With a champion set to be crowned at the Gadget Show Live in Birmingham this April, Train2Game and Epic Games have selected finalists from the two parties' recent Unreal Engine game jam.

More than 100 aspiring developers came together at the 48 hour event held from November 4 to create 10 games using Epic's Unreal Development Kit (UDK).

 

The theme was Guy Fawkes, and the top three titles will now take each other on for a commercial Unreal Engine 3 license for iOS in the grand final, dubbed Make Something Unreal Live.

Epic win

"The ultimate prize represents an opportunity beyond anything amateurs can come across by themselves," said Train2Game course director Tony Bickley.

"As well as the commercial license, there's the coaching by industry veterans, the support of Epic and the fantastic exposure that will accompany the winning game."

Top prize at the jam itself went to The A-Team, who served up a side-scrolling action game set in the 17th century.

Nova Eye came second, with a tongue-in-cheek attack on Santa's workshop, while Team Gandalf was also named as a second runner up for their ghost-themed first-person puzzle game, were Guy Fawkes haunts the player.

Unreal opportunity

All three teams – along with a fourth group comprised of the game jam all-stars -are now bound for the Gadget Show Live in April.

"All the game jam participants can wear their battle scars with pride, and for the winners, it’s just the start of the biggest opportunity of their careers so far," said Epic Games' European territory manager Mike Gamble.

"More surprises for this competition are in store. We are on track to bring new games to the App Store through this effort, and it’s great history in the making."

The four iOS games have now entered production, with the projects being coached by senior members from Epic Games, Train2Game, Deep Red Studios and as-of-yet unannounced special guests.

Tickets for the Gadget Show Live can be picked up from the event's website.