News Archive

PRESS RELEASE – 07/03/2006
DIGITAL GOLDFISH TO SWIM IN BIGGER OCEANS

An innovative Dundee-based games company is set for the global launch of its ground-breaking product.

Digital Goldfish, run by two graduates from Abertay University ’s highly regarded digital media courses, is one of only a handful of companies specialising in mobile phone games aimed at the female market.

Their main product, Babygrow, was launched to the UK market last year to wide acclaim. However, following approaches from an Australian-based company specialising in taking such technologies to global markets, the company has been further developed and is to be launched worldwide within the next few weeks.

Based in the City of Discovery , David Hamilton and Barry Petrie are also exploring the possibility of further developing the Babygrow brand to include soft toys and figurines.

The game involves selecting and naming a cartoon-style baby and caring for it as it grows. Failure to care will result in a visit from Agnes of Social Services.

David Hamilton said: “The idea really grew from work I did at university, and I was encouraged to further develop it via Embreonix, the university’s scheme which is a mixture of incubator and post-grad course.

“Barry was studying with me, and he and I decided to work together on developing the idea and we have taken it from there.”

The initial UK launch generated several thousands of sales of the games, but predictions for the global launch are naturally far higher.

Barry said: “We have received funding from the Prince’s Scottish Youth Business Trust, from Scottish Enterprise via Business Gateway, and we have also invested ourselves in the business.

“We are very self-contained, and it is our intention to seek organic growth.”

Carri Cusick, of Scottish Enterprise Tayside, said: “ Dundee is gaining an international reputation within the digital media and gaming industries, and our graduates are highly sought after. David and Barry have come up with a plan to pursue a sector of the market that, until their entry, has been neglected and we believe their innovation will bear fruit.”

PRESS RELEASE – 16/03/2006
STARS BEING DISCOVERED AT SENSATION

Dundee primary school pupils were given a unique opportunity to understand the night sky at the Discovery Science Days as part of National Science Week.

Sensation, Dundee ’s Live Science Centre, was the focal point for a galactic experience for local schoolchildren – and adults were also invited to join the star-gazing fun.

The City of Discovery Campaign working closely with Sensation last week ran Discovery Science Days with the highlight being an amazing inflatable planetarium, the Cosmic Dome.

The event running from Wednesday, March 15 th till Sunday March 19 th, with the weekend sessions being supported to attract mums and dads along too. School visits were run through the weekdays, supported by Dundee City Council. This coincided with National Science Week, which is from March10 th – 19th.

Lord Provost John Letford, Chairman of the City of Discovery Campaign , said: “Dundee is internationally renowned for the quality of the science and research which is conducted here.

“Our universities are highly acclaimed, and our medical expertise is world leading in some key sectors, so it is appropriate that the City of Discovery Campaign should support efforts to promote science and all its wonders to our young people.”

Hannah Crookes of Sensation said: “Those who came along were able to identify the North Star, the Plough and others and learn what the stars meant to our ancestors. Many of us rarely experience the beauty and wonder of a clear star-filled night sky due to light pollution caused by excess lights from towns and cities.

“Through this event, supported by the City of Discovery Campaign , people were able to discover what the night sky really should look like, and exactly what is shining down on us.”

Visitors to Sensation were also able to visit the Centre’s two floors of exhibits including Roborealm and the new interactive exhibition exploring the wonders and complexities of sight and the brain.

The event also included talks from experts on climate change and from scientists at the Mills Observatory.

On Wednesday, March 15 th Alison McLure of the Institute of Physics in Edinburgh gave a talk on climate change to the schoolchildren visiting Sensation. On Thursday March 16 th Bill Samson talked about the planet Venus and its own Greenhouse effect and the lessons that Earth can learn, while on Friday 17th Ken Kennedy spoke about “The Earth, the Sun and climatic change”.

The theme tied in with the “Click for the Climate” campaign being run as part of National Science Week by the British Association for the Advancement of Science and the Economic and Social Research Council. More information on this at www.the-ba.net/climatechange