Alastair Smith

Lawyers will provide mentorship to those taking part in Abertay University’s Dare Academy, sharing expert advice on how to navigate legal issues that professionals in the gaming industry should consider - including those surrounding intellectual property and employment.

It is the fourth time that Lindsays, which has offices in Dundee, has been a sponsor, this year joining tech multinational Dell and accountancy firm MHA Henderson Loggie.

Dare took a break last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic but returns with a new online format and a prize fund worth £20,000.

The competition is open to students from Abertay’s School of Design and Informatics and reproduces an industry environment where student games studios conceptualise, design and build new prototype games through an intensive summer of hot-housing.

From a long list of initial entrants, a total of six teams have been selected to go forward to the final phase of this year’s competition and will each receive £1,000 up front to begin development.

Alastair Smith, senior associate in Lindsays’ corporate and technology group, said: “The video gaming and creative industries are a vital part of the economy in Dundee and indeed across Scotland. It’s important that we embrace the energy around the sector so that it can grow further.

“The Dare Academy does exactly that - providing a tremendous springboard for the creative minds in the video gaming space by highlighting and developing the skills they need to succeed in the marketplace. We are delighted to be a part of it.

“From a legal point of view, it’s important that the emerging generation of game developers are equipped with the knowledge they need to start building their enterprises - whether that be about financing their project, intellectual property, contractual or employment matters. The key to success can hinge on getting these legal foundations right from the outset.”

Abertay’s Dr Lynn Love, of the Dare judging panel, said: “We are over the moon to have such fantastic support from our returning sponsors MHA Henderson Loggie and Lindsays and our new kid on the block, Dell.

“The financial investment these supporters put into the competition is absolutely essential to its success, but I’m even more excited by the mentorship and advice that our students will get from working with such high level companies at the top of their respective fields.”