Abertay University has launched a project aimed at increasing interaction between upcoming computer games designers and potential business investors.
The university which is at the centre of Dundee’s games development cluster, and has acted as a launch pad for dozens of spin-out digital media companies has established the Code Bar to increase links with the industry and maximise commercialisation opportunities.
The new portal allows industry talent-spotters to get immediate online access to the innovative projects being created by students.
Developed with support from the university’s Intellectual Property Office, the Code Bar means established games studios will be able to examine titles being built by students at Abertay.
If they see a title with development potential, the studios can then bid for the games through a closed auction process involving the payment of a one-off fee of a minimum of £5,000.
The purchaser will secure exclusive commercial rights to the title including source code, assets, design and documentation for the project and all of the intellectual property contained within.
Students who have submitted work to the Code Bar will receive 60% of the agreed purchase price on completion of a sale of their game.
There will also be an expectation on developers that the original student creators and Abertay are credited in the final game.
Games industry consultant and co-founder of Dundee’s Bafta award winning studio Dynamo Games Brian McNicoll worked with Abertay University staff and students to bring Code Bar to fruition.
He said the concept would identify raw talent at an early stage and help to bring their work to a wider audience.
“The Code Bar takes a very different approach to bringing promising new student games out to the market,” Mr McNicoll said.
“There are so many games created by students at Abertay University, and on Dare to be Digital, that could be developed further by the right company.
“We’re looking to unlock promising, hidden intellectual property giving games companies new creative ideas to develop into full products, paying students for successful sales of their exceptional work, and hopefully bringing more innovative games to market.”
Rosa Wilkinson, director of innovation at Abertay’s Intellectual Property Office, said the Code Bar was a new commercialisation model.
She said: “The Intellectual Property Office is delighted to have been able to support this exciting initiative through its Fast Forward Competition.
“The Code Bar is an excellent example of how the competition can support innovative approaches to knowledge exchange that benefit both businesses and students, leading to products and services that will help the UK economy to grow.”