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Abertay University will stage a major programme of celebrations to mark 20 years of sector-leading games courses – starting with its biggest ever Global Game Jam event.
This year marks two decades since the University became the first in the world to offer degree level qualifications in computer games development.
Since 1997, the School of Arts, Media and Computer Games has grown in tandem with massive investment in teaching and infrastructure facilities to ensure Abertay graduates have the best education on the market, including strong links to industry.
From 20-22 of January, the University will host a site for the 2017 Global Game Jam as the first in a catalogue of events, exhibitions, trade shows, interviews and design sessions.
An estimated 220 students, lecturers and games industry professionals will flood into Abertay’s Dundee campus to collaborate on the creation of new computer game prototypes over a 48-hour window.
The event is part of the international Global Game Jam where developers work to a set theme to inspire their designs and produce thousands of new games.
Around 100 different countries are expected to take part and it will be the fifth time Abertay has hosted the Dundee event.
Lynn Parker, Computer Arts programme leader said, ‘We are delighted to be welcoming participants to Abertay for the Global Game Jam to celebrate not only collaborative development of computer games, on site and across the world in one unified weekend, but also to kick off our celebrations of 20 years of Computer Games at Abertay.
‘Game jams allow us to foster creativity, support innovation and to aid our students, graduates, alumni and invited industry guests in their development of computer games for today and for the future.
‘Not only am I proud to be part of the organising team here at Abertay, but I am also really excited to be participating in the Jam, alongside fellow graduates of Abertay and current students.
‘We believe that there is more to teaching games than playing and talking about them, so this is a great opportunity for me and my colleagues to spend a weekend making prototypes, collaborating with our students and exploring the potential of the medium.
‘We also believe in healthy work/life balances, so throughout the Jam we will be encouraging participants to eat healthily, to rest and to take regular breaks.’Abertay offers undergraduate courses in Game Design and Production Management, Computer Games Technology, Computer Arts, Sound and Music for Games and Computer Games Application Development.
Postgraduate courses, including MSc Computer Games Technology and MProf Games Development, are also available.
To find out more about the Global Game Jam go to http://globalgamejam.org/
Book tickets for Abertay’s Global Game Jam
Full details of events to celebrate 20 years of games development at Abertay will be announced in the coming weeks.