Dare to be Digital (Dare) , an international computer game design competition run by the University of Abertay Dundee, was showcased to HRH The Duke of York at an event in London recently.
The event was co-hosted by Turner Broadcasting and UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) in London and designed to reflect Turner Broadcasting’s investment interests in the UK. Dare was one of only six projects that the US multimedia giant selected to showcase to HRH The Duke of York, in his capacity as UK Special Representative for International Trade and Investment.
Turner Broadcasting invests in skills and talent development as part of a portfolio of UK partnerships in technology, content and research.
Laurie Baird, Director of Technology Partnerships, Turner Broadcasting said "We recognise that in addition to investment in technology development and new content to sustain growth, we must also continue to invest heartily in the future talent that will exploit and develop these technologies. Abertay University’s Dare to be Digital is a great model of international talent development, bringing together the fresh minds of University students, industry professionals, academics and the latest technologies and we are delighted to be a part of that."
HRH The Duke of York spent time with several of last year’s Dare participants and met with Abertay’s organising team members.
Paul Durrant, Director of Dare to be Digital said "This was an encouraging sign for future cross-platform opportunities between the UK games and interactive content industry and a global media company. It is particularly notable that Turner's UK investment also includes support for skills and talent development through Dare and this event provided a wonderful opportunity to be able to describe Abertay University's strengths in this area to HRH The Duke of York in his role representing UK inward investment,” Mr Durrant said.
Ends
Photo caption: HRH Duke of York with (l-r) Paul Durrant, Director of Business Development at Abertay University; Bob Schukai, Vice President Wireless & Broadband Technologies, Platform R&D, Turner Broadcasting; Elaine Russell, Dare to be Digital Project Manager.
Editors notes
Turner Broadcasting has sponsored Dare to be Digital for two consecutive years.
About Turner Broadcasting System (TBS)
Turner Broadcasting System (TBS) Europe delivers some of the world’s most successful and well-known news and entertainment brands - CNN, TCM (Turner Classic Movies), Cartoon Network, Cartoon Network Too, Boomerang, Boomerang + 1 and Cartoonito. The company now broadcasts 21 entertainment channels in 17 languages across approximately 100 countries in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Alongside its TV channels TBS is at the forefront of developing its brands through the internet, broadband, VOD, DVD, gaming, mobile, merchandising, publishing and every other available platform. Turner Broadcasting System Europe Limited is a Time Warner Company.
About Dare to be Digital
Dare to be Digital is a video games development competition for undergraduates at universities and colleges of art. Teams of five students, usually a mix of artists, programmers and audio specialists, assemble in the development hothouse for 10 weeks to develop a prototype video game, receiving daily support and weekly training sessions from industry specialists.
At the end of the competition, the prototypes are displayed at a special talent showcasing event in Edinburgh, Dare ProtoPlay, alongside the Edinburgh Interactive Festival in August. The general public as well as industry experts get to play and vote for the games. Prizes are then awarded to the winning teams at a special awards ceremony. Later in the year the winning teams attend the BAFTA Video Games Awards to compete for the coveted ‘Ones to Watch’ Award
