Applications for Autumn 2018 are Open!

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Join Game LAB and start making game/success.

Game LAB is a program that will simulate the game industry and open your eyes to what making games is all about.  

Yes, you may apply, in fact anybody may apply to Game LAB but priority is given to persons that have a background in:

  • Art & Design
  • Code ( unity, unreal engine, cry engine or any game making tools )
  • Business & Marketing  
  • Producing

We are especially looking for a keen interest or experience in your area of expertise and a tangible enthusiasm for gaming.

Do you think you have what it takes to make it in the Game industry? Find out.

If you want to learn more about the application click bellow.
http://www.oulugamelab.net/how-to-apply/

GATE 3 Results!

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Congratulations to the 3 teams who survived GATE 3 and will continue on to Game Path!

The game pitches were evaluated by a jury of five game industry professionals, and their scores were combined with the scores given earlier based on the quality of the teams' Game Design Documents and Business Canvases.

The scores have been added up and here are the teams which passed:

  1. PIVOTAL (former Q.Bix)
  2. NINJA NOT A SAMURAI
  3. AETHON

Unfortunately Smolder and Pain Golf did not make it through GATE 3 but worry not, their members will be joining the surviving 3 teams going into Game Path.

 

 

World's End Casino Launch Party

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The day has come!

World’s End Casino is proud to announce that the official release for World’s End Casino has been set on 8th of December. To celebrate this, World’s End Casino is having a small launch party on Friday 8th of the December, on Oulu Game Lab premises, starting at 17:00.

It is going to be a laid-back event where you can meet the team and of course play our game!
We will host a tournament in which the top players will be awarded with World’s End Casino related prizes!

Join the event bellow and see you on Friday ;) 
https://www.facebook.com/events/518489881857396/

OGL Applications for Spring 2018 are officially OPEN!

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If you are passionate about Games and, want to enter in the Game Industry - Game LAB is the best place to do so. 

Be part of an amazing program that will open your eyes to what making games is all about.

Anybody may apply to Game LAB but priority is given to persons that have a background in :

  • Art & Design 
  • Code ( unity, unreal engine, cry engine or any game making tools )
  • Business & Marketing  

From a OGL participant, we are looking for a keen interest or experience in your area of expertise and a tangible enthusiasm for gaming.
Professional game development requires diverse and deep expertise, and the ability to work well in a team and to cope effectively with pressure.

Apply now to Oulu Game LAB

by following the instructions in the link bellow.
http://www.oulugamelab.net/how-to-apply/

Oamk LABs enter the US!

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Last week a formal memorandum was signed between the University of Vermont (UVM) in the United States and the Oulu University of Applied Sciences. Specifically, this collaboration will be spearheaded through the College of Education and Social Studies at the University of Vermont and Oulu EduLAB at Oamk to encourage long-term collaboration in the field of education and innovation. The relationship targets to see the first students from Vermont to join Oulu EduLAB in August 2018.

Pictured at the signing ceremony are (standing, left to right) Associate Professor Kieran Killeen, Associate Dean Penny Bishop, UVM Office of International Education Director Kim Howard, with (seated, left to right) Blair Stevenson of Oulu EduLAB and CESS Dean Scott Thomas. (photo credit: David Seaver)

GCEC Award!

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More global recognition of Oamk LABs!

Oamk LABs has won the award for Excellence in Entrepreneurship Teaching and Pedagogical Innovation from the Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers (GCEC) at their 2017 conference in Halifax, Canada.

Made up of 225+ university-based entrepreneurship centers from around the world, the GCEC showcases and celebrates the very best of university entrepreneurship each year by awarding the top entrepreneurship programs in eight (8) categories of which excellence in entrepreneurship teaching and pedagogical innovation is one.

Pictured (left to right) are: Elana Fine from the University of Maryland (Chair, GCEC Awards Committee); Brad Burke of Rice University (Chair, GCEC Executive Committee) and Blair Stevenson accepting the award on behalf of the Oamk LABs team.

GATE 2 results are in!

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Team Spicy presenting their game "Pain Golf".

Team Spicy presenting their game "Pain Golf".

The seven surviving teams from Gate 1 pitched their games once again on friday.

The game pitches were evaluated by a jury of five game industry professionals, and their scores were combined with the scores given earlier based on the quality of the teams' Game Design Documents and Business Canvases.

The following are the final scores of Gate 2:

Team Spicy                                       - 8.8
Red Shirt Guys                                 - 8.5
Death by Overwork                         - 7.8
Arktik Kirkle (Former High Rock)  - 7.2
Nighthare                                         - 6.7
Smokers                                           - 5.4
Total Gore Fun                                 - 5.3

Which means that teams Smokers and Total Gore Fun drop out of the demo path, and their team members will be joining the remaining teams.

GATE 1 results are in!

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We had an awesome Jury made out of Chris, Mitsutaka Mitch Yasuda, Anne Ryynänen, Ville Autio and Martin Jaššo.

We had an awesome Jury made out of Chris, Mitsutaka Mitch Yasuda, Anne Ryynänen, Ville Autio and Martin Jaššo.

Eleven teams pitched their games on Friday's Gate 1, of which seven will continue their demo path until Gate 2.

The game pitches were evaluated by a jury of five game industry professionals, and their scores were combined with the scores given earlier based on the quality of the teams' Game Design Documents and Business Canvases.

The following teams are continuing after Gate 1:

Total Core Fun - Broken Code
High Rock - Q.Bix
Death by Overwork - Ninja not a samurai
Abandoned Crater - Smolder
Red Shirt Guys - Aethon
Smokers - Heavy Metal
Team Spicy - Pain Golf

Thanks for the great presentations everyone, and congratulations for the teams that got through the Gate 1!
 

