Everyone knows Dundee is the beating heart of Scotland’s games ecosystem, but how many studios are based in the city?
Researchers from Abertay University are calling upon the collective knowledge of the Dundee games community to help verify a comprehensive map of the city’s renowned games cluster.
The request comes as part of GAME-ER, a major European research project dedicated to understanding the dynamics of local and regional video game ecosystems. The project aims to provide policymakers and decision-makers with the knowledge and tools needed to foster and support thriving games clusters across the continent.
Leading the Dundee-focused element of the project is Martin Lynagh, a lecturer in game production at Abertay University and veteran of the Scottish games scene.
“We are looking to verify some work we have done in mapping the Dundee cluster,” Martin explained. “We actually used the excellent SGN directory as a starting point for this, so we’d love to get feedback from the community to ensure our data is as accurate and comprehensive as possible.”
The project’s goal is to create a detailed, publicly available resource that accurately reflects the network of studios, support organisations, and educational bodies that make up the Dundee ecosystem. This data is important for informing future policy and investment decisions, both in Scotland and across Europe.
GAME-ER: A Call for Community Knowledge
The GAME-ER team is asking anyone involved in Scotland’s games sector – from developers and artists to freelancers and business owners – to review their initial findings and provide feedback, corrections, or additions.
This is a direct opportunity for the community to contribute to a significant piece of academic research that will help shape the future support structures for the industry.
Editor’s Note: I’ve known Martin since the ‘before times’ myself, and this is exactly the kind of collaborative, data-driven work the ecosystem needs (And yes, Martin, I would very much like my copy of The Sopranos back at some point. Thx, B)
How To Get Involved
The research team has prepared a document listing the entities they have mapped so far. They are asking for community members to review it and offer their expert feedback.
You can find the current list of game developers in Dundee here. All feedback and updates should be directed to Martin here.
Dundee, such a stunning place.