Why Dundee is the Video Game Capital of Europe
Dundee is the birthplace and home of many incredible video game startups and is the best city in Europe to study video game design — many reasons why Dundee is the video game capital of Europe
Following on from my last article which highlighted reasons why Dundee is an ideal place to get an e-sports arena, I was really wanting to extend more into the ‘video game capital of Europe’ tag which I briefly mentioned.
With the city being home to over 40 video game companies and start-ups as well as being the birthplace of some of the best selling titles around the world, I want to dig in and let you know why Dundee is the video game capital of Europe.
So let’s getting digging!
We created Grand Theft Auto — one of the best selling video game series of all time
Grand Theft Auto was created in Dundee way back in the 1990s by a studio called DMA Design, today known as Rockstar North. Originally titled, Race ’n’ Chase, Grand Theft Auto has sold over 315 million copies worldwide.
Grand Theft Auto was first developed in Dundee at DMA Design’s headquarters at the city’s Technology Park and when the first game was released in 1993, it became the subject to much concern due to it’s violence and the impact it would have on the gamers.
We also created Lemmings too…
Lemmings was also developed in Dundee by DMA Design, another hit title from the city, it was one of the best-received video games of the early 1990s. It was the second-highest-rated game in the history of Amstrad Action, and was considered the eighth-greatest game of all time by Next Generation in 1996.
Lemmings is also one of the most widely ported and best-selling video games, and is estimated to have sold around 20 million copies between its various ports. The popularity of the game also led to the creation of several sequels, remakes and spin-offs, and has also inspired similar games.
We also developed console versions of Minecraft
Everyone who knows video games know Minecraft — the open sandbox game where you can create worlds, battle mobs, and explore the ever-changing Minecraft worlds.
Thanks to the amazing work from 4J Studios, spearheaded by Chris van der Kuyl, Dundee was where the console versions of Minecraft were developed. The console versions of the game began releasing in 2012 and 4J Studios have created various additions to the game for the console and it has been a hit with all gamers alike.
We became the first city in the world to introduce a degree in video game design
Dundee is home to the incredible Abertay University. This university has been a great place for up and coming video game developers and designers. Also what is incredible is that Abertay was the first university in the world to introduce a degree in video game design.
In 1997, Abertay University embarked on a journey into computer games education that would shape the future of the institution, the games industry and the city of Dundee itself.
The best city in Europe to study video game design
Abertay University also has the privilege of being named the best place to study video game design in Europe. Don’t take my word for it — take it from the Princeton Review who has awarded Abertay the accolade on six consecutive occasions.
And to back that up, the Game Design and Production course by Abertay University became a trailblazer in video game education and learning and still today continues to be amazing with the course gaining an impressive 96% Overall Student Satisfaction rating in the 2020 National Student Survey.
Birthplace of the Scottish gaming industry
Dundee is also considered to be the birthplace of the Scottish gaming industry, with the likes of Grand Theft Auto and Lemmings being created here, there also over 40 video game companies and start-ups which are based in the city including the likes of 4J Studios, Outplay Entertainment, Puny Astronaut, Ninja Kiwi Europe, Tag Games and Ruffian Games.
These companies have developed some of the best video games on various platforms and have contributed significantly to the video gaming industry.
Creative individuals making their mark
David Jones, Mike Dailly and Chris van der Kuyl are just three names of many creative individuals in the city who have contributed so much to Dundee’s video gaming industry
But there is an entirely new generation of video game designers learning at Abertay and making their marks on the video gaming industry.
Some of the up and coming video game developers have created video games in response to helping with health issues. One such example is a video game called Archipelayo which was developed by Konglomerate Games — formed by students from Abertay University.
The game is designed around the Fizzyo Sensor, a Bluetooth sensor which attaches to the physiotherapy devices which are used to enhance the airway clearance techniques which people with cystic fibrosis perform and as of May 2020, the game is undergoing medical testing at the Great Ormond Street Hospital in London.
Conclusion
Dundee is the video game capital of Europe due to its contributions to the video game industry with the creation of Grand Theft Auto and Lemmings as well as developing the console versions of Minecraft, being the best place to study video game design in Europe and the first place in the world to study such degree and being the go-to place for video game start-ups.
Having an e-sports arena in the city would be the icing on the cake for Dundee due to the contributions it has made in the industry and yet if an e-sports arena does come about, that would add to the already-existing reasons why Dundee is the video game capital of Europe.