The GATE 3 results are in!

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Last Friday 26.5. Oulu Game LAB hosted the GATE 3 event at the Fingersoft auditorium, and we were honored to have some very prestigious judges, such as Christopher Hamilton (Rovio), Ilari Kuittinen (Housemarque), Jussi Autio (Free2app, Ex-Reborn), Minna Eloranta (Secret Exit), and Reko Ukko (Seriously). 

The results from the GATE 3 are as follows:

However, due to departing team members, the teams that will be continuing to the Game Path are World's End Casino and Real Adventure.

Oulu Game LAB application interviews have started!

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The interviews for the next Oulu Game LAB semester have started today on 22.5.2017

If you haven't yet submitted your application, you can still do it until the end of May, 31.5.2017
The next group of students will begin their studies in August, on 28.8.2017

The interviews are held at the Oulu Game LAB premises, at Rantakatu 3. If you have any questions regarding your interview, or the applications, you can contact our Lab Master Aki. See his contact info below:

Aki Latvamäki
aki.latvamaki@oamk.fi
+358406528304

OGL teams at the Polar Bear Pitching event

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Three Game Path teams showcased their games at the OAMK booth during the Polar Bear Pitching event on 15th of February.

The teams Ashtonia, Haste Heist, and Overtowered demoed their games at the Oulu City Theater on last Wednesday. The event visitors seemed to enjoy playing the games, and the teams got a chance to gather important information and feedback based on the playtesting.

Photos of the event can be seen on the Oulu Game LAB Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/pg/OuluGameLab/photos/?tab=album&album_id=716276451857721

Gate 2 results are in!

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The jury members: Natasha Trygg (Snowfall Ltd. / Turku Game Hub - The Hive), Tomi Hurskainen (Playsign), Tuomas Soukka (Fingersoft), Sasu Louke (Expa Game Business Co-Operative), Juho Wallen (Meizi Games),

The jury members: Natasha Trygg (Snowfall Ltd. / Turku Game Hub - The Hive), Tomi Hurskainen (Playsign), Tuomas Soukka (Fingersoft), Sasu Louke (Expa Game Business Co-Operative), Juho Wallen (Meizi Games),

Six teams pitched their games on last Friday's Gate 2, of which four will continue their demo path until Gate 3.

The game pitches were evaluated by a jury of five game industry professionals, and their scores were combined with the scores given earlier based on the quality of the teams' Game Design Documents and Business Canvases.

The following are the final scores of Gate 2:

Land of the Midnight Sun        66
N.E.O.N.                                     58
Real Adventure                         57
World's End Casino                  52,5
Holiday Wheels                        46,5
Centrifuge Force Man              35

Which means that teams Holiday Wheels and Centrifuge Force Man drop out of the demo path, and their team members will be joining the remaining teams.

Thanks for the great presentations everyone, and congratulations for the teams that got through the Gate 2!
 

Polar Bear Pitching Pre-party

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Oulu Game Industry Meetup will be followed by the Polar Bear Pitching Pre-party at Viihdemaailma Ilona, Torikatu 21-23. The event is hosted by IGDA Finland Oulu Hub, Fingersoft, and Lexia.

Polar Bear Pitching Pre-party is a warm spirited gathering of people who are interested in games and the game industry, as well as seasoned game industry professionals. The event is a nice way to relax before the following day’s ice-hole challenge, and a great chance to make new friends and grow your professional network. Discuss interesting topics with like-minded people over a few beverages, take a peek at promising new games at the game demo corner, and simply enjoy good company.

If you are a game developer, you can apply for a free demo booth from the event!
Contact shahriar.rhiday@gmail.com in order to apply and for more info.

The event starts at 7PM in the evening, and continues until 12AM.

Tickets for both events are available on Eventbrite. They’re free, so go ahead and register!

Oulu Game Industry Meetup
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/oulu-game-industry-meetup-tickets-31706370608

Polar Bear Pitching Pre-Party
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/polar-bear-pitching-pre-party-tickets-31479601335

Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/248647695558723/

Oulu Game Industry Meetup

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During the Polar Bear Pitching event on 14th of February, Oulu Game Lab and IGDA Finland Oulu Hub will host the Oulu Game Industry Meetup event at the Oulu Game Campus, located in Rantakatu 3.

Oulu Game Industry Meetup showcases the vibrant community of game developers and gamers from Oulu and all over Finland. At the event you can meet like-minded people who are interested in gaming and game development, and you will have a chance to discuss with game industry professionals from various game companies and organizations. The event will be relaxed and non-formal, with free snacks and entertainment, such as a SpeedRunners competition, but you will also be able to attend interesting presentations about different game industry related topics.

The event speakers are:

Michael Stenmark & Jeanette Nilsson                  Arctic Game Lab
Lauri Antalainen                                                     GameFounders Estonia
Jaakko Kemppainen                                              Mindfield Games
Ville Rauma                                                            Fingersoft
Pasi Jokinen                                                           Game Campus/Fingersoft

The event starts at 12PM in the afternoon, and will continue until 5PM. The keynote presentations will start at 1PM.

Tickets for the event are available on Eventbrite. They’re free, so go ahead and register!
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/oulu-game-industry-meetup-tickets-31706370608

Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/399466733733683/

New coaches in Oulu Game LAB

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Oulu Game LAB has two new coaches, who have started this spring. 

Ari-Matti Piippo will be handling Game Design coaching. He's an OGL Survivor from years back and has been since doing game design for Namida Diamond Factory amongst other Game Design duties.

Jani Löthman will be our new graphics coach, he's a solid professional who has been working as a teacher before. In addition to teaching, he has been working also as a coder. So technical approaches should not be a problem.

We are looking forward to excellent coaching sessions and lectures from our new gurus!