK generates more money than the film and music business put together, according to the industry trade body TIGA. The majority of game developers have a background in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields. And whilst there are incredible career opportunities, the video game industry still suffers from skills shortages.

The Computer Games Engineering group at Newcastle University works closely with the UK game industry to equip graduates with the scientific and mathematical skills to ensure a successful career in game development.

Reflections is Ubisoft’s Newcastle-based studio. It employs over 200 people and is proud to this year celebrate a 30 year legacy of making games in the North East.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ellen Forster .