Dare to be Digital 2013 applications open

Applications are now being accepted for this year's Dare To Be Digital competition, the University of Abertay Dundee's contest for student developers.

"Last year we received a record number of entries, with hundreds and hundreds of students looking to get a place on Dare to be Digital," said competition director Gregor White.

"Any talented art, design and programming students wanting to create computer games for a living should definitely apply. Everyone who takes part in Dare gets professional experience and contacts you just can't get anywhere else."

Those interested can apply at the official site, and the deadline for entries is April 9. 15 teams will then be picked and given 9 weeks to build a working prototype of their game. That prototype will then be judged by industry experts, and three teams will be selected to go for the BAFTA 'Ones to Watch' award.

"Dare to be Digital has dramatically changed our lives - we never thought we'd win a BAFTA when we entered, and the competition pushed us to become games industry professionals in just a few weeks," said one of last year's winners of the award, Sophia George of Swallowtail Games.

"The nine weeks is a whirlwind experience of hard work and mentoring from industry professionals, all building to the huge Dare ProtoPlay festival in Dundee in August where thousands of people get to play your game. I'd strongly urge anyone wanting to work in the games industry to apply for Dare to be Digital. If you're lucky enough to get in, it will change your life."