The event, running from Monday 7th to Friday the 11th of September will see several teams consisting of members of the public and students operating outside the digital media sector, coming together to collaborate on innovative new projects that meet a pre-determined brief.

Hopefuls will work closely with mentors and industry experts comprised of Scotland’s most prominent digital media players and academics, drawing on  expertise and furthering their own skills and knowledge of the sector.

The event is being supported by some of Tayside’s key players in digital media, including game developers Realtime Worlds, Cohort Studios, Proper Games and Electric Top Hat alongside web design agency Wangbar, Dundee Contemporary Arts and The University of Abertay Dundee.

Calls for applications are open until Sunday 23rd August. Anyone interested in entering the event solo or to register a team can do so at and learn more about this fantastic opportunity to get noticed by the people who matter

The investment angle
Dare to be Digital, the international computer game design competition run by Abertay University  showcased to HRH The Duke of York in London. Co-hosted by Turner Broadcasting and UK Trade & Investment, it was designed to reflect Turner Broadcasting’s investment interests in the UK. Dare was one of only six projects the US multimedia giant  showcase to HRH The Duke of York, in his capacity as UK Special Representative, International Trade and Investment. 
He spent time (above) with several of last year’s Dare participants meeting with Abertay’s organising team members.

Paul Durrant, (right) director of Dare to be Digital said  "This was an encouraging sign for future cross-platform opportunities between the UK games and interactive content industry and a global media company. 

For the games playing public
The best raw talent in computer games design from around the world is preparing for a final battle at Dare ProtoPlay (14-16 August), part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Dare ProtoPlay, presented by Abertay University and powered by Intel, has grown out of the world-leading Dare to be Digital competition and aims to celebrate young talent through a mini videogames festival. It is a unique cultural event for the games industry showcasing talent, IP, research, and much more, and serves as a battleground for creativity and culture in games development.

Business fair and large format play

Gamescom, Cologne, Germany opens 19 August for trade visitors and media where 350 exhibitors from more than 30 countries have registered for the gamescom premiere. Europe's largest  interactive entertainment trade fair has an opening ceremony in front of the North entrance for trade visitors and the media.

Afterwards, the German Federal Association of Interactive Entertainment Software (BUI) and Koelnmesse jointly invite guests to attend an opening press conference in the Rheinsaal at the Congress Centre North, followed by the exhibitors' press conferences to present their product highlights to the press which will start with Electronic Arts will, followed by Microsoft.

Gamescom takes the games into the city, addressing the target group of casual gamers in an entertaining way after the trade fair has closed. From 19 – 23 August 2009, Cologne’s entire trade fair centre offers a dazzling display of games and entertainment highlights for gaming fans from Germany, Europe and the world, with the city centre of Cologne, staged to provide entertainment
with live acts and game modules set up, which the festival audience can use to experience gaming.

The festival will open on 19 August by the European top music act Die Toten Hosen, who will rock the stage together with Ska-P, the Ohrbooten and other special guests. After the opening, in 3 different public squares in Cologne, buildings will serve as the screens. Using video projectors, various games will be played in a large format on the buiding façades.