TPLD

Infobox Company
company_name = TPLD Ltd
company_
company_type = Limited Company
foundation = September 2002
location = Dundee, Scotland
key_people = Jim Piggot, CEO
Matt Seeney, CTO Laz Allen, Operations Director Helen Routledge, Research Manager
industry = Games Based Learning
Serious Games
products = Eduteams Infiniteams IP2 Platform ITI Platform GY$T Radix Management System
num_employees = 19
homepage = [http://www.tpld.net www.tpld.net]

TPLD is a video game developer that designs and develops applications and platforms in the field of Serious Games, specifically Game Based Learning. The company is based in Dundee, Scotland, and was founded by Matt Seeney and Laz Allen in 2002 who were then students of The University of Abertay Dundee. The name stands for 'Team Play Learning Dynamics' although this is rarely used, in favour of TPLD.

In 2004 TPLD recruited Jim Piggot, from NCR Corporation who was at that point the Vice President for Software and Services, based in NCR's Discovery Centre in Dundee, to become the company's CEO [https://cmpevents.com/GDe04/a.asp?option=G&V=3&id=273562 Jim Piggot's first presentation as TPLD CEO, Serious Games Summit 2004] ] .

TPLD has developed two main products, Eduteams covering core skills in schools, and Infiniteams covering soft skills in medium and large organisations. A newly released single-player, web-based sales training game, developed in conjunction with DSC, The Land of GY$T (Get Your $ales Together), was released in May 2006 to address complex sales training in a game-based format.

In April 2007 it was revealed that TPLD was working with the Scottish Institute for Sport Foundation and Yehuda Shinar on a game to create winners and help people learn to think "correctly" under pressure. [http://www.theherald.co.uk/sport/headlines/display.var.1322607.0.0.php "Can a video game train winners?" Doug Gillon, The Herald] ]

Involvement in the Serious Games Community

Members of the TPLD senior team regularly speak at events in the rapidly expanding Serious Games community.

*Jim Piggot spoke at the Serious Games Summit 2004 in Washington DC about the company's experiences in the burgeoning market and his thoughts for the future of the industry [https://www.cmpevents.com/GDe04/a.asp?option=G&V=3&id=273562 TPLD Session info from Serious Games DC 2004] ]
*Helen Routledge, TPLD's Research Manager spoke at the Serious Games Summit 2005 about TPLD's Experiences Tailoring Assessment for Individual Customers [https://www.cmpevents.com/GDsg05/a.asp?option=G&V=3&id=408777 TPLD Session info from Serious Games DC 2005] ]
*Helen Routledge spoke at the Serious Games Summit Europe 2006 about The Quality issues faced with regards to Games Based Learning application for the health sector [http://www.sgseurope.com/conference/speakers-downloads.php TPLD Session info from Serious Games Europe 2006] ]
*Jim Piggot spoke at Apply Serious Games 2006 regarding the company's experiences with Infiniteams [http://www.applyseriousgames.com/ASG%202006/pages/programmeDAY2.htm#tpld Apply Serious Games 2006 Conferance Schedule and Sessions overview] ]
*Jim Piggot spoke at Digital Hollywood 2006 with John Newton of NCR regarding Online Games-based Learning for Leadership and Teamwork [http://www.digitalhollywood.com/%231-DHEurope/London-WednesdayGames.html Conference Schedule for Digital Hollywood 2006] ]
*Laz Allen spoke at the Massively Multi-Learner at the University of Paisley about the challenges TPLD have experienced over the last few years around games in the classroom [http://extra.shu.ac.uk/wordpress/?p=352 TPLD Session info from MML Paisley 2007] ]

In early 2007 TPLD also become a founding member of The Alliance for New Generation Interactive Leisure and Simulations, the trade body for Serious Games Developers in the UK.

Platform Developments

Over the company's lifetime there has been a definite and intentional focus on switching from the development of one time applications to the creation of more fundamental platforms following Software Product Lines theory which was introduced to the company by Jim Piggot after its successful implementation at NCR. This approach has resulted in two major platforms begin developed, The company's own platform, IP2 and a co-developed platform from ITI Techmedia.

