PlayGen are a leading serious games and simulations development studio serving public and private sectors.

We deliver innovative content and technology solutions that enable our clients and partners to reach new markets and increase revenues, strengthen customer engagement and empower their audiences and employees. PlayGen is a world-class talent, delivering world-class solutions, on time and on budget.

Our Solutions and Services:

• Serious Games – What we’re well known for.
• Social Games – What we’re getting better known for.
• Simulations – We love them.
• Virtual Worlds – We’ve built our own open source system.
• Web 2.0 & Web 3.0 (yes we do Semantic web too)

• Authoring Tools – What we love making
• Full Product Development Cycle – Our bread and butter
• Server Infrastructure – Hosting & Management for our projects and clients
• Content Management – But special content not just run of the mill stuff!

We serve a broad range of sectors :

• Communication & Media
• Defence & Security
• Financial Services
• Education & Training

• Government & Public policy engagement
• Healthcare – especially on soft issues
• Insurance

It’s all about the talent

And we have bags of it. We are truly blessed with hard working men and women who are passionate about what they do and strive to make every project the best that it can be. Our talent pool is the most formidable in the industry despite being a young company with most staff firmly of the digital age.

We don’t outsource development.  We don’t ship the work off to some far away land and pray it comes back good – no! We all work together as a team – project manager, programmers, artists, designers all sitting side by side, all pulling together as a cohesive unit.

We do bring in specialist talent and subject matter experts to fulfil the requirements of projects. This allows us to provide our partners and clients with outstanding results everytime.

it’s all about the client

Pick up the phone to anyone who has ever commissioned work with us and ask, ‘What did you think of working with PlayGen?’

PlayGen far exceeded our expectation in terms of quality, support and timeliness of delivery

would be the norm. Occasionally they may go as far as saying that we’re good friends as well.

We are devoted to our clients. We go the extra mile. Its important to us that our relationships are as good as they can be – and that is where we are blessed once again – with great clients that give us the space to really push the development and application of technologies to a whole new level.

• We deliver on-time. We are technology agnostic, so you will get the best of what’s available.
• We have over 100 years combined experience in developing simulations and games between us.

If you are an existing client :

Please use our web-based support system at http://playgen.basecamphq.com/

or call us on 0800 530 0136 or +44(0)2077493783

If you are not a client :

Please send an email to support@playgen.com with a description of the issue .

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Serious Games Researcher & Inter-office Coordinator (COVENTRY)

• Research and communicate key findings on Serious Games.
• Coordinate efforts between the Coventry and London offices.
• Assist the sales and development teams.

Programmers  (COVENTRY)

• A huge variety of programming tasks including AI, tools development, 3d, GUI, framework structure and cameras.
• Create design documentation to clearly illustrate and communicate programming designs and specifications.
• We work in C++, C#, ActionScript 3, Perl, SQL, LUA and VSL.

Flash and Flex Programmer (LONDON and COVENTRY)

• ActionScript 3, Flex 2 and 3
• Develop design documentation to clearly illustrate and communicate programming designs and specifications.
• ActionScript, Perl, Python, SQL.

Game Artist / Designer (LONDON and COVENTRY)

• Conceptualise and draw design ideas developed through team discussion.
• Develop and produce game art assets including GUI, 2D graphics icons, textures, 3D models of environments and characters, rigging and animation.
• Import and tweak realtime models in the game engine.

Sales Director (COVENTRY)

Opportunity to join our vibrant team as a Marketing and Sales Director.

• Support campaigns with product information.
• Develop proposals
• Help define product training materials for sales channels.
• Collate and review all product line related results to assist with annual planning process and evaluate final results against original objectives.

PlayGen is an equal opportunity employer.

Demo work

If you are applying for a development role you must supply some demo work with your application. We accept demo work on CD, DVD or via email as a URL or Zip file (not exceeding 5 MB). Demo work for candidates already working in the industry is helpful but not essential.

Qualifications

All we ask is that you can demonstrate that you can do the job to a high standard – in development roles this often means sending a demo of your work. Games industry experience is preferred, although not essential for most development positions.

Personal Qualities

All potential candidates should be able to work well in a team as well as on their own initiative and have the ability to meet tight deadlines. Enthusiasm and knowledge of video games in general is an advantage.

All positions at PlayGen require real dedication and a passion for games as this is no ordinary office job. However, the right person can make an excellent career out of this opportunity and there will be scope for promotion for the right candidates.

Recruitment Agencies

We do not accept unsolicited CVs from agencies.

Who are we?

