Magical Guitar strikes a note with BAFTA Award
26 October 2007
A video game that uses a magical guitar to fight evil has this week won a BAFTA award for a team of students from the University of Abertay Dundee in Scotland.
The team - called Voodoo Boogy - comprised of five students from Abertay's Skillset-accredited Computer Games Technology and Computer Arts degree courses. Voodoo Boogy held off a strong field for the prestigious gong in the new 'One to Watch' BAFTA category, including a team from the University of Edinburgh and another team of Chinese students.
The Abertay team's winning submission was Ragnarawk, a 'rhythmic' game that sees a 'Rock God' use a magical guitar to defeat evil-doers. The game's original version used a dance mat where players danced on enemies, crushing them with a combination of dance routines.
Malcolm Brown, Computer Games Technology graduate and team leader for Voodoo Boogy, said the idea for Ragnarawk was born two years ago.
"We're big fans of role-playing games and rhythm games, and in the original version there was a dance mat you used to dance on your enemies," he said.
"There have been a number of games that use a guitar controller in Japan, but the idea is only just taking hold in Europe."
Skillset - the industry-led Sector Skills Council responsible for making sure the UK audio visual industries have people with the right skills to ensure and maintain world-class best practice status - was delighted with the BAFTA win for this group of students from Skillset-accredited courses.
Skillset Scotland Director Alasdair Smith said: "The University of Abertay Dundee is the only institution in the UK that has Skillset accreditation for both of its games courses - Computer Games Technology and Computer Arts. Skillset is delighted with the success of University of Abertay students at the BAFTAs."
He added: "The University of Abertay Dundee games courses have long been recognised as being particularly valued by the games industry and the success of Voodoo Boogy adds to the University's growing reputation as a major source of games industry talent. Skillset's accreditation identifies Abertay as setting the benchmark for games-related courses, and the BAFTA success shows that the benchmark being set is very high indeed."
Key requirements for Skillset accreditation include strong links with industry, use of industry-standard tools and techniques, and a strong focus on the core skills of maths, physics and drawing skills.
The BBC is also impressed with the computer games talent coming out of the University of Abertay. BBC Scotland is in talks with the University and representatives from industry to create a lab environment where students, staff, and game development companies can collaborate to prototype new games.
Professor Bernard King, Principal and Vice Chancellor of Abertay University, said: "Abertay launched its first computer games technology degree ten years ago and since then has added a computer arts degree - both of which are Skillset-accredited. We have developed a strong research base and grown Dare to be Digital into an international competition. During this time I have been arguing strongly for Scotland to seize the high ground in the new landscape of consumer-generated content and Web 2.0 technologies."
He added: "The new lab that we are planning with the BBC will be a hothouse, innovation-studio aimed primarily at developing new concepts of engaging with future audiences and interactive communities. The project will capitalise on the existing expertise within both Abertay and the BBC in driving the future of entertainment content development, targeting younger audiences in particular."
Media enquiries:
Rajiv Maharaj
Skillset
T: 020 7713 9812
M: 07968 010325
E: rajivm@skillset.org
Kevin Coe
University of Abertay
T: 01382 308452 M: 07850 904110
E: k.coe@abertay.ac.uk W: http://www.abertay.ac.uk/
NOTES TO EDITORS:
1. Jpeg image of Voodoo Boogy team with BAFTA award, and game screen captures available upon request.
2. The audio visual industries in Scotland make a significant economic and cultural contribution in Scotland. Around 8000 people are employed in the sector, in all sorts of occupations. In addition to the three main broadcasters - BBC Scotland, Scottish Media Group and Channel 4 - there is a thriving independent production scene both in film and broadcast, as well as significant facilities provision and an internationally acclaimed cluster of computer games developers.
3. Skillset is the Sector Skills Council for the Audio Visual Industries in the UK covering Broadcast, Film, Video, Interactive Media and Photo Imaging. Sector Skills Councils (SSCs) are licensed by the UK Government and by Ministers in the devolved administrations to tackle the skills and productivity challenge by sector. SSCs are independent, UK wide-organisations developed by groups of influential employers in industry or business sectors of economic or strategic significance. SSCs are employer-led and actively involve trade unions, professional bodies and other stakeholders in the sector.
4. The work of Skillset Scotland is guided by the Scottish Industry Skills Panel with membership drawn from leading employers as well as representatives from unions, trade associations, further and higher education and public agencies. The panel acts as Skillset Scotland's formal advisory committee. One of the first objectives achieved by the panel was the development of a Sector Skills Agreement to provide an action agenda for the industry, the Scottish Parliament , the Scottish Government and all other relevant agencies and organisations.
Skillset Scotland's priorities for action are:
- Develop the skills base of companies, employees and freelancers within the sector in Scotland
- Build closer collaboration between training/education sectors and industry in Scotland for better integration of skills demand and supply
- Attract, retain and promote skills and talent in Scotland by garnering existing funding to be used in a more meaningful way of behalf of the audio visual industries
Click here for more information on Skillset Scotland.
