2008 - 2007 - 2006 - 2005 - 2004 - 2003 - 2002
18 December 2003
Pioneering University of Warwick project sparks world leading
development by innovative Coventry company
Computer-based training programmes as entertaining and
attention-grabbing as games like Tomb Raider and Final Fantasy
are to be developed by a Coventry firm, following its involvement
in the Enterprise Fellowship Scheme (EFS) and the award of a £50,000
grant from Advantage West Midlands.
PIXELearning, based at Coventry University’s Technology
Park, was established just over a year ago when former students
Kevin Corti and Suraj Rana registered for the EFS programme run
by the University of Warwick in Coventry.
The training and business advice given by EFS and its mentoring
team has already helped the fledgling start-up win business worth
nearly £100,000 and last month it was awarded a grant of
£50,000 by Advantage West Midlands to help it develop its
revolutionary software.
5 December 2003
PIXELearning to develop 'Trading Overseas' game
PIXELearning have entered into a partnership with two other
Coventry-based companies to design and develop a games-based eLearning
course aimed at helping small and medium sized companies to trade
overseas.
The game, which will be developed in conjunction with the Coventry
arm of Trade Partners UK, will feature the PIXELearning business
simulation and role playing system. The partnership between PIXELearning,
European Innovation Ltd and The V-Biz Consultancy was has attracted
financial support of nearly £20,000 from the Advantage West
Midlands-funded Innovative Networks Project.
October 2003
Using games and simulations to engage and inspire 21st century learners
Many organisations have experimented with eLearning in
recent times only to be disappointed with the results. Managing
Director, Kevin Corti, said: “A key problem is that many providers
churn out ineffective ‘page turning’ courses which provide
only a very shallow learning experience and which are, quite frankly,
downright boring. Learners demand more than text, a few pretty pictures
and multiple choice quizzes”.
“Computer and video games have captivated, enthralled and
enchanted millions of people for nearly three decades. These people
now form a large proportion of the workforce. Video games enable
people to explore virtual worlds and ancient cities, interact with
or compete against each other, run virtual companies and so much
more”.
September 2003
PIXELearning invited to present at Warwick University VentureFest
PIXELearning has been invited to present at the Warwick
University Enterprise Fellowship Scheme's annual VentureFest to
be held at the Belfry, Warks on 3rd November 2003.
The event, which is described as "a celebration of the achievements
of Enterprise Fellows across the Midlands" features an extensive
exhibition and an after dinner speech by Trevor Baylis, inventor
of the clockwork radio.
Around 250 guests are expected including business angels, venture
capitalists and numerous industry experts.
August 2003
PIXELearning secures £50,000 funding to develop unique software
application
PIXELearning has secured £50,000 of grant funding
from the Advantage West Midlands Innovative Actions project towards
the development of a unique software system which will enable non-technical
teachers, trainers and subject experts to create, deploy and manage
games-based eLearning experiences.
The software, which will have a commercial release in July 2004
will, for the first time, enable learning professionals to create
online learning experiences which are truly engaging, enjoyable
and, most importantly, highly effective.
There is tremendous cross-sector interest in the use of games and
simulations however the cost, time and technical barriers have so
far prevented wide-scale adoption. The purpose of PIXELearning's
system is to overcome these barriers and enable the creation of
'hi-fidelity' learning experiences in a rapid, easy and cost-effective
fashion.
July 2003
PIXELearning to develop Business Simulation game for Advantage West
Midlands Foresight project
PIXELearning has won a tender to design and develop a business
simulation game for the AWM Foresight project which aims to educate
the region's companies to adopt a more forward thinking strategic
outlook in their business planning.
The game, which will feature 3D computer-generated imagery and virtual
characters is designed to give users a virtual company to run. Their
objective is to take the company from its start up phase and to
ensure that it survives for 10 years. The user will face many challenges
both strategic and operational and will quickly find that if they
do not plan sensibly for the future that then they will encounter
problems.
User's scores will feature on a high score chart at the Foresight
web site. The game is primarily intended to raise awareness of the
Foresight project and its objectives and will be available from
September 2003 for 2 years via the Foresight web site and upon CD-ROM.
March 2003
PIXELearning to develop 'edutainment' games for the British Museum
of Road Transport (BMRT)
PIXELearning will develop 'edutainment' games for BMRT
which will be based upon the museum's Thrust SSC project display
which contains the word land speed record breaking Thrust SSC car.
PIXELearning will use the unique Audiotain system which allows the
rapid creation of powerful online edutainment games.
PIXELearning's Managing Director, Kevin Corti, said "it is
appropriate that we are using the Audiotain system for this project
which details the fastest car in the world. The system allows us
to build online games very quickly - at about a third of the time
that traditional web multimedia takes to develop."
The finished application will be online and used within the museum
predominantly for school visits to supplement children's experiences
in the museum and to allow them to build upon their knowledge of
all aspects of the Thrust SSC project.
February 2003
PIXELearning to present at the West Midlands Springboard
investment conference in Birmingham
PIXELearning have been invited to present at the Connect
Midlands Springboard investment conference on 27th March. The event,
to be held on the 27th March at the Birmingham Centennial Centre,
is sponsored by, among others, HSBC, The Royal Bank of Scotland
and BT.
PIXELearning will be presenting their plans for games-based eLearning
creation software for which they are seeking £200k in funding.
Over 120 delegates are expected at the event including venture capitalists
and business angels.