PlayGen are a leading serious games and simulations development studio providing highly flexible technology, content and training.

What do we do?

We deliver innovative content and technology solutions that enable our clients and partners to reach new markets and increase revenues, strengthen customer engagement and empower their audiences and employees. PlayGen is a world-class talent, delivering world-class solutions, on time and on budget.

	Engage your audience to encourage behaviour change and improve learning results
	Train in a safe environment to increase retention and the development of practical skills
	Measure more effectively and get more performance indicators for less cost
	Inspire your audience to understand and contribute more

Our Serious Games and Simulations provide some of the most powerful tools around for engaging, training, measuring and inspiring audiences. We work across the corporate, defence, government and academic sectors.

“PlayGen were an absolute pleasure to work with. In every instance, PlayGen went far beyond what was asked and helped deliver everything ahead of schedule. Needless to say, we will work with PlayGen in the future and highly recommend their services.”

Dave Luciew, Concurrent Technologies Corporation.

“We are extremely gratified to have worked with PlayGen on this exciting and important project. PlayGen exceeded our expectations in the quality and timeliness of delivering this project.”

Don Kania, president and CEO of FEI Company.

Connect with us and discover a unique development studio based on world-class talent delivering world-class solutions, on time and on budget. If you would like to talk further about Serious Games and Simulations please feel free contact us. Let us help you unleash the power of serious games and simulations.

	PlayGen London 35 Kingsland Road, Shoreditch London United Kingdom E2 8AA Tel: 0800 530 0136 or +44(0)20 7749 3783 Email: contact@playgen.com
	Getting here by underground: Northern Line -> Old Street (exit 2, walk up the ramp, 5 to 8 min walk) Central Line, Hamersmith & City Line, Circle Line -> Liverpool Street (Exit onto Bishopsgate, catch a bus number 48, 149, 26 r 242 to ‘Waterson Street stop’ 3 to 4 mins – or 15 to 20 min walk from the station) Google Map Link

PlayGen Coventry

	PlayGen Coventry The Serious Games Institute Cheetah road Coventry United Kingdom CV1 2TL Tel: 0800 530 0136 Email: contact@playgen.com
	by underground: We are in building 34 (Serious Games Institute) on this map. Street (exit 2, up ramp, 5 min walk) Liverpool Street (Exit onto Bishopsgate, catch a bus number 48, 149, 26 r 242, or 20 min walk)

Use the form below to send us a message;

We love journalists

PlayGen projects frequently feature in the press. Is it because we do amazing things?  Is it because we believe in the power of games to transform?  One thing is for sure, the press seem to love the extra effort we put in for newsworthy projects. We’ve been fortunate enough to feature on BBC, ITV, Channel 4, SKY, CNN, The Times, Guardian, Telegraph, London Metro, The London Paper, New York Times, Financial Times, Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday, The Sun, Evening Standard, The Independant and many more publications.

Press cuttings for FloodSim

Putting dampener on the usual computer games
PressDisplay – Aug 9, 2008
FORGET Grand Theft Auto 27, teenage computer game aficionados are flocking to Floodsim. com for the latest release from London-based game company PlayGen.

A few keystrokes could bring tidal wave to city
PressDisplay – Aug 6, 2008
…homeowners and businesses to the dangers of flooding and the factors that can influence the impact of the climate. The game can be played at: floodsim.com.

The stunning image is part of the online game Floodsim.com, where players get to make flood policy decisions. Software firm PlayGen said the game…

You can be Flood Tsar – New online game explores risk of flooding in…
Response Source – Aug 5, 2008
Floodsim.com, developed by London based computer game company PlayGen, puts the player in charge of all flood policy decisions. In the game, floods hit the…

WIDE AS THE CLYDE
PressDisplay – Aug 6, 2008

Flooding simulation game launched
Channel4 – Aug 5, 2008
The Floodsim.com game puts the player in charge of flood policy decisions for the UK – from major infrastructure works to planting trees and providing…

A few keystrokes could bring tidal wave to city
Glasgow Evening Times – Jun 8, 2008
…homeowners and businesses to the dangers of flooding and the factors that can influence the impact of the climate. The game can be played at: floodsim.com.

