The hunt is under way to find the next big names in the computer games industry.
Yesterday saw the launch of this year’s Dare to be Digital game design competition, hosted by the University of Abertay in the summer.
Between June and August, students form teams of five and compete over 10 weeks to design a fully-functioning video game prototype before gathering at Dare Protoplay to showcase their work and be judged by industry experts.
On offer is instant recognition as well as the coveted BAFTA Ones To Watch award.
Digital wonderkids can submit their application at www.daretobedigital.com.
The competition is an opportunity for computer games designers, programmers, digital artists and audio engineers to take their first steps towards being spotted by the industry and, hopefully, land their dream job.
“Like the hugely exciting games industry, Dare to be Digital has stepped up to meet the fast-moving changes in the industry,” said Dare to be Digital project manager Elaine Russell.
“This year we’re looking for exceptional creative game development talent, as well as strong commercial ideas about how the games developed at Abertay University can be taken to market after the competition.
“Games development is changing at a break-neck pace, with digital distribution channels making self-publishing a serious opportunity for very small teams,” she said.
“As well as the market for mobile phone gaming, there are also tablets, netbooks, hand-helds and online distribution channels for PCs and consoles.”
Dare to be Digital gives students a crash-course in team-working and access to personal advice from leading games developers.
Based at Abertay’s Centre for Excellence in Computer Games Education, the successful applicants will get invaluable advice from industry mentors, as well as the opportunity to showcase their games to the public and the industry at the Dare ProtoPlay games festival in August.
This year Dare ProtoPlay comes home to Dundee, with local companies and games development community all taking part in the city’s first ever computer games festival.
Photo used under Creative Commons licence courtesy of Flickr user wodi.