Exhibition seeks games industry tales

A NEW project leader mapping Dundee’s role in the early years of the games design industry is looking for stories from early pioneers.

Donna Holford-Lovell has been tasked with collecting the memories of some of Dundee’s earliest forays into games design for a new exhibition called From DIY Design to DMA Design (1980-1990).

Project coordinators want to hear from those in the city who played a role in the early days of the industry and will be on hand to gather information at this year’s Dare ProtoPlay festival.

The annual conference brings teams of young games developers from across the globe to the city, offering them the chance to showcase their work to industry professionals and the public.

Ms Holford-Lovell said: “When Spectrum’s distinctive rainbow motif hit the streets of Dundee in April 1982, this revolutionary home computer gave people the ability to make their own games.

“From DIY Design to DMA Design will be an exploration of Dundee’s chapter of home-grown computer-literate designers, finding out what drove them – whether it was a craving to replicate the arcade games of America or an overwhelming desire to understand how things worked.

“So, whether they were creating their own code or were even part of the ZX Spectrum production line, we want visitors to Dare ProtoPlay to come forward with their personal experiences.

“Throughout Dare ProtoPlay, we’ll have a space housing two ‘collecting stations’ in the City Square where we’ll be gathering people’s stories and hosting facilities where we can document any artefacts and photocopy contributors’ photographs.”

The games entered for this year’s Dare to be Digital competition will go on display to the public at Dare ProtoPlay in the Caird Hall from Thursday to Sunday.