ASPIRING Trowbridge computer game designer Jim Bruges said it was a nice surprise to find out that he had been nominated as a finalist for this year’s BAFTA Young Game Designers Awards.

The 15-year-old, who attends Dauntsey’s School in Devizes, submitted his game back in February and thought nothing more of it until he was recently informed that he was a finalist in the Game Making Award 15-18 year old category.

His game, called Lightyear, gives players an opportunity to control a deep space telescope looking for radio waves from deep in the universe, going about daily chores with no contact with earth.

The teenager said the game, which he created using computer software, was his first fully realised creation and was featured on PC gaming website Rock, Paper, Shotgun.

Mr Bruges said: “I was completely surprised when I found out I had been nominated. I submitted my game after finding out about the awards in February and I had forgotten about it.

“I had to fill out an application about how I made it and then uploaded the game. They must have played it and liked it, which is great as I have upped my game over the last couple of years.

“I have always been into computers, but I only recently got into game development, so it is really encouraging to find out that my first full release has done so well. It is quite basic and I have made a few other games since then.

“It took a long time in terms of the hours put in to complete it, but I made it from start to finish in about one-and-a-half weeks. There is very little game play involved and it is easy to pick up as it is more about the narrative storyline.”

He added that inspiration for the game, which is up against nine other entries, came from his interest in the sci-fi genre and films such as 2001: A Space Odyssey, Interstellar and Gravity.

Mr Bruges will discover if he has won the award when the awards take place at a special ceremony at BAFTA’s headquarters in London on July 25, where the winners of each category will be announced.

“It is really exciting to say I’m going to BAFTA and it will be a great experience whatever the outcome,” he added. “My family are all really happy for me, especially one of my brothers, as he helped me test to game.”

For more information about the awards, visit www.ygd.bafta.org