Abertay students win BAFTA and their dream is funded by the Abertay University Prototype Fund.
Swallowtail Games, the winners of the ‘Ones to Watch’ prize at the 2012 BAFTA Video Games Awards, have launched a company supported by the Abertay University Prototype Fund.
The team was one of the three winners from Dare to be Digital 2011, the internationally renowned game design competition organised and hosted by the University of Abertay Dundee.
Following their BAFTA win for Tick Tock Toys, a fun and colourful iPad puzzle game for all ages which they are hoping to release in early 2013, the team completed postgraduate studies at Abertay University and have now been awarded up to £25,000 to develop and test a complete prototype game.
Sophia George of Swallowtail Games said “We’re delighted to start our own company, something which wouldn’t have been possible at this stage without the investment from the Abertay Prototype Fund. This is something I’ve dreamed of since I was a little girl. We always planned to release Tick Tock Toys as the feedback we got from Dare to be Digital and winning the BAFTA was so amazing, but now we’re able to finish the game much more quickly – and use this development time to create a really rich, enjoyable experience for people of all ages.”
Co-founder Kristian Francis added: “I’d advise anyone who wants to start their own games company or try out a new business idea to apply for the Abertay Prototype Fund. It’s massively accelerated our business plans. What people need to think about in their Prototype Fund application is how they’re going to build a great, commercially viable business, not just a one-off product.
“Swallowtail Games has a really distinctive child-friendly art style and a passionate focus on deceptively simple, beautifully fun games for all the family. That helped us secure the investment and, we hope, will help launch a sustainable, successful business right here in Dundee.”
Swallowtail was formed by students from Norwich University College of the Arts and Abertay University, with two of the Norwich students moving north for postgraduate study in Dundee. Their received £25,000 investment also includes a much relieving setup for newcomers to the industry: free studio/office space, modern computers and industry standard software.
Other new or young companies looking for investment up to £25,000 can apply to the current Prototype Fund round until December 11 at 5pm. Full details regarding the Abertay Protoptype Fund can be found here: http://prototypefund.abertay.ac.uk/
For more information about Swallowtail Games, and to vote for design decisions on Tick Tock Toys, please visit: http://www.facebook.com/swallowtailgames
