International Design Students Gather for Dare to be Digital Competition

Over 70 computer arts students and graduates from nine countries have gathered at the University of Abertay Dundee in Scotland to begin the 10-week "Dare to be Digital" game development competition. The student finalists arrive from Canada, China, India, England, Northern Ireland, Norway, Scotland, Southern Ireland, and Wales. Competitors will assemble into 14 teams of five students each to design prototype games and interactive digital entertainment. This year's "Dare to be Digital" marks the first time in the competition's ten-year history in which all finalists will stay in one host center, at the Abertay Library in Dundee. "Dundee is the perfect place for a gathering of such brilliant talent," said Abertay director of business development Paul Durrant. "We are proud of Dundee's position as a UK leader in computer games and of course, proud of our contribution to an industry which brings large local investment and employment opportunities." Each competitor will receive a stipend and industry mentoring during the 10-week competition. The resulting student projects will be showcased at the Dare ProtoPlay event, to be held later this year at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.