Computer gaming enthusiasts will be able to compete against each other on wireless hand-held consoles from any location in the world in the future, students at the University of Ulster have heard.

John Bustard, a games designer and developer with computer giants, Sony, said wireless technology holds the key to further developments in the industry.

This will allow players to compete against each other at any time from any location. Instead of inviting friends around to their home to compete against each other, players will be able to take on opponents from throughout the world from their wireless consoles.

Mr Bustard, whose father Professor David Bustard is Head of the School of Computing and Information Engineering at UU’s Coleraine campus, was speaking at an event organised by the UUC Computer Games Society.

Dr Darryl Charles, lecturer in Games at Coleraine, said: “With the recent launch of the Playstation Portable, and with Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 on the horizon, 2006 is shaping up to be the biggest year yet for the games industry.

"Games development is already one of the major growth areas in computing in the UK and Ireland, and this exciting new course aims to put Coleraine at the centre of the Northern Ireland games community."

The event, attended by UUC students and local schools, was the first in a programme of activities to celebrate the launch of the new BSc Computing (Digital Games Development) course at the Coleraine site.

(MB/SP)