Flood game shows UK cities under water
Telegraph.co.uk – May 8, 2008
Floodsim.com, developed by London based computer game company PlayGen, and funded by Norwich Union, puts the player in charge of all flood policy decisions…

Press cuttings for Serious Policy

Virtual British government goes online
Inquirer – Nov 19, 2007
SeriousPolicy has been made by PlayGen, who normally make “training simulations to … It is free to download from the website www.seriouspolicy.com…

Sim UK Government game released for free
Bit Tech – Nov 19, 2007
With SeriousPolicy you too can play important figures in UK Politics, … SeriousPolicy is a game designed by PlayGen which has just been released for free…

Tony Blair, Alistair Darling and a virtual Paris Hilton
HEXUS.gaming – 19 Nov 2007
In response to Lord Puttman’s call for computer games “to contribute to national culture” playgen Ltd, who work to create a range of “Serious Games” aimed…

Virtual British government goes online
Inquirer – 19 Nov 2007
SeriousPolicy has been made by playgen, who normally make “training simulations to government, the military and corporate organisations”…

Coming soon to a computer screen near you… the Super Marios of…
Daily Mail – Nov 17, 2007
SeriousPolicy, the latest offering from PlayGen, which claims to deliver “cost-effective training simulations to government, the military and corporate…

Policies in a game
Scotsman – 15 Nov 2007
The seriouspolicy Game is a downloadable game developed by playgen, specialists in “serious games” – gaming technology used for educational purposes…

How big tent politics works
Guardian Unlimited – Nov 14, 2007
“The SeriousPolicy Game sets the player on a mission to win Treasury funding for a new policy,” announces game developer PlayGen.

How big tent politics works
Guardian Unlimited
“The seriouspolicy Game sets the player on a mission to win Treasury funding for a new policy,” announces game developer playgen…

Gordon Brown and Paris Hilton Meet in seriouspolicy Computer Game
Press Dispensary (press release – 14 Nov 2007
Developed by educational simulation specialist, playgen, the computer game sees the player on a mission to win Treasury funding for a new policy…

Gordon Brown and Paris Hilton in a serious computer game
Response Source (press release) – 14 Nov 2007
The downloadable computer game, developed by serious games and educational simulation specialists playgen, sees the player on a mission to win Treasury…

Press cuttings for NanoMission

FEI: Teaching Nanotech Through Child’s Play
AsiaPulse News – Aug 15, 2007
“Our main objective with NanoMission is to inspire children about the world of nano-sciences and its possibilities,” explains Kam Memarzia…

Action on a Very Small Scale
NY Times – Aug 13, 2007
For an overview of all of the activities, check out NanoMission. I emailed Tim Harper, founder of Cientifica and longtime nanotech analyst…

FEI Sponsors Video Games Designed to Be Fun While Inspiring the Next…
Wireless News – Aug 7, 2007
“Our main objective with NanoMission is to inspire children about the world of … Gamers can download copies of the NanoMission games, including the…

Teaching Nanotech Through Child’s Play FEI Sponsors Video Games…
Chemie – Aug 3, 2007
“Our main objective with NanoMission is to inspire children about the world of nano-sciences and its possibilities,” explains Kam Memarzia…

Teaching Nanotech Through Child’s Play.
Business Wire – Aug 1, 2007
“Our main objective with NanoMission is to inspire children about the world of… Gamers can download copies of the NanoMission games, including the…

A London video game maker is making nanotechnology child’s play…
BusinessWeek – Jul 10, 2007
Three NanoMission games have been developed so far. The first, called NanoScale, helps kids learn about… To learn more about NanoMission, view our slideshow.

Les nanotechnologies pour les nuls
L’Atelier – Jul 2, 2007
NanoMission et ses jeux donne les moyens aux adolescents et à ceux qui le sont restés de comprendre les nanotechnologies et l’éventail de leurs applications…

Newsbriefs: More CES Emmys, DDR Indie Music Search, Guitar Hero 2 360…
Gamasutra – Jan 9, 2007
The latest updates from Gamasutra sister website Serious Games Source include the release of a demo for NanoMission, an educational game that aims to teach…

NanoMission – Cutting Edge Nanotechnology Education Using Games…
Business Wire – Jan 9, 2007
NanoMission[TM] is a cutting edge engaging learning experience which educates players about basic concepts in nanoscience through real world practical…

NanoMission – Cutting Edge Nanotechnology Education Using Games…
Nanotechwire – Jan 9, 2007
NanoMission is a cutting edge engaging learning experience which educates players about basic concepts in nanoscience through real world practical…

How does it all work? Let us show you!

We provide training and consultancy for many aspects of Serious Games and Simulation development. From design to development, delivery and support, we have a tailored training session just for you.

Serious Games Primer

A one day workshop exploring the range of opportunities that Serious Games and Simulations can offer. This course is tailored to suit the attendees. It is ideal for anyone considering using Serious Games as a means to engage, train, measure or inspire their audience.

