Nice One Productions develop a promo for Pixel Perfect a games production answer to Factual Entertainment.

Belfast-based television production company Nice One Productions has completed Future Screens NI funded R&D on television programming to enhance the public’s perception of video games and game production. Through a series of UK-wide surveys of general public’s perceptions of video games and video game development and conceptual research, Nice One Productions developed Format Bible, Sizzle Reel and pilot footage to pitch a TV competition show featuring teams of video game developers create original games in just 48 hours. The aim is to produce a show which will show the games industry in the most positive light to an audience, who have minimal industry knowledge. Looking at current tastes in programme consumption the team concluded that formatted entertainment is watched with more frequency than documentaries, and that a Factual Entertainment show about indie game development would be an appropriate solution.

 For more information on Nice One Productions visit here.

Jordan Whitefield completes R&D on video workshop needs of businesses with social progress interests.

What Elephant CE Jordan Whitefield recently completed her Future Screens NI project developing workshops to assist companies in raising awareness of social injustice and using storytelling to encourage social progress. Whitefield worked with Causeway Enterprise and Ormeau Baths to develop future courses and programmes through two focus group meetings for NI creative practitioners to facilitate services as a creative video producer. The workshops facilitated two focus groups, piloting a version of a lunchtime video marketing workshop. The workshops resulted in the development of two service offerings for low on resource organisations and individuals/micro businesses.

This project was funded by Future Screens NI’s Future Creatives award. The Future Creatives award offered an opportunity to awardees to advance their research and development programmes, advance their career ambitions and develop cutting edge technical solutions in their work. Open to PhD researchers, early career researchers, early career industry applicants, start ups, individuals and free-lancers, the successful applicants were awarded £5,000 which could be set against enhancing existing research plans as part of a PhD, independent research, product development, innovation or professional development.

The Future Creatives scheme was designed to enable participants to make a step change in their research and innovation by enhanced leadership and collaboration skills and developing new practices in the field of creativity and technology.

For more information on What Elephant and Jordan Whitefield visit here.

Northern Ireland Data Infrastructure development company JadeBlok explore methods to assist infotainment services.

Belfast-based data infrastructure development company JadeBlok completed a Future Screens NI R&D project to assist information and entertainment services. For the project, JadeBlok investigated the construction of a digital content regulatory framework for an immersive (VR) environment. JadeBlok partnered with Ulster University and Sentireal, the project sought to develop a flexible data gateway to facilitate the tracking, mapping and regulation of access to creative content across multiple platforms and jurisdictions. By co-creating a digital ecosystem which integrates diverse data centres, JadeBlok aimed to facilitate access to integrated and curated infotainment services, while designing out access to inappropriate content.

Indie game developer creates machine-learning driven systems to streamline character development.

Belfast-based indie game developers Italic Pig have completed their Future Screens NI R&D project Infinite Hotel: Rando Tinder. With an aim to develop a machine-learning character developing programme, Italic Pig developed a range of techniques to use fewer assets and innovated methods to create believable randomised characters (or “Randos”).  The project set out to improve, streamline and expedite bespoke content creation to facilitate independent game development.  With the aid of machine-learning-driven filtration system, the developers were successful in some cost and time-effective improvements with systems created for generation of random inanimate objects and Transferable Character and Modular Rigs.

Future Tuesdays features Hub-In 16 Nov 21

On 16th of November 2021, Future Tuesdays featured the innovative tourist and cultural industries project Hub-In from Belfast City Council and the Maritime Belfast Trust.

The ‘Hub-In’ project is an exciting collaboration between Belfast City Council and the Maritime Belfast Trust to transform, through innovation, Belfast’s Maritime Mile in the city’s Titanic Quarter. The event showcased how they are applying innovation to Belfast’s tourism and culture industries to benefit local communities and the wider economy.

The event was hosted by Andrea Thornbury (Belfast City Council Project Manager) with Michael McGlade from Yellow Design.

Andrea Thornbury is the Project Manager for Belfast City Council. Andrea was the Research Officer for Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action (NIVCA) for 13 years and Project Coordinator for the Open Data Institute (ODI) Belfast Team for 3 years.

Michael McGlade is Founder & Creative Director of Yellow Design. Michael has over 25 years’ experience in the field of branding and digital video. Yellow Design is a Belfast-based design company with expertise in branding, print exhibition design, digital and Expanded Reality technology including the Titanic—Back in Belfast AR experience.