A team from Morgan Academy came out on top in a week-long computer game design competition held at Abertay University.
The Dare Schools Team Challenge sees groups of S5 school pupils go head-to-head designing and building a 2D single-player game played in a web browser using software supplied by Dundee-based YoYo Games.
Now in its 14th year, the challenge is backed by Dundee City Council and delivered by the university with support from local games company Hyper Luminal.
The four-member team from the school created Banished, a Legend of Zelda-inspired game, after beating off the six other game designs that made it into the final.
Lynne Short convener of Dundee City Council’s city development committee, who handed over the prizes, said: “As mother to a 15-year-old son that eats, sleeps and breathes gaming, this is right up my street and totally exciting.
“Dare Schools Challenge has given a number of young people from Dundee a head start in the computer games industry because of the way it creates a realistic learning environment for aspiring developers.
“It focuses minds and tightens up the skills needed to launch and sustain a career in this sector.
“The challenge has created a pipeline of the right kind of talent for local companies to continue to succeed in an increasingly challenging global market.”
Various basic skills including software familiarisation and storyboarding were picked up by the teams earlier this week at the university.
The adventure game was designed by 16-year-olds Kieran Houston and Daniel McInroy, and Jack Teviotdale and Jesse Chan, both 17.
Richard Waghorn, Morgan Academy’s principal teacher of Music & Drama added: “I’m very proud of the guys, they really deserve it.
“In class they have been programming the music for games so they’ve been working very hard not just for the last week but all year.
“They all have aspirations to be games designers so this achievement can only help them.”
This year, the competition also saw teams enter from St. Paul’s RC Academy, Harris Academy, Craigie High School and Grove Academy.
The Banished team were given £50 gift vouchers for Game, with the runners-up getting £25 vouchers.
