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Welcome

to Abertay University’s new Dare Academy. The 2017 games design competition is now live with Abertay student teams competing for a chance to produce their own game and gain massive industry exposure and international experience.

What’s at stake?

Abertay teams compete for a huge prize package including the opportunity to showcase their prototypes at the UK’s biggest games conference, EGX, which attracts more than 75,000 people to the NEC in Birmingham every year.

The three top teams scoop trip of a lifetime placements to international games studios in China, India and the US. The fully funded spots will be taken up by the successful games teams during the 2017/18 session and winners can expect to jet out in October, November and December 2017.

How it works

Only current Abertay students can apply to enter. Student teams go through a tough selection process before the best six are chosen to design, test and create prototypes over an intense hothousing period. This takes place at Abertay University from July 10 to August 4.

This includes mentoring from leading games companies as well as workshops and guest speakers. Topics will range from technical sessions through to how to get your game to market, how to market your game, legal issues, creating eye catching press and also pitching techniques.

Each team gets a working budget of £1,000.

Judging timeline

The deadline for applications is April 24 (midnight UK time)
Judges will assess the entries and decide on the shortlist to proceed to the competition phase, with the six finalist teams announced on May 26.
The overall winner of Dare Academy 2017 will be unveiled at the end of EGX on September 24 after the top six teams have showcased their games for four days.

See Important dates for the contest timeline.

The Judges

Some of the most respected figures from the UK games sector have been selected as judges. They will be assessing your game applications and demoing your games at EGX. Confirmed judges so far include:

Peter Molyneux (OBE), 22 Cans

Luke Savage, Sony Interactive Entertainment Europe

Colin Macdonald, Channel 4

Jim Woods, SEGA

Paul Farley, Tag Games

Dave Bradley, COO Steel Media

Melissa Knox, Blazing Griffin

Gavin Smart, YoYo Games

Kirsty Rigden, FuturLab

(More information on the judges)