New BBC Alba documentary to explore rich history of Scotland’s gaming industry

THE immense contribution Scotland has made to the gaming industry takes centre stage in a new BBC Alba documentary.

Trusadh: Geamadh – An Ath Ìre (Trusadh: Gaming – The Next Level) follows avid gamer MJ Deans as she goes on a journey to learn more about her favourite pastime.

Voiceover artist and actor MJ recently voiced a character in a video game and wanted to find out more about Scotland’s involvement in an industry that is now bigger than music and film combined.

Set across Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow, MJ uncovers the roots of video games and consoles as she goes back to the 1970s with Pong, Pac-man and the development of gaming on our own shores.

MJ meets Brian Baglow, director of the Scottish Games Network to hear more about the ZX Spectrum – a console brought to life in Dundee’s Timex factory.

Brian also tells MJ of the history of DMA Design – now known as Rockstar North – the developer of word of mouth success turned global phenomenon Grand Theft Auto.

From Menace and Blood Money to Lemmings, their games put Scotland on the map.

MJ visits the University of Abertay - ranked the best place in Europe to study video games - to find out more about game design and 3D animation from lecturer Kayleigh Macleod.

At Dundonian developers Hyper Luminal Games’ HQ we learn more about the creative process and Creative Director Rob Madden speaks of creating “wholesome games” like their latest release made in honour of Rob’s father, who died of cancer.

Hundreds work in the games industry as writers, character animators and playing games professionally as part of the Esports industry. John 'Johnnyboi_i' MacDonald is a structural engineer who has made a full-time career out of commentating on Rocket League games, travelling the world with it – and he catches up with MJ.

Also on screen is father of four and keen gamer, Paul Duke, who reminisces about his first console and challenges his two eldest sons to try one of his old favourites, comparing it to games they play today.

Trusadh: Geamadh – An Ath Ìre (Trusadh: Gaming – The Next Level) airs on BBC Alba this evening (Monday) at 9pm and will be available on BBC iPlayer for 30 days after.

BBC Alba is available on the following platforms: Sky 117 (Scotland)/Sky 169 (rest of UK); Freeview/You View 7 (Scotland only); Virgin Media 120 (Scotland)/Virgin Media 161 (rest of UK); Freesat 109; BBC iPlayer.

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