Space Ape Games

A little but lively games studio in Soho, London

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UK Games Showcase 2.0

For the second year running Space Ape hosted the UK GAMES SHOWCASE as part of the ‘London Games Festival’. HELL YEAH.   This year's Showcase revealed an exclusive look at some of the most anticipated titles due for release this year, as well as the secrets behind the success of some of last year's hottest games. With Chris Slight as MC, contributors to the Showcase included Jagex, Bossa, Hutch, Gram Games, Media Molecule, Playdemic and of course, Space Ape.

Want to know what went down, but couldn’t make it in person? Or if you made it in person and just want to relive the experience in glorious HD quality? We got you covered. Check out our Twitch channel for the full video and give us a follow if you want to be the first to see future events: https://www.twitch.tv/spaceapegames/videos/all

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Coming to a University near you - Varsity: Masterclass

Varsity: adjective, [before noun] / used to describe sports teams at schools or colleges that are at the most skilled level of play

Masterclass: noun / a class taught by someone who has an expert knowledge or skill in a particular area

Put them together and what do you get?

Space Ape presents ‘Varsity: Masterclass’.

From the 5th-20th March we teamed up with the University of Greenwich and University College London to deliver a set of seminars focused on game design, UI/UX and community engagement. All with the aim of inspiring the next generation of talent to get into the games industry.

Sound interesting? Don’t worry we live streamed it all for your viewing pleasure.

Follow the link below to our Twitch account and give us a follow if you feel like being the first to know about future events:

  https://www.twitch.tv/spaceapegames/videos/all

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Axe-actly what the doctor ordered

What better way to get over those January blues and let off some steam than a spot of Axe throwing with our friends down at Whistle Punks in Vauxhall.

Some of us were Axe-edingly good.. Others splintered under the pressure.

There was, however, one among us who truly rose to the challenge. Stephen Furyfist Geddes, first of his name, manager of Live Operations and hailing from Baile Átha Cliath in Ireland, swiftly dispatched all other combatants and ended the series with a final score of 75. Well done Stephen.

If you’re reading this and happen to be the casting director for Game of Thrones we are happy to offer extremely talented extras with real world experience in old world combat

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Day in the life of an Ape

You may be asking yourself, what does an average day at Space Ape actually look like? Well, look no further. Here’s a transmission of an an average Tuesday:

//Commence Transmission

.

..

...

Tuesday, 6th Feb 2018

….

07:31 hours  - Sunrise

08:00 hours - Hypersleep disengaged. Apes are awake. Ready to take on the world

08:30 hours - Apes are on the bus / train / bike / two feet en route to the studio

09:30 hours - Apes are arriving. Coffee has been brewed. Weetabix are being eaten. Boosters engaged

10:00 hours - Daily company stand up commences in the kitchen. Game team updates are communicated. PSA’s are broadcast. New joiners are welcomed

10:10 hours - Apes to their stations. We have lift off. Ideas are being developed. Limitations are being jettisoned. Games are being made

12:30 hours - Apes break for lunch. Refuelling commences

13:29 hours - Refueling complete

13:30 hours - Apes return to their stations. Prototypes are being iterated. Code is being written. Characters are being conceived. Games are being made

15:15 hours - Apes assemble to honour another Ape’s trip around the sun. Candles are blown. Cake is cut. Crumbs

15:30 hours - Apes return to their stations. Avionics are engaged. Knowledge is being shared. Data is being crunched. Bugs are being splatted. Games are being made

18:00 hours - Systems powering down. Games are being played. Apes are returning home.

…

..

.

//Cease Transmission

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Games First: London Edition

For those in the know, the Helsinki based ‘Games First’ is a must attend event. The game developer-only gathering is where some of the best and brightest game-makers in the world come to discuss, share and celebrate their passion for the craft. True to their name, this is an event where Games really do come first.

On January 17th 2018, Space Ape had the pleasure of collaborating with Supercell to co-host the very first: GAMES FIRST LONDON EDITION!

Attended by over 300 people at the Congress Centre in Bloomsbury, there were talks by industry leaders discussing topics such as ‘what makes great gaming cities?’ and ‘Card targeting in Clash Royale’. Space Ape’s very own Nick Mansdorf presented the keynote speech on: ‘The Space Ape Funnel - Chasing a Genre Defining Hit’.

Think you have what it takes to contribute? Keep an eye out here and on our website for future events. Who knows, perhaps Games First will be back in London again next year..

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Christmas Party

Let’s face it, Christmas parties can sometimes be a little.. predictable. Dinner at your local public house with watered down gravy and chewy stuffing. Followed by luke warm lager, tequila shots and sticky floors. Sound familiar? NOT AT SPACE APE

This year the stage was set with the release of the latest Star Wars film: ‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’. Now, many of us here at Space Ape are avid fans of the franchise and we asked ourselves -  how can we avoid the bitter disappointment if the storyline just isn’t up to par?

The answer: FILM AND STAR IN OUR OWN ‘STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI’ PRODUCTION

Sadly it was only ever shown in a select number of cinemas, but let me assure you, it was EPIC. Massive thanks to JC, Glyn and Hansel for the blood, sweat and tears they put into making it happen. May the force be with you.

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Apes Abroad: Norway

At Space Ape we like to set ourselves challenges. But in true gaming fashion, we decided to set a challenge with an easy and a hard mode. That challenge was: A WEEKEND TRIP TO SOUTH-WEST NORWAY.

