Four prizes are on offer, which include the £25,000 funding per project, as well as free TIGA membership for six months, mentoring, and support from the technical teams at contest supporters Antix Labs or Turbulenz.
Creative Industries Minister Ed Vaizey said: "Being able to show a potential investor a prototype can make a real difference in securing all-important funding, so this competition will provide direct help to budding developers. I hope that it will prove key to making some brilliant ideas into successful businesses." Paul Durrant, Director of Business Development at Abertay University, said: "Abertay University is working hard to give start-ups and young companies the opportunity to create original IP supported by the Prototype Fund and use it to secure funding and grow their companies. Working with TIGA, Turbulenz and Antix gives us a fantastic opportunity to improve the success potential of the companies who receive our support."
Dr Richard Wilson, TIGA CEO, said: "As the trade association for UK game developers, TIGA is focused on making the UK the best place in the world to do games business. One of TIGA’s top priorities is to improve access to finance for studios. I am delighted, therefore, to be working with Abertay, Antix Labs and Turbulenz in running this competition which will provide finance for small studios to develop game prototypes." The successful applicants will be judged on their market potential, having a commercially viable business model, and the fit with the category briefs.
Applications must be received by noon on Thursday 26th January 2012.
To apply, register from Monday 28th November at https://ktn.innovateuk.org/web/tiga-games-contest for the TIGA Games Challenge group.