Top Indian computing talent joins international games design competition
30 May 2006
Three of India's brightest young computing graduates will
travel to Scotland next months to take part in the world's
leading computer games development competition for
students.
Pradeep Benjamin Dewars and Madan Mohan Katnapally from
Bangalore plus Kranthi Kumar Kukkala from Khamman in Andra
Pradesh have been selected to join teams competing in Dare to
be Digital, run by the University of Abertay Dundee in
Scotland (UK).
Generous funding from the Scottish Executive (the devolved
government of Scotland) enabled Dare to be Digital to expand
its horizons for 2006 and invite applications from Indian
students keen to show what they can do.
A competition was held recently for high-flying individuals
keen to seize a unique opportunity to establish their
credentials in the fast-moving international business of
computer games and digital entertainment. The three young men
impressed the judges with real passion for computer games and
genuine talent for creativity and innovation.
Pradeep graduated with a Bachelor of Computer Applications
degree from Christ College, Bangalore University, while Madan
holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Information Science degree
from Dayananda Sagar College of Engineering in Bangalore.
Kranthi graduated with a BTech CSE degree from Kakatiya
Institute of Technology & Science in Warangal.
All three will now receive return flights to Dundee to join
selected teams of students from the UK, Ireland and Canada
for the competition, with accommodation and a weekly
allowance of £170 thrown in.
Beginning in June, the teams will have just 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 judged by a panel
of experts and prizes awarded to the teams at a special
awards ceremony and talent showcase.
Tom McCabe, Scottish Executive Minister for Finance and
Public Sector Reform, said: "Scotland is at the cutting edge
of games design. The Executive's continued support enables
scholars from China and India to share ideas and experiences
with some of Scotland's brightest young talent. I warmly
welcome our new international scholar to Dare to be Digital
2006, and I know that they will have a rich and rewarding
experience. Dare to be Digital plays a key role in showcasing
Scotland as a centre of innovation, and to promote Scotland
as a great place for motivated and talented people to live,
work and study."
Jackie McKenzie, Abertay University's project manager for
Dare to be Digital, said: "We're delighted to be able to
offer this fantastic opportunity to Indian graduates this
year. The standard of programming and design talent now
coming out of India is on a par with the world's best, and we
are anticipating a tough but highly enjoyable selection
process to choose the three winners to come to Dundee."
K Rajesh Rao, CEO of leading Indian games company Dhruva
Interactive which will assist in the selection process, said:
"India's games industry is growing rapidly and the Dare to be
Digital experience is an excellent opportunity for talented
graduates to test out their ability in a real world
environment."
Anirudh Popli, who represented Dare in India last year, said:
'If ever work, learning, fun and making great friends could
co-exist, it's at Dare!"
Kamal Kant, of Study Overseas, said: "These scholarships are
a fantastic opportunity for young Indians to gain a unique
educational and practical experience in a high pressure and
challenging but ultimately highly rewarding environment.
We're delighted to be supporting this exciting
venture."
Eunice Crook, Director South India, British Council, said:
"The UK, and within UK particularly Scotland, is
internationally recognised as a centre of excellence in the
computer games industry, as exemplified by Dare to be
Digital. At the same time, India's creative and programming
industries are growing rapidly, producing high quality talent
to world standards. The British Council is pleased to support
the development of opportunities for young Indian talent to
gain experience of, and forge networks with, the British and
international games industry."
(Ends)
NOTES FOR EDITORS
Dare to be Digital 2006 is funded by Abertay University and
Dundee City Council, and sponsored by NCR, BBC Scotland,
Belfast City Council, The Digital Hub, NESTA and the Scottish
Executive. Dare to be Digital has established an enviable
reputation for producing high-grade talent. Of the four
Scottish teams that entered last year, for example, one
became a start-up games company in Glasgow, and another is
currently negotiating with a major publisher. A third team
became a start-up company based at Abertay with funding from
NESTA and is developing its concept into a commercial
product, while the fourth - whose members are completing
their studies - is negotiating the sale of its game to a
developer. Team members from previous years have gone on to
work for major names such as Lionhead, Electronic Arts, and
Microsoft while local talent is also retained in Dundee by
Real Time Worlds, Denki and other companies.
Picture shows, from left to right, Professor Lachlan
Mackinnon of Abertay University, Dare scholarship winners
Madan Katnapally, Pradeep Dewars and Kranthi Kukkala, and
Kamal Kant of Study Overseas.
Media enquiries:
Kevin Coe
T: +44 1382 308452
M: +44 7850 904110
E: k.coe@abertay.ac.uk
W: www.abertay.ac.uk