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Thursday, March 07, 2019

Dare Academy game design competition reloaded for 2019

Creative teams of student video games developers will be immersed in an intensive summer of industry hot-housing as Abertay University’s Dare Academy competition is reloaded for 2019.


Returning for a third year, Dare Academy will showcase the work of games students from across Abertay’s School of Design and Informatics – home to Europe’s top ranked computer games degrees.


This year’s development teams will be hoping to emulate the success of their Dare predecessors, many of which have gone on to release their games commercially and to critical acclaim.

Recent Dare teams include Bit Loom, who went on to commercially release their game ‘PHOGS!’, Puny Astronaut, who last year signed a six-figure deal with 4J Studios to develop their game ‘Skye’, and the award-winning Pocket Sized Hands who now operate as an independent studio in Dundee, specialising in VR.

Entries open this month, followed by a rigorous assessment process where Abertay academics will review concept pitches, before an industry panel select six finalists to progress to the summer hot-housing phase.

Throughout July, these groups will create, refine and polish games for mobile, PC and console devices, using their own branded space in Abertay’s UK Centre for Excellence in Games Education.

Industry mentors will make regular visits throughout the hot-housing period, offering advice and insight on the production process.


All six teams will travel to showcase their prototypes at the massive EGX games festival in London, where the winning team will bag a cash prize of £5000.

Head of the Division of Games and Arts, Dr Dayna Galloway said: “Dare Academy is always a fantastic showcase for our students and I’m sure this year will be no different.

“What always stands out for me is the wide variety of concepts that come forward, with those tackling serious and thoughtful themes pitched alongside others focused on pure player entertainment.”


Industry mentor Fraser Simpson from Yo-Yo Games said: "Dare Academy's a great development format, and it's inspiring to see these teams meet the opportunity head-on.

“Last year saw some great games that sprouted from brilliant gameplay ideas, technologies, political topics, and interface concepts.

“It's always exciting seeing the innovative work that these super-talented teams come up with and how it develops over the course of the Academy, and I fully expect 2019's submissions to be as strong as always."

For more information visit https://www.abertay.ac.uk/schools/school-of-design-and-informatics/dare-academy


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