By Tom Degun

Glasgow_2014_digital_game_winner_August_2011August 31 - An Irish student from the University of Abertay Dundee has struck gold by winning a Scottish Government competition to produce a digital game based on the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.


Students were invited to submit a digital game concept aligned with the ideals of the Commonwealth Games and the Glasgow 2014 brand with winning design coming from 21-year-old student William Rountree from County Armagh and is titled "Your Moment."

By winning the competition, Rountree has scooped a cash prize of £2,014 ($3,222) as well as the opportunity to work with professional games development firm 4JStudios who won the contract to transform his winning concept into a working game.

"It's great to see the Scottish Government embracing its video game industry and game development students with this unique competition to help promote the Commonwealth Games," said Rountree at the  launch event at Dundee Contemporary Arts.

"I still can't quite believe I actually won but I have had an amazing experience working with the team at 4JStudios and seeing my design develop, change and become a reality.

"It has given me great insight into the development process in a real studio environment, experience which will be very useful when looking for a job upon completing my course."

Glasgow_2014_digital_game_graphicThe design ties in with many features of the Glasgow 2014 brand: the avatars used in the game are Glasgow 2014 official pictograms and the avatar's movements are traced by a sustaining arc which echoes a motif used in the official Glasgow 2014 brand film.

"This competition has been a unique opportunity to combine the creativity and flair of students in Scotland with the skill of our world-renowned games development sector and the excitement and passion prompted by the Commonwealth Games coming to Scotland in 2014," said Commonwealth Games Minister Shona Robison.

"Unsurprisingly, concepts of a high calibre were submitted and I congratulate William on his win.

"This is the perfect springboard for Scotland to stamp its innovative character on the 2014 Commonwealth Games and further raise the profile of our digital economy."

The game's design allows players to try 10 of the 17 sports, including table tennis, cycling and gymnastics, which will feature at the 2014 Commonwealth Games using different actions with the keyboard and a mouse.

The game's backdrop features some of Glasgow's landmarks and participants have the opportunity to share their performance results with friends using social network sites.

"The Commonwealth Games are a terrific vehicle for celebrating positive qualities of a country so I think it's very fitting that the Scottish Government is able to showcase Scotland's stellar reputation for computer game development as part of the preparations for Glasgow 2014," said Glasgow 2014 chairman Lord Smith

"William is obviously a very talented young man.

"I was very impressed with his initial concept and seeing the finished article here today is very pleasing."

Michael Cavanagh, the chairman of Commonwealth Games Scotland added: "Many of our athletes spend a lot of their downtime playing digital games, especially when travelling abroad to competitions.

"I am sure they will be particularly proud that a new game has been developed that is about sport and the Commonwealth Games.

"It is great to see that our sporting talent, which will be showcased in Glasgow 2014, is so well complemented by the talent and innovation of such an important business sector in Scotland as digital games development."

The game is now available to play on the Glasgow 2014 website by clicking here

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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