Getting into Scotland's Computer Game Industry

The game industry in Scotland is thriving. With world famous games such as Lemmings and Grand Theft Auto created here and over 50 gaming companies based in the country, many of which are in Dundee, Scotland is the place to come if you want to build a career in computer games.

What qualifications do I need?

You can complete a Higher National Certificate (HNC) or Higher National Diploma (HND) relating to computing games. Most people working within the games industry will have completed an undergraduate degree in the relevant field, for example, computer science or computer games technology.

Once you have studied a good amount of computer programming and mathematics, you have the option of specialising in computer games in a postgraduate course. You would need a lower second class Honours degree, or above, to meet entrance requirements.

Where can I get these qualifications?

The University of Abertay, Dundee run a BSc (Hons) Computer Games Technology degree.

The University of the West of Scotland run undergraduate courses in the following areas:

• Computer Animation
• Computer Games Development
• Computer Games Technology

Glasgow Caledonian University have an undergraduate course: Bsc/Bsc (Hons) Computer Games (Software Development).

If you are looking to specialise within computer games after completing a first degree, the University of Abertay Dundee run the Msc Computer Games Technology Diploma.

What are my job prospects?

Because Scotland's game industry is growing, many companies are looking for creative people with the right qualifications. Most companies will accept your CV, and hold this until vacancies arise.

Work Experience

It's a good idea to approach companies for work experience during the summer holidays while you're still a student. This gives you the opportunity to find out what it is like to work with a games company and will sit well on your CV.

Proper Games, based in Dundee, are one of the companies that run short-term placements over the summer months.

Dare to be Digital yearly games competition

 Since it began in 1999, “Dare to be Digital”, organised and promoted by Abertay University in Dundee, has become a leading showcase for talented computer science and arts students in the UK and abroad.

The competition takes place over a 10-week period over summer, with teams of student games programmers and artists battling it out to produce fully-functioning protoypes of their games ideas.  The teams receive support from industry members and access to leading-edge technology.

The teams’ efforts are judged by a panel of games industry experts, and also voted on by mem
bers of the public at an exhibition staged as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.  The three winning teams go on to become the sole nominees for the BAFTA “Ones to Watch” Award early next year, a category created specifically for this project.

Dare to be Digital is a video games development competition for undergraduates at Universities and Colleges of Art. Teams of five students, usually a mix of artists, programmers and audio, assemble in the development hothouse for 10 weeks to develop a prototype video game, receiving daily support and weekly training sessions from industry specialists.

At the end of the competition, the prototypes are displayed at a special talent showcasing event in Edinburgh, Dare ProtoPlay, as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in August. The general public as well as industry experts get to play and vote for the games. Prizes are then awarded to the winning teams at a special awards ceremony. Later in the year the winning teams attend the BAFTA Video Games Awards to compete for the coveted "Ones to Watch Award.  : www.daretobedigital.com.

You can read team blogs on the Dare to be Digital website, which has information on the three winning teams from 2008.

You can find out more information about working in the game industry from Careers Scotland.

Related links

• Case study about software engineer, Thomas Kronberg
• Read about game company, Real Time Worlds
• Read about the software development company, Welltime Ltd
• More information about the game industry on TalentScotland
• A list of electronic technologies in Scotland
• An interview with Realtime World's Studio Manager, Colin Macdonald
• An interview with Ruffian Games' Studio Head, Gaz Liddon
• An interview with Denki's "Number One Fan", David Thomson