A team of West Midland students are through to the finals of a national competition to design a new video game for the Wii console.

The students, four from the University of Wolverhampton and one from the University of Birmingham, are taking part in Dare to be Digital, a student video game development competition organised with Channel 4.

The team, made up of Adam Westwood, Graham Ranson, Owen Schwehr, Yves Wheeler and Matt Booton, is the only one from the West Midlands to make it through to the finals.

They now have ten weeks to develop a prototype video game of commercial quality, receiving support and training from industry experts.
The team, which goes by the name DarkMatter Designs, is entering a game called Boro-Toro using Wii Technology.

Players face challenging puzzles requiring logic and reasoning skills and the aim is to help the Boros reclaim a precious artefact and solve the mystery of the Starlight Isles.

University of Wolverhampton principal lecturer, digital media and games, Stuart Slater said: “This is the second time one of our teams has made it to the final and previous members of the team now work at the Serious Games Institute and Data Design Interactive developing Wii Games, so it is a great opportunity for students.“

At the end of the competition, the prototypes will be displayed at a talent showcasing event in Edinburgh, alongside the Edinburgh Interactive Entertainment Festival in August.

The public and industry experts will have the opportunity to test the games and vote for their favourite, with the winners receiving their prizes at a special awards ceremony.