As the computer game industry becomes big business Norfolk companies are hoping to find their slice of the market.

Eastern Daily Press: A screenshot from Primal Reign, a game by Immersive VR. Picture: Immersive VRA screenshot from Primal Reign, a game by Immersive VR. Picture: Immersive VR (Image: Immersive VR)

Virtual reality (VR) firm Immersive VR has turned its hand to game design as it aims to beat the big studios into the VR gaming market.

Using the skills of their team the company, which primarily builds VR marketing experiences, has begun to develop games for commercial release as a side line with its first game Primal Reign released this week.

Eastern Daily Press: Matthew Martin, left, managing director, and James Burrows, technical director, of Immersive VR. Picture: DENISE BRADLEYMatthew Martin, left, managing director, and James Burrows, technical director, of Immersive VR. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Archant)

MORE: Do you recognise these Norwich made games?

Managing director Matthew Martin said: 'It started off as an internal project because we have all the skills in-house.

'The development team all like playing games and built games in their spare time so we started doing a bit during down time between projects.'

With VR technology just beginning to work its way into the mainstream market Immersive decided to release the game through online game marketplace Steam.

Mr Martin said: 'I think there is room for games development in the VR space.

'It doesn't make sense for the traditional [big] studios to spend Hollywood budgets on VR games because there isn't the mass market yet to recoup a large amount.

'Because we have the skills there we can get ahead in the market before the big studios come into it.'

Primal Reign sees players take on the role of a British soldier in the Second World War before a portal releases dinosaurs into an Ancient Egyptian tomb.

Gaming was estimated to be worth £4.33bn in the UK in 2016, according to trade body Ukie.

Primal Reign's launch coincides with this week's Norwich Gaming Festival, at The Forum, where more than 52,000 visitors will see 50 games exhibited with 13 of those being made in Norwich or by Norfolk locals.

One of the organisers is game designer Daniel Scales, whose Four Circle Interactive studio created 10 Second Ninja. The game has been downloaded thousands of times after being included free on Sony's Playstation Plus service.

Mr Scales said he could not reveal details of the agreement with Sony but the game had ensured the studio's future. He said: 'There is definitely more of an interest in making games now and there seem to be more people making games in Norwich.

'There are a lot of transferable skills with other industries, especially the tech and creative industries.'

MORE: Whizz kid's Fruit Bat Frenzy game

Norwich University of the Arts, which is a partner with the festival, runs game design and development degrees and Norwich has become know as a digital hub.

Last year's gaming festival saw more than 52,000 visitors and organisers have said this year's event is expected to beat that.