AN Ilminster boy has been named as one of the nation’s top young game designers after being shortlisted in the BAFTAs.

James Lindsay, 10, is a finalist in a nationwide competition to find the game designers of the future, and the teachers and mentors who inspire them.

The winners, chosen by a panel of games professionals, will be revealed at a special awards ceremony at BAFTA’s headquarters in London, on July 7.

Dad Alistair Linday said: “I’m so proud of James for making the final. He had lots of ups and downs writing Penguin Peril, but persevered to produce an amazing game, even composing the music.

“Thank you to all the judges who kindly gave up their time, Mrs Hope of the Monmouth Computer Science Fair and Milo at the Taunton Raspberry Jam for getting James started in Unity and Python, and all the other coders whose games James has enjoyed and learnt from.”

This year 40 games from 60 finalists, aged 10-18, will be vying for two top prizes, including the Game Making Award for those who have developed their coding skills and have submitted a prototype game made using freely available software.

James’ game, Penguin Peril, is his first 3D underwater game design.

The annual initiative, which began in 2010, was designed to demonstrate the creativity that goes in to game design and to give young people and their teachers a clearer understanding of the many rewarding careers to be had within the industry.

Previous entrants have gone on to attract commercial interest, as well as a nomination at the British Academy Games Awards, BAFTA’s flagship ceremony for the games industry.

The winners of both strands, in 10-14 and 15-18 age ranges, will receive a host of prizes, including; games, hardware, software licenses, tours of games studios and a mentor from the games industry to help them develop their skills further. A prototype of their game will also be created by a team of developers.

The young finalists come from across England, Scotland and Wales and 40 per cent of the finalists this year are female.

The successful entrants include several who made it to previous finals and have entered new games hoping to triumph this time around.

The BAFTA YGD competition is part of a year-round programme.