Hard Mode:

Hard mode Apes decided to tackle Trolltunga. At 1,100 meters above sea level the 10-12 hour hike started in the sleepy town of Skjeggedal and covered 27km across rocky terrain. All the way along the trail there are signs screaming: ‘CONSIDER CAREFULLY WHETHER YOU ARE IN GOOD ENOUGH SHAPE AND HAVE THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT BEFORE SETTING OUT’. Despite the ominous signage, everyone made it successfully up and down the mountain in one piece. Blisters and all.

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Apes Abroad: Norway

Easy Mode:

Hiking up mountains not quite your thing? The EZ mode Apes had it covered. Norway was named as the happiest place on Earth in 2017, and with places like Bogsund, it's not surprising. The Apes hired a sommerhus with a private beach and boat, and proceeded to BBQ, fish and soak in the countryside. Rumour has it they even managed a small (hungover) hike too.  

Easy Mode. Hard Mode. Norway, we salute you.

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Sunday (Family) Funday

Thanks to the hard work and planning by our Operations team, this years Family Funday was.. GLORIOUS.

Hosted at Regents University, which is nestled in the centre of Regents Park, the Apes and their families enjoyed a day filled with BBQing, Bouncy castles, Volleyball, Softball and giant chess. And all without a single cloud in sight - PRAISE THE SUN

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Time to get SpOoOooOpy

Here at Space Ape we tend to take dressing up to a whole new level.. and this years Halloween was no exception.

Apes were out in force at our local drinking establishment the Royal George for ONE HELL OF A SPOOKY NIGHT.

Now, you may be asking yourself, why are there people dressed as ‘Where’s Wally’ (also known as ‘Where’s Waldo’ if you were dropped on your head a child)? As Where’s Wally isn’t spooky. That, is a very fine question. Feel free to ask them yourself. If you can find them that is..

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Never Settle for OK.

Its official, Space Ape has been crowned in the Gamesindustry 2017 awards as the BEST MEDIUM SIZED COMPANY TO WORK AT IN THE UK GAMES INDUSTRY!  

Companies were judged through two sets of surveys looking at benefits, pay, holiday, diversity, growth, stability as well as employee views on their management, the benefits they receive, the culture of their studio, the technical support they receive and the workload that they face.

There was, unfortunately, no section of the questionnaire about biscuit selection offered to employees. Ours is superb by the way.

Interested in making our place of work, your place of work? Check out the roles we are currently hiring for: http://www.spaceapegames.com/careers/

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Strike Club - Space Ape Strikes Again

On the 27th April 2017 Strike Club hosted its second annual games industry bowling tournament dedicated to raising money for charity.

This year more than £30,000 was raised in support of Special Effect and Maggie’s Centres! Special Effect is a UK charity that uses technology to enhance the quality of life of people with physical disabilities and Maggie’s Centres offers practical, emotional and social support to people with cancer and their families and friends.

On top of raising money towards these two fantastic causes, and in face of stiff competition, SPACE APE CLAIMED FIRST PLACE FOR THE SECOND YEAR RUNNING! Not that we are bragging or anything.

Thank you to Strike Club for organising and their continued work and our team: Richard Reyes, Neil Parkinson, Chris Jubb and Lee Sullivan for taking part

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New joiner lunch

Think you’ve got what it takes? Our latest bunch of recruits did.

It’s been a long standing tradition here at Space Ape that once a quarter we come together to welcome the newest Apes among us over a spot of lunch. It’s the responsibility of the new recruits who came before to organise the lunch with ‘trials’. Think the hunger games but less of the whole ‘fight to the death’ thing. You pass the trials, you keep your job. Simples.

Despite the stiff competition, all of our new joiners successfully passed the trials reasonably unscathed. Unless you count mental trauma that is. Congrats guys!

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Meet our Newest Hire: Kaia

Times were pretty ruff before our latest hire.. sorry, that was pawful. As our new head of HR Kaia has many responsibilities. Here’s a few candid shots of her hard at work.

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Earn-ing our stripes once again at the Tiga Awards

We’ve had a lot of success in the past at the annual Tiga Games Industry Awards.. and this year was no different!

John Earner, CEO and Co-founder at Space Ape, scooped the Outstanding Leadership Award and our latest game Fastlane: Road to Revenge took best Audio Design. WHAT ARE WE NOT GOOD AT?

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$$$ Living life in the Fastlane $$$

What better way to celebrate the launch of our latest game, Fastlane: Road to Revenge than an underground gangland themed party.

The Apes once again turned to their fancy dress drawing boards (any excuse really) to come up with the craziest and most off the wall gangster costumes.

Grammy Award-winning American rapper Coolio had this to say about the night: “(They) Be livin’ in a gangsta’s paradise”. You said it Coolio. You said it.    

Feeling a little left out? Download Fastlane: Road to Revenge for free from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store for a taste of the action!

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Living life in the.. BUS Lane?

To kickstart the launch of our latest game Fastlane: Road to Revenge we decided to do something, a little different..

In true Space Ape style, we hired out a double decker bus and wrapped it in the latest Fastlane artwork hot off the press. We then loaded the bus with a DJ deck, loudspeakers, booze and a mic for Harry Shotta to do his thang.  

Not quite your average commuter bus, but we stepped on the gas and claimed the bus lane as our own. The sun was shining. The music was pumping. Even members of the public were getting involved.