The organisers of the Dare to be Digital student game design competition have launched a new festival for independent developers and those considering setting up a studio of their own. Will Freeman finds out more
THE DARE TO BE DIGITAL student games development contest is now an established part of the annual industry calendar. It pairs aspiring developers with industry
mentors, and gives the teams nine weeks to create a working game. The ultimate prize is a chance to grace the stage and accept an accolade at the fully- fledged Video Game BAFTAs; an immense opportunity that typically takes the best in the business many years of devotion. This year at the Dare ProtoPlay event, that
serves as a meeting point for the Dare to be Digital teams and a panel of industry judges, a new element has been introduced, named the Dare Indie Fest. Designed to bring together independent
The Dare ProtoPlay event in full swing (top), event organiser Elaine Russell (middle), and UKIE CEO Dr. Jo Twist (bottom)
studios, funders, publishers and commissioners, the three-day gathering serves as both a networking event and showcase of UK indie gaming’s newest talent. “Dare Indie Fest is looking to expand Dare
to be Digital even further, bringing practical advice from internationally successful companies to indie games developers,” said Dare to be Digital project manager Elaine Russell. “It’ll be a great opportunity to make contacts and do business, as major publishers and funders like Channel 4 and BBC Worldwide will be there to meet indies and hear about their new games.” Speakers at Dare Indie Fest include Colin
MacDonald, games commissioner for broadcaster Channel 4, Hilmar Veigar
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Pétursson, chief executive of Eve Online studio CCP, Chris Wright, CEO and co-founder at data experts GamesAnalytics, the executive producer of gaming at BBC Worldwide, as well as numerous others yet to be announced. According to the organisers, the event is shaping up to be something of an essential diary date for indies, start-ups and even those yet to dive fully into the world of running their own studio.
Dare Indie Fest will help small
businesses to understand how they can make the most of their game ideas.
Elaine Russell, Dare Indie Fest “Dare Indie Fest will help small businesses
– as well as students and graduates thinking of starting a business – to understand how they can make the most of their game ideas,” explains Russell. “We’re bringing together a great deal of insight on the technology and business challenges indies face, so they can learn practical steps to take away and apply at once to their company or new game idea.”
The event will also incorporate a special
tax breaks briefing session hosted by UK trade body UKIE, to give local devs the chance to provide their input into the UK Government's on-going tax breaks consultation period. "We're proud to be sponsoring Dare
Protoplay as it consistently showcases the very best new games talent in Britain,” said UKIE CEO Dr. Jo Twist. “UKIE is helping to improve the flow of skilled graduates who make it into the UK games industry through its Next Gen Skills campaign, but we also need to make sure that we have the best possible tax breaks system in place. “That's why we're holding a tax breaks briefing session at Dare Indie Fest; to give local businesses the chance to have their voices heard.” Additionally, long-time Dare partner
BAFTA will also bring its popular BAFTA Games Question Time panel discussion format to Dare Indie Fest. “Dare Indie Fest is just the next step for us,”
concludes an optimistic Russell. “Dare to be Digital breaks students into the industry every year. Now we’re bringing them, and all indies, the practical knowledge to run your own successful, sustainable games development business.” As part of Dare ProtoPlay, Dare Indie Fest will be held in Dundee’s Caird Hall on August 10th to 12th this year. www.daretobedigital.com