Turner launches award to lift game developers up to next level

BROADCASTING giant Turner Broadcasting Systems has launched an award to be presented this week to young video games developers that will provide an opportunity to reach a worldwide audience.

Winners of the Dare to Be Digital competition will have their game promoted on www.adultswim.co.uk, the UK online portal for Turner Broadcasting's cutting edge comedy brand aimed at adults 18 to 34.

Dare to be Digital, a competition for up-and-coming game developers run by the University of Abertay Dundee, has attracted 15 teams from Sweden, the US, Japan, and Ireland. Their work will be on show to the public and industry at the Dare ProtoPlay gaming event at the Edinburgh International Convention Centre starting Friday.

Caroline Casey, director of digital development for Time Warner-owned Turner, said: "We are always interested in innovation and supporting creative industries and cultivating young talent. Innovation is very important to our digital strategy.

"We are looking at how we can take our sponsorship a bit further. That is why we came up with the idea of the Adult Swim award. There is a lot of untapped talent available." Turner has been a sponsor of the Abertay competition for three years. Microsoft, Intel, NCR, and Wacom also sponsor the programme.

Colin Macdonald, studio manager of Dundee-based games firm Real Time Worlds, is also involved with training and mentoring participants of the programme. He said the prize was a "great opportunity".

"For Turner to give the event their vote of confidence and say how much they value coming out of it, adds credibility to Dare and the students.

"To have experience dealing with someone like Turner and to have your game hosted by Turner is a great opportunity.

"The competition as a whole is about the single best thing out there a graduate can do who is looking to get into games."

The free-to-enter Dare Protoplay event is in its fifth year and organisers estimate it will attract more than 3,000 visitors.