The Fresh Talent initiative is funding several places in the event

Dare to be Digital, hosted by Abertay University in Dundee, is hoping to attract entrants from Asia.

The competition, now in its sixth year, will see seven teams selected to develop a prototype video game.

Team members from previous years have gone on to work for major companies including Lionhead and Electronic Arts.

The successful teams will comprise four from Scotland, one from Northern Ireland, one from Ireland, and one from Canada.

Good track record

The Scottish Executive's Fresh Talent initiative is also funding seven places for Chinese and Indian students.

Jackie McKenzie, Abertay University's project manager for Dare to be Digital, said: "There are now more reasons than ever for teams to get together and enter Dare.

"The track record of previous participants shows how very highly regarded it is within the computer games industry."

Daily support

The successful teams will develop their game in Dundee over 10 weeks in the summer.

They will be given daily support and weekly training sessions from industry specialists before the prototypes are judged by a panel of experts and prizes awarded to the teams at an awards ceremony.