Dr Andrew Reid

Contact info

a.reid@abertay.ac.uk

+44 (0)1382 30 8047

Biography

I am a Lecturer in Games Production having joined Abertay University in 2018. My research activity focuses mainly on the design, production, and evaluation of 'applied games' with particular sectoral interests in the third-sector, education, public engagement, health and wellbeing, and heritage and culture. I am interested in exploring new ways for game technologies to be developed, used, and understood in contexts beyond pure entertainment in response to their growing ubiquity in society.

I currently deliver teaching on modules centred in games research:

in the design, development and evaluation of applied games in live contexts (Applied Games and Research Practice)
in supporting independent undergraduate research in various game disciplines (Research Design for Games)
in the evaluation of game quality and user research (Quality Assurance and User Research).

I completed my undergraduate degree in Game Design and Production Management at Abertay University in 2015. Following that, I achieved my PhD in applied game design from Glasgow Caledonian University in 2018. I achieved my Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy in September 2020. I am a member of the AHRC Peer Review College (since 2022) and I am a member of the RSE Young Academy of Scotland (since 2024).

More information about my work and experience can be found on my website.

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Teaching
Research

Undergraduate Teaching

Quality Assurance and User Research
Research Design for Games
Honours Project (as supervisor)

Postgraduate Teaching

Applied Games and Research Practice

Postgraduate Supervisions

Completed:
- Fraser Simpson (MbR, 2021-2023)
- Vedant Sandare (MbR, 2019-2020)
Current
- Gordon Brown (PhD, 2020-)
- Olena Saienko (PhD, 2023-)
- Akos Demuth (PhD, 2024-)

Interests

My research has focused on the design, development, and evaluation of applied games for a variety of contexts. My currently work involves collaboration with third sector organisations to explore the co-production of games that support their achievements of goals and objectives:

Project:Filter was developed as part of my PhD and explores the intersection of public policy, engagement, and education.
CHAS Play is a curation of games developed by students in partnership with Children's Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS): one such project, Boccia Champions, was awarded a Bronze Award at the Serious Play Conference 2019.
CumbraeCraft is a heritage-themed game on the Minecraft Education platform designed for primary schoolchildren. The game was developed alongside a complete suite of lessons based on the discovery of local heritage of the Isle of Cumbrae in North Ayrshire, Scotland.
Final Breath was developed in collaboration with Fife-based organisation BRAG Enterprises, with aims of addressing social inequalities and positive destinations towards the games industry. The result was a number of disadvantaged young people pursuing Further Education in games-related degrees and national recognition from YouthLink Scotland for its approach to Digital & STEM.

I am actively interested in pursuing research and supervision opportunities of research in:

games for third-sector and volunteer organisations;
applied games in education;
widening access to games industry (particularly for those from SIMD backgrounds).

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More Information

Esteem

Memberships

RSE Young Academy of Scotland (2024-2029)

AHRC Peer Review College (2022-2025)

External Examinations

Academy of Contemporary Music, BA (Hons) Games Development and Futures (2022-)

Technological University Dublin, BA (Hons) Game Design (2018-2022)

Outreach

I was STEM Ambassador from 2016-2023 and enjoyed volunteering for various school-based STEM activities such as public demonstrations, career presentations, and hands-on workshops related to game development. I am passionate about providing insight and advice to young people who may wish to consider a career in the games industry, particularly to those from disadvantaged and marginalised backgrounds.

Selected Public Engagements and Workshops

Providing Pathways Through Youth Work and Game Development, Digital Youth Work Conference 2024 (Glasgow, UK; speaker)
Onboarding Accessibility Features in Videogames: RNIB Inclusive Design for Sustainability Conference 2023 (Glasgow, UK; speaker)
Tribunal Révolutionnaire: Depicting Oppression and Upheaval in We. The Revolution: The Interactive Pasts Conference (TIPC) 3 (Leiden, Netherlands; speaker)
CumbraeCraft: Games and Learning Alliance (GALA) Conference 2021 (virtual; exhibitor)
Nostalgia and Applied Games: RSE Curious 2021 (virtual; speaker)
More Than Playthings: RSE Curious 2020 (virtual; speaker)
RSE @ Inverness Family Day (Inverness, UK; speaker)
Jamology 2019 (Tampere, Finland; speaker)