implication is that its success is down to him alone. “I just do the best job that I can. It’s lovely if people say that, but if people want to join Game Republic, I just say talk to the other members if you need an opinion. Game Republic exists because it has the support of the games companies and the universities and colleges and the affiliates. If it wasn’t needed I wouldn’t do it anymore. I’m not gonna flog a dead horse. But I keep finding year after year that companies and universities and colleges do need our help.”
OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION Sefton has ruled himself out of leading Game Republic towards its 40th anniversary (he’ll be in his seventies) and is pleased to have survived to see its 20th, given the recent challenges of a global pandemic. With Game Dev Days, GaMaYo socials and providing support for members and ongoing collaborations with other regional and national networks, it’s a wonder he’s managed to squeeze in anything other than a celebratory fat rascal, let alone plan extra events. Thankfully, recently- announced partnerships with Barclays, Red Kite Games and Escape Technologies mean that Sefton is able to push the boat out a little. “Having official partners is a big deal for us because
it means that we can do more,” such as a 2023 Student Showcase that will bring back previous winners and a graduate panel that will include those that have since thrived at studios around the world. “Then we’ve got our Summer Arcade Party, when we’re having a big birthday party. We’re going to have games on show from the last 20 years of the Yorkshire games industry. Then, in November, we’re gonna have our first awards ceremony, to reward the games companies and individuals in the region that we think are doing fantastic work.”
Naturally Sefton won’t be allowing anyone to nominate him for any awards, but, should there be an one for Outstanding Contribution to the Yorkshire Games Industry in a future where Sefton is no longer its head of state, do keep him in mind. Be sure to spell Game Republic incorrectly in your nomination. He won’t have any cause to complain.
PUTTING YORKSHIRE ON THE MAP
I
f you were to ask someone from outside the UK to list the most notable centres of game development excellence, no doubt you’d get the usual places: Guildford if they’re old school; Brighton if they’re hip; Leamington Spa if they like racing games; London if you’ve cornered a tourist by mistake. We doubt however whether many would mention Leeds, Wakefield or Sheffield as global development hotspots, but being places that Sefton has a singular knowledge of and regard for, it’s something of a mission of his to put such places on the global map. “There is an amazing breadth of companies in the region doing everything from mobile VR right through to AAA,” he says. “As well as the well established ones like Team17, Sumo, Revolution and Rockstar Leeds, who’ve been in the region for decades, there’s other companies that have that have started to break through, like XR Games, who are doing fantastically well; Just Add Water is still going strong in Leeds and in Sheffield we’ve got some incredible companies like Boneloaf. Leeds’ Red Kite Games recently worked on Hogwarts Legacy, one of the biggest launches this year!”
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