IP2

IP2 stands for Infiniteams Platform 2, and was created initially to support further versions of the company's first product, Infiniteams, although during the requirements gathering phase the scope for the platform was extended beyond this. The platform's development was backed by Scottish Enterprise Tayside, and now complete is capable of support a variety of gameplay types and also includes a management system, called Radix that allows deployment over the internet. Since it's completion the platform has been used to create three applications:
*A new version of Eduteams, with refreshed modules
*GY$T - in collaboration with Definitive Solutions Company Inc [http://www.dsc-online.com/news/05-0519_DSC_TPLD_Strategic_alliance.doc Press Release from DSC regarding GY$T Development with TPLD] ]
*A prototype application based around Software Product Lines with the University of Paisley [http://icte.paisley.ac.uk/GBLTPLD.htm Project Info page at the University of Paisley] ]

The ITI Platform

The ITI Platform is a much higher end platform than the afor mentioned IP2, capable of full 3D environments enables facilitators to customise and manage a players experience to a very detailed level [http://www.scottish-enterprise.com/sedotcom_home/stn/scottishtechnologynews/stn-feb07-5.htm Press Release from ITI regarding platform release to TPLD] ] . As yet there is further market information about this platform.

Key Partners

Definitive Solutions CompanySince 2005 TPLD has had a strategic partnership with Definitive Solutions Company (DSC), a subsidiary of U.S. retailer Toys "R" Us, based in Cincinnati, Ohio. The goal of the partnership is to bring TPLD's Products to the American market, and develop new applications where the opportunity is identified.

Learning PerformanceSince 2006 the company has had a strategic partnership with Learning Performance (LP), based in Surrey, England. The goal of the partnership is to bring TPLD's Products, specifically Eduteams, to the English market, and develop new Eduteams Modules for the National Curriculum (England and Wales).

Awards & Competitions

TPLD has won the following awards:
*The SIE Business Plan Competition 2003, Runners Up [http://www.connectonthenet.com/NetworkNews/Bulletins/SIE_BP_2003.asp Article Announcing 2003 SIE Prize Winners] ] [Quote|TPLD entered the SIE Business Plan competition last year as a bunch of young ambitious graduates with all the attributes that we encourage in University students across Scotland. Now, a year later SIE is delighted to hold them up as an exemplar to 600 'like minded' students - headlining them as talented group of young entrepreneurs with drive, ambition and determination to succeed coupled with the bullishness to combine their technological competence and the wisdom to bring in experience to guide them and their products into the marketplace. This is a company that could make a real impact in their chosen market|Sharon Bamford, Director, Scottish Institute for Enterprise|SIE Enterprise Summit 2004]
*Shell LiveWire Scotland 2004 - Tayside Finalist [http://www.shell-livewire.org/awards/main.php?catid=41&subcatid=&artid=1088517553.780 Listing for 2004 Shell Livewire Scottish Finalists] ]
*Techlearn 2005 Best in Show, Simulation/Gaming Development Tools, for Infiniteams, with DSC [http://www.ltimagazine.com/ltimagazine/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=184458 Article announcing Techlearn 2005 winners] ]
*Shell LiveWire Scotland 2004 - Best Employment Prospects [http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4156/is_20040509/ai_n12588766 Article 'Life-saving winner has worldwide market; Ask customers what they need' includes ref to TPLD award] ] [http://www.shell-livewire.org/news/index.php?catid=archive&artid=1083931265.773&year=2004&PHPSESSID=d74506cce6e860d07c682ead7751a9b0 Shell Livewire Official page for 2004 winner announcement] ] [http://www.abertay.ac.uk/News/NewsDetails.cfm?NewsID=516 UAD Press Release regarding Shell Livewire Scotland 2004] ]

TPLD was an unawarded entrant in the following competitions:
*The SIE Business Plan Competition 2002 - Despite not winning the team did meet a would be supporter in the form of their mentor for the competition, Rick Clark
*Dare To Be Digital 2002

TPLD founders have judged the following business plan competitions:
*Laz Allen judged the 2006 and 2007 SIE Business Plan competition [http://www.sie.ac.uk/UserFiles/File/Ignite_Web_Version.pdf 'Ignite' An SIE Publication in 2006, giving details of the competition] ]
*Matt Seeney judged the St Andrews University Business Plan competition (Year Required)

External links

* [http://www.tpld.net TPLD Official website]
* [http://www.eduteams.com Eduteams Official website]
* [http://www.abertay.ac.uk University of Abertay Dundee Official website]
* [http://www.dsc-online.com/ Definitive Solutions Company Official website]
* [http://www.learningperformance.com/ Learning Performance Official website]

References