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Game On As Derby Student Wins Bus Competition

A University of Derby student has won a national bus company`s contest to design a computer game for its website customers.

Last year Arriva celebrated the launch of its www.arrivabus.co.uk website by appealing for budding computer games designers to create a bus themed game.

Chris McKellar, on Derby`s BSc (Hons) Computer Games Programming degree course, won the competition with his arcade-style game `Buster`.

It challenges the player to line up three buses of the same colour and `bust` their way through the rows. A multi-coloured Arriva bus wins extra points in the timed trial. The game is available to play online now at www.arrivabus.co.uk/buster .

Chris, 21, who is originally from Cambridgeshire, said: "I was really shocked and excited to have won Arriva`s design a game competition.

"I spent four weeks on the project and it provided something challenging to do during the holidays. I`ve designed games before for projects at the University. This is a real achievement for me."

As well as seeing his game online and accessible to all via the Arriva website, Chris has won a bumper pack of goodies. It includes a trip around UK games house, Crytek, and a brand new desktop computer worth £500.

Keith Myatt, Communications and Media Relations Manager for Arriva Midlands, said: "Chris is a very deserving winner of our competition. It`s fitting that he is based in Derby, with the city being the birthplace of Tomb Raider character Lara Croft.

"The Arriva game is a great way to keep our site relevant and interesting for all of our customers and Buster has added a different dimension to the site. Visitors can now book their bus travel, find out information about our services and play our brand new Arriva game."

Arriva Midlands is offering budding game designers at the University and elsewhere another chance to create a bus themed game to be hosted on the Arriva Bus website.

Anyone who wants to enter should visit www.arrivabus.co.uk/design-a-game2010. The deadline for entries is Sunday August 29. The winner will receive the same prizes as Chris received.

For further information about the University of Derby contact Press and PR Officer Sean Kirby on 01332 591891 or 07876 476103, or email s.kirby@derby.ac.uk.

For further information about the Arriva Bus competition contact Denver Coulson or Charlotte Pettitt on 0121 355 3446 or email charlotte@haslimanntaylor.com.