Aims:

• To raise awareness of the possibilities of Serious Games and Simulations.
• To gain an overview of the creative and technical strategies necessary.
• To understand the practical implications of creating serious games.
• To understand the process behind developing a serious game idea and realising it.
• To understand timelines, costs and measuring the effectiveness of the product.

Outcomes:

At the end of the Serious Games Primer attendees will be able to:

• Describe the production process of Serious Games
• Have an overview of what is creatively possible with Serious Games and Simulations
• Describe the planning process required for development
• List the implications of software development on the creative dynamic
• Describe several collaborative, creative processes for creating content on alternative platforms to linear TV
• Describe different visualisation methods for preparing content for different stages of editorial sign-off

Bespoke Training

We provide monkey bespoke training – from beginner right through intermediate to advanced. Some of the feedback from our courses:

“Serious Games development is an enormous challenge. Several of our staff were eager to learn more about this technology and how game based learning can be used in business. The patience and direction from PlayGen’s trainers has given them a real boost in confidence and knowledge.”

“The Serious Games training session from PlayGen has given me a huge leg up. I feel much more comfortable with ideas, possible tools and workflow. Coming in from the cold, Serious Games often felt very foreign. I’m not yet an SG pro but understanding that I’ve gained gives me a comfort level that makes it much easier to overcome challenges.”

“Over all the session was very insightful and helped the team gain perspective on the entire development cycle. From a development, having hands-on training allowed our staff to learn about the process and guidelines. PlayGen’s knowledgebase covered a wide ranged of useful information. At similar training seminars; the speaker usually can only talk about their specific area of development. I was especially pleased with PlayGen’s ability to show and describe work across a whole raft of different applications.”

To book training contact us.

Benefits from a Partnership with PlayGen

We partner with companies across many sectors to deliver better value and generate revenue streams for all involved. We work in partnership with subject-matter experts, training experts, brand managers and public project delivery experts to tap into a range of new markets, products and project opportunities, and in some cases, develop new revenue streams. If you are interested in learning more about what serious games and simulations can do for your organisation, market and brand – read on.

We are currently seeking partnerships in the following areas:

• Content and Product development
• Distribution development
• Technology development

Content Partners

If you have subject matter expertise that you wish to deliver via serious games and simulations then you are in the right place. We can work with you to deliver, measure and enhance communication and engagement with your target audience.

Training Providers

PlayGen can help you deliver training courses in a more immersive and measurable way, meaning that you get better engagement and better buy-in from your audience. You’ll also benefit from an increased level of knowledge being transferred to, and retained by, your audience.

Advertising and Communication agencies

If you are finding it hard to engage with your audience or are just looking for new and innovative ways to communicate with them then PlayGen may be able to help you. Please send us an email for a consultation.

Broadcast and Media Producers

A picture says a thousand words, but a simulation can say a billion words in just five minutes. We can help you recreate or communicate a complex vision and provide a digital experience as an extension to your programme. Email PlayGen to explore what’s possible and how you can keep your audience engaged for longer.

Subject Matter Experts

Whether you are communicating complex policies, changing behaviour or measuring true attitudes and skills it’s much easier with an immersive solution from PlayGen. If you are a subject-matter expert and would like to improve delivery then we may be able to assist.

Public Sector Projects

There are a number of public sector projects requiring subject-matter experts to partner up with a technical solutions provider to help deliver on government objectives and goals. PlayGen works closely with various government departments on developing and delivering the next generation of engaging and accountable communications and training solutions.

Technology Partners

PlayGen has developed and is continuously improving powerful software for creating and delivering serious games across a multitude of platforms both online and off-line, including; PC, mobile, gaming consoles and much more.  If you are a provider or a developer of training software, we would like to talk to you about integrating the SG Creator and SG platform with your existing LMS and authoring tools.

Middleware/technology platform providers

We are continuously striving to improve the accessibility of serious games and would like to make our output as friendly as possible. If you are a platform provider or a developer we could be making some interesting products run across your platform very shortly.

Distribution Partners

PlayGen has a number of ready made products available for sale and distribution.

Training Providers for distribution of existing games:

• Anti Money Laundering Training
• Data Security Training

Technology partners for distribution of our Authoring platform:

• Software Resellers
• Consultants

Unversity Partners

PlayGen works with a number of universities on research and development as well as participating in Technology Strategy Board (TSB), Framework 7 FP7 and other public R&D grants. These partnerships ensure PlayGen’s technological and creative solutions operate at the cutting edge. PlayGen also provides a number of project and work opportunities for project teams and bright students from universities. If you represent a university with an interest in applying interactive technologies for the benefit of humankind please contact PlayGen.

