Leamington Spa, 9 December 2024 — Hosted by Third Kind Games – a Virtuos Studio, the third annual SpecialEffect Charity Pub Quiz in Leamington Spa successfully raised £11,000. The sold-out event, sponsored by global video game development company Virtuos, attracted over 120 professionals and enthusiasts from the local games industry.
The organizing team of SpecialEffect Charity Pub Quiz 2024 from left to right: Liam Lawler (SpecialEffect), Tracy Clark (SpecialEffect), Vicky Wilson-Theaker (Third Kind Games – a Virtuos Studio), and Nick Streeter (SpecialEffect)
The talented team from Secret Mode emerged as the winner among 22 teams in the trivia game, claiming both award medals and the rights to the ‘Most Knowledgeable Game Devs in Leamington’ title.
Team Secret Mode clinches victory at the SpecialEffect Charity Pub Quiz 2024
Graham Watson, Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of Third Kind Games – a Virtuos Studio, said, “The incredible turnout and generosity at this festive edition of the Charity Pub Quiz underlines our collective commitment to advancing inclusivity and accessibility in games. It is heartwarming to see everyone come together in the spirit of the season. Third Kind Games and Virtuos are proud to support SpecialEffect’s vital mission to make gaming experiences accessible to everyone.”
Liam Lawler, Partnerships Coordinator at SpecialEffect added: “With support from the industry through events like this, we can continue to innovate and develop adaptive technologies that enable people with physical disabilities to experience the magic of gaming.”
Liam Lawler addressing all attendees on behalf of SpecialEffect
Third Kind Games and Virtuos extend their heartfelt thanks to Lively Studio for their sponsorship contribution, as well as the following partners for their attendance and support: Codemasters, Facepunch, Maverick Games, Playground Games, Rare, Sega Hardlight, Sumo Group, and Ubisoft Leamington. This collaborative effort not only underscored the strong sense of community within the local gaming community, but also ensured a successful fundraiser to aid SpecialEffect in enhancing gaming accessibility.
Snapshot of the participants at the sold-out event
SpecialEffect, a UK-based charity, is dedicated to enhancing gaming accessibility through the development of adaptive technologies and specialized game control devices for individuals with physical disabilities. Third Kind Games has been organizing the annual Charity Pub Quiz since 2022, raising nearly £30,000 to date in support of SpecialEffect’s vital mission.
About SpecialEffect
SpecialEffect is a charity based in the United Kingdom that was founded in 2007. It specialises in helping physically disabled people, specifically children, play video games. The organisation works with developers to create specialised game control devices and make their games more accessible. This includes controllers using inputs from any part of the body that can move, such as small toe movements or the player’s eye gaze. The ability to play video games, now seen as an almost universal pastime, can help improve the mental health of disabled people who otherwise could not play them.
About Third Kind Games
Third Kind Games was founded in 2016 by nine ex-Activision veterans and acquired by Virtuos Games in 2024. The studio is headquartered in Leamington Spa, UK, with remote studios in Poland and Spain, with over 90 employees. As a world-class co-development games studio, we work with some of the biggest names in the industry on critically acclaimed games and franchises.
About Virtuos
Founded in 2004, Virtuos is one of the largest independent video game development companies. We are headquartered in Singapore with over 3,800 employees across 23 offices in Asia, Europe, and North America. Specializing in full-cycle game development and art production, we have delivered high-quality content for more than 1,500 console, PC, and mobile games. Our clients include 23 of the top 25 gaming companies worldwide. Visit www.virtuosgames.com to find out how we can make games better, together.
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