Students Hopping Games Fleadh 2011 

Thirtieth Anniversary Sees Konami's Frogger Hopping Around Tipperary Institutes Student Programming Competition

Students will be hopping back into the next academic year, with the announcement that Games Fleadh 2011 will honour a classic from the ‘Golden Age of Video Arcade Games', Frogger © Konami Digital Entertainment.

Frogger was released by Konami in 1981 and is still recognised as one of the iconic games from the past three decades. In fact, Frogger is such an icon that it has featured on TV programmes, cartoons, car bumper-stickers, T-shirts and celebrated its 25th anniversary with the release of a special edition on games consoles such as Xbox 360.

Games Fleadh, hosted by the Tipperary Institute, is Ireland's largest computer and games console programming festival for second and third level students, and participation is a springboard for them to enter the games industry. The competition set students to re-interpret classics using the latest technology and are challenged to conceive innovative art, audio and gameplay for highly regarded titles. With the approach of the 30th anniversary of Frogger's original arcade release, students from all over Ireland will be preparing their own interpretations of classic game, under licence from Konami, and completed work will be judged by game studio executives during the Games Fleadh finals at Tipperary Institute next March.

James Anderson, Head of Amusement Business in Europe for Konami Digital Entertainment, said: "Konami are delighted to endorse this student portfolio event and we look forward to reviewing the best interpretations of Frogger that spring from Games Fleadh. Frogger truly is one of the fore fathers of the games industry and it's good to see its iconic classic brand status recognised."

James Greenslade, Head of ICT Department for Tipperary Institute said: "The games industry is a highly rewarding and challenging sector. Taking part in Games Fleadh and honouring Frogger will give students first-hand experience of working within the confines of an intellectual property licence. This is a unique opportunity to work on a famous title from a leading developer and publisher such as Konami Digital Entertainment."

Greenslade added: "I'm always impressed by the capacity of students to innovate, even when faced with the challenge of improving classic games such as Frogger. Students revolutionise games in unimaginable ways such as utilising brainwaves, gestures, sounds and even modified dance mats for game control - all in the pursuit of fun and creativity. Previous entries, having impressed the professional community, have been exhibited in art galleries and even more importantly, to games industry hiring executives".

Games Fleadh 2011 includes two challenges, XNA and DirectX 11, which target platforms such as Xbox 360, Windows 7 and soon to be released Windows Phone 7. Students can get started by can downloading a Starter Kits available for the site at GamesFleadh.com.

If your school or college is interested in becoming involved they should contact Philip Bourke, Programme Chair: BSc. Games Design & Development, Tipperary Institute on 0504 28258 or via email at gamesfleadh@tippinst.ie.

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