Dreamers FAQ
The following FAQ list should provide some pretty comprehensive answers to any questions you have about Dare for Dreamers. You can also find full terms here which you must agree to before taking part.
- What is Dare to be Digital?
- How does “submitting a game idea” work?
- What will the winning dreamers get?
- How do I submit a game idea?
- Who can apply?
- Can I submit more than one idea?
- Can I submit my idea as a group?
- Can I submit a game idea and vote for it?
- I am working for a games company - can I submit an idea?
- Do you have an age limit for the Dare Dreamers?
- How many games ideas will be selected?
- When is the deadline for submitting my game idea?
- I’m having trouble submitting my form – who can I contact to help?
- Can I edit my idea after reading the comments?
- I am applying to Dare this year as a Do-er team, can I submit an idea?
- Is it possible that my game idea will be picked by more than one team?
- Who can vote?
- Is my idea protected in any way?
- How will my idea be produced?
- Will I get a chance to comment on the development of the game once it’s been chosen?
- Do I need to attend the selection events?
Dare to be Digital is the UK’s premier video games design competition. It has been run annually for the past ten years by Abertay University with wide support from the games industry, UK government departments and the public. Dare to be Digital is recognised as the gold standard for project based competitive team work and by far the best preparation for entering the games industry.
How does “submitting a game idea” work?
You submit a game idea online. Visitors to the site will then be able to comment and vote for their favourite idea. The Dare 2009 teams will be able to choose one to develop into a video game prototype. If your idea is chosen by one of the teams, you are one of the winning Dare Dreamers! Please be aware that the teams may also enter their own ideas and choose them.
What will the winning dreamers get?
- £500 cash prize for the originators of games subsequently chosen by the teams for development.*
- An invitation to to the Dare Awards ceremony to receive the prize
- A single return UK flight and 3 nights’ accommodation to Edinburgh to take part in Dare ProtoPlay during the Edinburgh Festival period. Terms & Conditions apply. (If you are from overseas, you have the option of taking £200 in cash instead or we can fly you from London)
- Exposure to the top notch games companies and partners that Dare is associated with
- A showcase opportunity in Dare ProtoPlay
- Publicity
*If your team is chosen to enter Dare and your team choose a game idea which is in the top list and is submitted by one of your team members, the cash prize, flight and accommodation will be forfeited.
Easy! Click here to fill in the form
Anyone with a video game idea.
Can I submit more than one idea?
Yes. Everyone applicant is allowed the maximum of 2 ideas.
Can I submit my idea as a group?
Yes. But if you win, there's only one prize per idea.
Can I submit a game idea and vote for them?
Yes. You can be a contributor as well as a voter. One visitor can only have one vote for an idea.
I am working for a games company - can I submit an idea?
Absolutely. Your talent may be overlooked or you have an idea (or many) that you would like to see being developed. So do let us see it. However, all of your games-related work may automatically be owned by your employer. Make sure you check with your employer and seek permission first before entering an idea.
Do you have age limit for the Dare Dreamers?
No. As long as you are able to express the game idea clearly in the application, you are eligible!
How many games ideas will be selected?
To make sure that all the Dreamers get the best opportunity possible so we plan to let Do-ers (the Dare teams) choose from all the ideas submitted by the Dreamers. Teams will need to make a sound judgement for their choice of idea based on the comments and voting. The voting and comments will serve as a guideline for popularity and market potential. The do-ers' choice of idea will be considered by the judges as whether it's competitive enough to enter Dare.
We will also make sure that Dreamers can be properly rewarded in any circumstances. If there's a situation that all the game ideas chosen are from the do-ers themselves, we will still have a vote by the final selected teams to find the best three Dream only entries who will still receive the full cash prize and a trip to Dare ProtoPlay.
When is the deadline for submitting my game idea?
15 March 2009. The earlier you put in your idea, the better chance your game will get higher rating and more votes.
I'm having trouble submitting my form - who can I contact to help?
Send an email to superfly@flyonthewire.com - our web support team
Can I edit my idea after reading the comments?
No. Once you have pressed the Submit button, your idea will be published for voting. But before submitting your idea, you can save your application first and revise it as many times as you want until you are ready to submit.
I am applying to Dare this year as a Do-er team, can I submit an idea?
Yes but remember you are placing it in the public domain and it may be selected by other teams. You won’t be eligible for any Dream awards if you are selected to be a team on Dare.
Is it possible that my game idea will be picked by more than one team?
Yes.
Any registered Dare web-site user can vote. One registered user can only vote for one game idea once.
Is my idea protected in any way?
No it absolutely isn't. You will be sharing your ideas and dreams freely for the benefit of the community. The best you can hope for is that it will be compelling enough for someone highly talented to turn it into reality, with you acknowledged (partially or wholly depending on circumstances) as the originator of the concept. You could also win a prize too! You will not get rich even if the idea ends up as a blockbuster game - please remember that in most games the base / original idea is a tiny, tiny proportion of the total development effort. You should only enter if you understand this and accept it fully. If in doubt, seek independent advice!
The Dare to be Digital model is to give the teams 10 weeks development time with hardware, software and mentoring support in order to finish a game prototype. Although it’s a near-to-real-world production process, it’s no comparison with AAA+ games in terms of the time and money being put in it. So when you submit your idea, you need to be realistic that the end-product may only reflect the basic level of your idea if it’s an elaborate one.
Will I get a chance to comment on the development of the game once it's been chosen?
The interpretation of the idea is up to the teams. You can comment on their progress on the Dare web-site.
Do I need to attend the selection events?
It’s not compulsory. But it will be a good opportunity to sell your game idea to the potential teams if you want to see your game being realised.
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