October Activity Report

For this series of entries, I will be explaining the steps I take in developing my startup during my placement year at the Northumbria Business Startup Hatchery. Hopefully, these monthly report-style blogs can be useful to someone in a similar position, who is looking to get started with developing their business idea.

ACTIVITIES UNDERTAKEN FOR OCTOBER 2016
  • Used my knowledge and tools (Microsoft Project) to plan and executed the VRV project to a tight deadline, which included scheduled time for client feedback and refinement of the production; important steps that would ensure a positive outcome.
  • Arranged and executed audio recording sessions with both a voice actor and a musician; proving my ability to adapt, manage and direct resources, time and people to produce quality work that adds value to the final product.
  • Utilised and improved my skills in animation and video editing to produce the final product, Newcastle 2065.
  • Booked and committed to completing an intense driving course and driving test, which would give me the ability to travel further for work, as this was a frequent request from my potential clients.
  • Purchased a Sony PlayStation VR unit, which is an important product in that it is positioned to be a more accessible and affordable alternative to more premium devices, while still providing a quality experience; performing tests with this device allowed me to explore the benefits and limitations of what is most likely going to be the most popular high-to-mid-level consumer device on the market.
  • Began market research and customer conversations around the trend towards VR being used in businesses that look to provide arcade-style venues.
  • Secured tickets to Grads In Games Get In The Game career event at Northumbria University, an event that aimed to give insight into improving my employability prospects within the games industry.
  • Arranged two hour-long sessions with the Gateshead College, providing VR and games career advice to students on their Level 2 Games Essentials course.
  • Started part-time work with the National Careers Service, providing information, advice and guidance (IAG) to the public, which greatly helped me prepare for the upcoming sessions with Gateshead College students by training me in the methods and resources that are used to provide IAG to young people and adults across the UK.
  • Began collating my own research points on VR and games careers that would be used to inform the production of a presentation that would accompany my talks, as well as devising relevant activities that the students could learn transferable skills from, such as the Marshmallow Challenge.
  • Spoke to tutors and read articles on speaking to groups of students, as I felt I could make use of some advice and techniques that may help with speaking to groups of students and sustaining their attention for a longer period than what I had in the past.