GameApocalypse Now: can games solve Scotland’s digital skills crisis?

Prior to starting school many children play, love, and learn from digital games. Then... we lose them. Instead of building the next generation of creators and developers, and despite addressing the digital poverty gap, substantive digital industry skills remain in crisis.

Could videogames be the secret weapon to ensuring Scotland’s new generation of digital pioneers?

Chair: Michael Marra MSP, co-convener, Cross-Party Group on Scotland’s Games Ecosystems

Panellists:

Mark Ettle is chief executive officer of Cobra Mobile, an international games/app developer and publisher based in Dundee. Mark started working in the games sector at DMA Design before moving into pioneering work in the early mobile games space. Mark has led Cobra Mobile to become a leader in mobile game development attracting a client list including, Apple, WB, EA, TT Games, LEGO, DC Comics and Amazon. Mark has undertaken a wide range of charity work and is now creating a new college course designed to give young adults exposure to a variety of disciplines and skillsets lacking in today’s workplaces.

Dr Amanda Ford is a games lecturer at West College Scotland. She is also the founder of Scottish Games Education Network which aims to connect those across Scotland working in games education across all stages to ensure we are delivering the best quality education for anyone studying games in Scotland.

Jade Law is chief operating officer with the Edinburgh-based Wardog Studios, an art development studio with a global reputation for providing best in industry weapons and vehicles for games and film.

Dr Thomas Methven is a programme director and Scottish BAFTA-winning game developer. He is a pillar of the Edinburgh game development and lecturing scene and has been making experimental games for the last 10 years, leading the development of innovative video game teaching provision across Edinburgh, and runs the yearly Edinburgh Global Game Jam. He launched his first published game, SOLAS 128, to universal acclaim, and is launching an entirely new BSc (Hons) degree in Games Development and Production later this year.