The Serious Games, Simulation and Wargaming Centre has just been launched in Salisbury, UK, giving a new home to the Serious Games Showcase and Challenge Europe.

The new 2,000 sq ft centre is designed to be a physical and virtual hub to bring together talent from around the world in serious games, simulation and wargaming development and innovation. Ruddy Nice Ltd have launched the initiative after years of being in the industry to answer the need for co-ordination, coherence and promotion of serious games, simulation, and wargaming, and all of their uses, globally.

The SGSW Centre will be the new home for: The Serious Games Showcase and Challenge Europe, The European Training and Simulation Association (ETSA), Fight Club International, Wargaming Hub for Game Design, Test, Research & Development, and Training, and the new home for the DSET Community.

Tess Butler, CEO, Ruddy Nice said: “The use and development of Serious Games is well established, however the industry and provision of innovation in this space is widely disparate. The value of serious games are amazing in both learning and research and experimentation. This is going to be open to all that wish to collaborate to further the proliferation of Serious Games, create an innovation hub and educate young talent to develop and use Serious Games for education.”

The centre is designed to bring together multiple communities to share best practice, technologies and drive a thriving industry with academic partners.

The first Education and Academic partner is Oxford Brookes University who have just launched their new Analysis, Modelling and Simulation course (to be delivered at DSET 2024). Ruddy Nice is the innovation partner for Oxford Brookes’ new Defence Research and Development centre (DASOBU), and together they have new initiatives and opportunities planned for the future.

ETSA will also take up residence at the centre and provide a hot-desking and meeting room facility for ETSA members – this is the first physical home for ETSA after 17 years of operating. With a renewed purpose, ETSA is looking to deliver more benefits and value to all of its members Europe-wide.

The Wargaming Centre will provide a new home for Fight Club International and aims to develop courses and training opportunities for those just starting out to those with 30 years experience.! This will be done in conjunction with Kings College London, who provide Wargaming Education to a Master’s degree level. They also invite any education organisation to collaborate in both education and research.

“The time is ripe for a cutting-edge gaming and simulation centre,” said Col Arnel David, US Army. “This new space will be a hub for Fight Club members to hone their skills through hands-on repetitive practice. Crucially, it will be the first accessible, unclassified location where individuals can learn, gain certification, and unlock the power of gaming and simulations for professional advancement.”