Current university partners include:

• Coventry University – Serious Games Institute
• London Metropolitan University – Learning Technology Research Institute
• Surrey University
• East London University
• Staffordshire University – MTS Enhancement
• University of Derby
  

Inspire your learners with the power of games

Inspiration gives us the fuel to do things we never even dreamt of. Innovation is all about being curious and trying new things. It means taking risks and thinking the impossible. There are many situations in which we wish the people around us were more inspired. These could be students, our staff, our customers and trainees that we engage with daily. The realities of the workplace, the lab or the classroom do not always make this easy.

When players are deeply immersed in a virtual world they tend to let go of their inhibitions and be more open to new ideas and experimentation. This is the ground where inspiration flourishes. Games and simulations let users explore the ideas that would be too expensive, too risky or simply beyond the realms of today’s science. Cutting edge science can be given a helping hand by cutting edge technology.

Our games give you the tools to open minds

Virtual worlds can take innovation to new levels. We can take users to the inside of a human blood cell, the corridors of power in the White House, or the far reaches of space. And most importantly, we can provide them with detailed feedback about results across a range of scenarios, informing today’s decisions in the real world.

We can help to inspire your audience by:

• Instilling a sense of awe on a subject that seems difficult or impossible to understand
• Building immersive worlds where users’ decisions have a knock on effect as a scenario plays out
• Challenging people to think about new possibilities and opportunities
• Helping people to look at things from a new perspective
• Bringing a complex area to life and making it accessible

Virtual worlds don’t just play a role in inspiring the leaders and professionals of today. Their biggest potential is perhaps in inspiring the scientists, the visionaries and the healers of tomorrow. We are looking to join forces with other organisations that share this vision and want to work with us in inspiring young people to innovate.

How do we make serious games and simulations to inspire?

• Start with a solid foundation of what is known
• Add a generous helping of tools that are open ended enough to allow for experimentation
• Provide plenty of space for the player’s own imagination

We’ve learnt that the most inspiring tools are often the simplest ones. For instance, we’ve developed a number of games to inspire the next generation of scientists about the possibilities of nanotechnology. The games vary from fairly complex to extremely simple. Some of the simulations with the biggest wow factor have been those that bring to life the notion of the nano-scale through the simplest visual comparisons.

Measure everything…it’s important

As the saying goes “you can’t manage what you don’t measure”. We’re here to make things better. And we know we’ve got to measure everything along the way to achieve excellence – for us, our partners and our players.

By measuring players’ capabilities we can help them improve their understanding and performance. By measuring a product’s usage or impact on behaviours and attitudes, we can help you improve its design and show return on investment.

Why are serious games or simulations good for measuring?

Serious games and simulations are cost effective but they are also more effective at being able to measure choices.

Personality tests, interviews and training sessions can be prohibitively expensive – once you’ve developed a simulation there is no limit to the number of times you can use it.  The fun and relaxing environment of games and simulations means that people let go of inhibitions and reveal their true motivations and instincts – more effective than an interview or test.

We can provide a more effective way for:

• Showing how well the player knows something
• Understanding the players emotions and attitudes
• Finding consensus on issues through collecting data from a cross section of players
• Providing a benchmark for training and development

Our technology takes measurement to a new level

Any old training tool can measure what people know. Ours can also measure how they behave, what they believe and what motivates them.

We can help you measure:

• Player’s knowledge: of facts, systems or procedures
• Player’s level of skill on particular tasks
• Player’s cognitive abilities
• Player’s behaviour: one-off or patterns
• Their personality traits
• Players’ social norms and what they find acceptable
• Attitudes and opinions of a whole cross-section of society

From knowledge through to behaviour and attitudes, our projects measure many aspects. By feeding this back to people in a user-friendly way we can create a virtuous circle of self-awareness and self-improvement.

Our measurement capabilities can help you transform performance in many ways

• Predicting an individuals’ fit with competencies or values needed for a role
• Using simulations to assess and target risky behaviour
• Providing a benchmark for training or development for personalised coaching
• Helping users to understand and reflect on their own behaviour, driving behaviour change
• Collecting data from a wide cross section of players to give the bigger picture on behaviours and attitudes
• Reaching new audiences and consulting with stakeholders on a whole new scale

From measuring capability, attitude or aptitude of the players to measuring the products interims of usage, exposure, change on behaviour or performance, we measure real return on investment.