Member Article

Award-winning graduates get Microsoft support

WEE PAPER PLANES HELPS GAMES GRADUATES SOAR TO SUCCESS

Four digital games graduates from Abertay University, Dundee have won support from the global IT giant Microsoft and Transmit Start-Ups to develop their unique game which sees players flying paper planes around an intricate paper folded world, where they soar under grand arches, through towering canyons, and over beautiful landscapes.

Jordan Brent Morris, 24, from Fife, Isaac Howie Brewerton, 23, from Bexhill on Sea, Kenny Singer, 30 from Perth and Aidan Wilson, 21 from Penicuik (Midlothian) only graduated this summer and already have a string of successes under their belt. These achievements include winning the Microsoft UK Imagine Cup for best game which spurred them on to apply for Microsoft Ventures; where they were handpicked, along with 11 other start-ups from over 250 companies, to be part of the Microsoft Accelerator programme.

The young entrepreneurs have been given the opportunity to develop one of their titles, Wee Paper Planes (WPP), for the Xbox One with all of the massive sales potential that the brand brings with it.

They have said that the title will be reimagined with the vision of creating an entire franchise from the original WPP universe, with some exciting new cloud based technology working in the background to tie it all together.

Jordan Brent Morris, chief creative officer, Pixel Blimp said: “We have been constantly pushing ourselves to ensure our products are the very best they can be and it has allowed us to get to where we are today. We’ve also showcased our products at various expos to get as much user feedback as possible, which is just invaluable to us. The combination of the Transmit Start-Ups loan to help fund our premises and development time together with the Microsoft Ventures opportunity gives Pixel Blimp the best possible start to become something great.”

Richard Myers, director, Transmit Start-Ups said: “This business has the potential to go global within its first year which is an extraordinary achievement. The team behind the games have really exceptional skills, despite being so young, and their combined skills ensure they are a digital games business second to none.”

Pixel Blimp who describe themselves as a ‘fresh-faced, independent games studio’, have also won the prestigious TIGA award for best student game in 2013 with WPP.

Although they have been working hard to reinvent WPP, which is aimed at 8 - 14 year olds, to become something wonderful; the team have already released their first title aimed at an older teenage and adult market. Called Free the Network (FTN), the game is designed to test a player’s mettle, reactions and anger management skills. FTN is a 3D endless runner that has been released for free across Android, iOS, and Windows Phone 8.

Microsoft Ventures Accelerator programme in London where the team are based for the next 14 weeks, is one of only seven around the world, the rest being in Bangalore, Beijing, Berlin, Paris, Tel-Aviv and Washington. Globally 230 companies have graduated with a 78% exit funding rate of $1.5m within a year of the demo launch day.

Pixel Blimp get workshops on everything involved with setting up a business including scalability, pitching, funding and customer development. Accelerator partners who are some of the world’s leading firms such as Edelman and KPMG, also deliver sessions on other important issues like Intellectual Property law, tax and branding.

Further information on Pixel Blimp is on www.pixelblimp.co.uk and on start up loans on www.transmitstartups.co.uk.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Transmit Start Ups .