lifestyle_DUNDEE
DUNDEE CITY INSIDER Chris Van Der Kuyl photo Susie Lowe
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undee is the birthplace of the Scottish games industry, with some of the world’s biggest titles starting here - including Lemmings and Grand Theft Auto. Within the industry, Chris Van Der Kuyl is helping to lead the way, a video games Bafta and a little game called Minecraft under his company belt - the fastest selling and most successful Xbox Live Game in history. Here, the games and technology entrepreneur tells us what he loves about the city he calls home. What gives Dundee its edge? The creativity and ingenuity of the people who live there. Home is where the heart is – how true is this statement for you? Dundee has always been home for me. I live in Broughty Ferry and lots of my friends and family are based in the city so that’s where it starts.
Earliest memory of life in the city? Probably walking to Glebelands Primary School along the Arbroath Road and the unique smells of the remaining Jute mills. Biggest change you’ve seen in recent years? Undoubtedly the Waterfront but that’s probably matched by the renewed optimism of the people who decide to make Dundee their home to build creative and innovative businesses. Drinks? OVD and coke in Clark’s Bar on a Thursday night for Pre-Production. Favourite shop? Rainbow Music, the original and best musician’s haunt on Cowgate. Favourite outdoor space? Baxter Park, especially brilliant since its Millennium makeover, and also the brand new Mary Slessor Gardens at the Waterfront; the recreation and destruction of The Royal Arch in Cardboard was genius. 77