Dare to Be Olympic

Professor Lachlan MacKinnon will be making a guest appearance at the Beijing Olympics. In a virtual sense. Abertay's Head of Computing and Creative Technologies filmed an address in White Space, talking about the importance of international collaboration within academia, the Olympics and the development of the creative industries both globally and locally.

The White Space concept is a key theme throughout Professor MacKinnon's message. Traditional teaching methods are linked with novel concepts which prepare graduates for industry. Set against the backdrop of the White Space facility, this presentation is sure to inspire as well as inform the audience.

The film, due to be shown at the Olympic Digital Arts Exhibition, was captured by the resident Digital Media team who successfully sent the final footage to colleagues in China for all to enjoy.

Blue sky thinking

Dare to be Digital 2008 is up and running here in White Space. Teams of young creative computing minds from all over the world are developing games to dazzle the judges and earn a top contract. EA Games and RealTime Worlds are just two of the major gaming companies who regularly take an interest in this competition with many others following suit.

Blue Skies, pictured above, are confident their submission will tick all the boxes. Origami is a platform game where the main character is made of paper. He can fold himself into any creature and his main defence is inflicting paper cuts on enemies.

Team leader Richard and his colleagues Jade, Alberto, Kev and Johnny are all Abertay students. Do they mind working during the summer holidays? "It's hard work but worthwhile. It's like having a job but better."says Richard with the rest of the team nodding in agreement.

Last year there was an additional accolade for one of the teams. Voodoo Boogy scooped the prestigious BAFTA 'Ones to watch' award for their role play game 'Ragnarawk'. Fingers crossed there will be recognition for all entrants as Dare to be Digital launches more careers.

Dare to be Digital

Many of our students may be heading off for a well earned summer break but for some the work doesn't stop.
The ever popular Dare to be Digital competition will be launching soon in White Space.

Students from Abertay, parts of the UK and from overseas are creating prototype games and educational programmes in a bid to scoop the top prize.

The competition attracts the attention of the computer industry big hitters including Eidos, EA Games and Realtime Worlds which is based here in Dundee.

It is impossible to miss the energy buzzing around White Space while the competition is underway.