The Dare to be Digital project run by the University of Abertay Dundee in Scotland is trying to persuade art students to consider a career in the games industry.

Over the summer, teams of five students (largely male so far) are given financial and practical support to develop their ideas into a prototype game during a 10 week period.

The aim is to showcase their skills, help them find jobs making video games, but also to try to dispel stereotypes about the games industry.

“We try to encourage artists and animators that the gaming industry is something they could get into,” said Sarah Johnston, Dare marketing officer.

Some of the games created by the students have been sold to publishers to be played on mobile phones.

And the competition has opened doors in the gaming industry. Six Dare students are now working for games giant Electronic Arts and others have got jobs in smaller studios.

The winners of the Dare competition showcased their games at the recent European Computer Trade Show in London.

From BBC Technology.