Students battle for Bafta award

Shrunk sees the players reduced to the size of a salt shaker

Abertay University students will be battling it out to pick up a prestigious Bafta award for computer games design.

The winners of the Bafta Ones to Watch category are guaranteed to come from the university in Dundee.

Its teams took all three finalist spots at a computer games design competition.

They beat groups from the UK, China, India, Norway and Canada to be named the winners at this year's Dare to be Digital contest.

The Butterflyers created a game called Shrunk!, which sees the player reduced to the size of a salt shaker as they try to capture a device which shrinks the world around them.

Gentlemen of Fortune won for their game Quick as Thieves, where the player has to steal items from a museum.

And Pixel Pirates were named winners for their 3D puzzle-based game Colour Coded, where the player has to guide their characters past obstacles.

The judging panel was made up of top names in the computer gaming industry and included the BBC, Denki, Disney, Realtime Worlds, Rockstar North, Sony, and Turner Broadcasting.

Colour Coded is a 3D puzzle-based game

Judge Andy Nuttall said: "I was impressed with the level of quality at this year's Dare, which just keeps on getting better.

"Each team showed determination to impress both through their games and their pitches, with plenty of originality and technical achievement on show.

"It was difficult to pick three to go forward, and choosing one for the ultimate Ones to Watch award at the Baftas will be particularly tough."

Abertay's Principal Bernard King added: "Dare to be Digital is recognised as the number one new talent spotting event for the computer games industry.

"Students arrive with ideas, boundless energy and enthusiasm, and leave with new confidence and with much-sought-after experience on their CVs.

"More than 80% of those who take part go on to employment in the industry."