THE region’s business community has been urged to support a new fundraising initiative being developed by web experts at the Birmingham-based Oxygen Accelerator start-up programme.
The Oxygen technicians plan to build a video game designed by Birmingham primary school pupils from scratch in just a weekend, launch it as an app for the iPhone and Android smartphones, together with a version for PCs and then donate all the proceeds from downloads to Children in Need.
The team, based at Birmingham Science Park Aston, is looking for corporate sponsors to back the scheme, which is open to schools across the city and region.
The game’s designers are working with Oxygen Accelerator, which is a start-up support scheme for high growth tech companies, on encouraging children aged eight to 11 to design a new game.
Oxygen co-founder Mark Hales said: “We wanted to come up with an idea that would encourage primary school children to think about using technology.
“Designing a game will stimulate their imagination and get them thinking about technology and, when they get the chance to see the finished product as a downloadable app, we think they’ll be really excited.
“With Children in Need due later in the month we thought this was a perfect opportunity to help with the fundraising.”
Pupils can be as creative as they like and are being encouraged to work together to create a plot and series of characters for the game.
Mr Hales said there had been a good response from schools so far but more ideas were welcome.
“We’ll build the game over the weekend of November 12 and 13 and invite the winners to the science park so they can see the finished product and attend the launch,” he said.
“We’d like the business community to back us in this and, as well as encouraging everyone to download the game, we plan to give the winning school a prize for their efforts.”
Companies wishing to be involved in the project can email Mr Hales on mark@oxygenaccelerator.com or visit pudsey.oxygenaccelerator.com .
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