Wannabe computer games designers are to be given a helping hand in Edinburgh.
The city's first dedicated video games lab was opened on Monday by the man who helped produce smash-hit game Grand Theft Auto.
Brian Baglow officially unveiled the new training lab at Edinburgh Napier University’s School of Computing.
The former Edinburgh Napier student was joined by Disney Interactive Studio’s Kenny Mitchell, whose projects have included the Harry Potter games franchise and Steven Spielberg’s BAFTA award-winning game, Boom Blox.
The games lab provides resources for students on the University’s new BSc in Interactive Entertainment, which aims to nurture the next generation of games programmers.
It features 24 networked Xbox 360s and PCs, a 50-inch plasma screen and large projected screen, as well as robotics development capabilities.
Sally Smith, Head of the university's School of Computing said: “Designing digital entertainment products aimed at PCs, games consoles and mobile computing devices has become a lucrative industry and created a demand for skilled programmers and games designers.
“As a computing school, we have a strong track record of producing students, such as Brian and Kenny, who have gone on to make their mark in the industry. We want to give our current students every chance to follow in their footsteps and the new games lab is a fantastic resource to help them make that step from classroom to industry.”
Brian Baglow, who edits industry bible ScottishGames.biz, added: “There is a real pioneering spirit amongst Scotland’s games companies, who have been quietly leading the way in a range of areas.
The economic significance of the activity going on up here is now being more widely recognised and makes it more important than ever that strong links continue to be fostered between the games industry and academic institutions like Edinburgh Napier.”
