Dare to be Digital 2010

For immediate issue: Friday 28 May 2010

Dare to be Digital, the world’s leading computer games design competition for students, has announced its 2010 finalists. It is also unveiling a collaboration with title sponsor Turner Broadcasting for a new Adult Swim award for creativity and unique game play.

Turner Broadcasting is the global media company behind channels such as CNN, Cartoon Network and irreverent comedy brand Adult Swim. A great supporter of innovation in the industry, it joins forces with Dare to Be Digital organiser, the University of Abertay Dundee for the 11th annual competition.

The competition is also supported by another industry heavyweight, BAFTA, with the final three shortlisted games gaining entry into the ‘Ones to Watch’ category at the BAFTA Video Game Awards. The ultimate winner will receive a coveted BAFTA award and also prize money.

Entries to this year’s Dare to be Digital came from more than 80 universities worldwide and the final shortlist of 15 has been selected by a panel of industry experts.

The finalists represent 15 different universities from six countries including the UK, Irish Republic, USA, India, China and Sweden. The games to be developed for the final stage of the competition cover a wide variety of genres and platforms, including social games, 2.5D adventure, sports party and real-time strategy models designed for PC, Android Phone, Windows 7 Phone and Sony PSP Go platforms.

Elaine Russell, Dare to be Digital project manager commented: “We are absolutely delighted to be working with Turner Broadcasting to make this year’s Dare to be Digital even bigger and better. It is particularly exciting that they have confirmed their increased involvement just as we unveil what is certain to be the most ambitious line up of finalists we have ever had in Dare.

“We congratulate the 75 talented students in our teams, who have made it through a very strict selection process. The students are already guaranteed a rich and rewarding experience through the mentoring they will receive from the UK’s major developers and through the chance of sharing their knowledge and time with many other students from different parts of the world. The generous support from Turner Broadcasting and from our other sponsors will ensure that our students’ achievements during Dare to be Digital 2010 will enjoy an even higher profile within the industry.

Caroline Casey, Director of Digital Development, Turner Broadcasting, EMEA, said: "[adult swim] loves to unlock creativity, so there is an obvious synergy with our eclectic comedy brand, and this excellent competition which celebrates creativity and innovation. The newly introduced [adult swim] award will seek to recognize a game that captures the spirit of the brand, while also excelling in unique game play. Our involvement with Dare to be Digital also enables us to discover new up-and-coming talent in the gaming industry, which we believe it’s so incredibly important to foster."

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Dare to be Digital 2010 finalists

Team Game Genre Platform/Controller

Abnormal Creations The Inkwell Chronicles Platform / Puzzle Wii

Angry Mango Mush Casual Platformer Windows 7 Phone

Bears With Jetpacks Grrr! Multiplayer action strategy Wii

Creative Genius Silent Symphony RPG Strategy Game Wii

eleMENTAL Weatherman Puzzle Platformer PC/Xbox 360

Gazhab Chayya 3rd person platformer pc

Grimnir Games Death Inc. Action Platformer Sony PSP Go

King of Dice Dice Rolling Puzzle Game pc

Ramblin' Wreckage Milestone Platform Puzzler Android phone

Shark on a bike Dyed World 2.5D adventure / Puzzle pc

Team Nevermind WiiKick Sports Party Wii

Team Tickle Sculpty Puzzle / Platform iPad

That Game Studio Twang Party / Action Xbox 360

Bazooka Duck The River That Binds Real Time Strategy pc

Various Artists Wee Knights Puzzle platformer pc

Universities involved are

Abertay University

Anglia Ruskin University

Ballyfermot College

Bucks New University

Communication University of Chna

Dundee College

Edinburgh University

Georgia Institute of Technology

Institute of Technology, Carlow

Manipal University

Sheffield Hallam University

Skövde University

University of Wales, New Port

University of West of Scotland

University of Westminster

About Turner Broadcasting System Inc

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. (TBS, Inc.), a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news, entertainment, animation and young adult media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world. TBS, Inc. is based in Atlanta, GA, and employs some 11,000 people worldwide. Philip I. Kent oversees TBS, Inc. as chairman and CEO. Many viewers will also be familiar with TBS, Inc.'s groundbreaking network, CNN, one of the world's most respected and trusted sources for news and information. TBS, Inc. is also home to familiar entertainment networks such as TBS, TNT, Cartoon Network, Turner Classic Movies, Adult Swim, truTV and Peachtree TV.

About Dare to be Digital

Dare to be Digital is organised and run by Abertay University, with sponsorship from Turner Broadcasting, Intel, Wacom, NCR, the Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise and Dundee City Council. Technology support is provided by Adobe, Autodesk, Codesion, Crytek, Emergent, Hansoft and Sony. Teams of student programmers and artists compete in a 10-week intensive 'hot-house' development environment over the summer vacation, building fully-functioning prototypes for assessment by industry judges and a public vote at Dare ProtoPlay, scheduled for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in August. The three winning teams from Dare to be Digital each year become the sole nominees for the BAFTA “Ones to Watch” Award, and this year’s Dare and BAFTA winning team also won a BAFTA Scotland New Talent Award.

Media enquiries: Kevin Coe, Abertay University Communications Centre, +44 7850 904 110, k.coe@abertay.ac.uk

Turner Broadcasting media enquiries: Yinka Akindele, +44 (0)20 7693 1105, Yinka.akindele@turner.com