Events
Student Video Games Demonstrate Mix of Imagination And Technical Skill
RALEIGH, N.C. (July 22, 2014) - Chrono Tear … Sledge … Sock-It: One of these could be the next big thing in video games! Designed by students in Wake Tech’s Simulation and Game Development program, the games were presented at the annual Student Showcase on Main Campus tonight. It was the final Capstone Project for students in the two-year associate’s degree program. Industry representatives were on hand from some of the Triangle’s more than 40 video game companies.
Department Head Cindy Foster applauded the students’ teamwork and focus: “They started working on these games in May, at the start of summer semester,” Foster said. “They divided into teams, and they’ve spent eight weeks getting to this point.”
Students assumed specific roles within their teams including artist, programmer, and project manager. They were free to design the games on any platform; some chose Unreal Engine 4 (UE4), released just this year. Wake Tech plans to adopt UE4 for its Simulation and Game Development program this fall.
Finished products were graded on creativity and “polish” as well as the level of challenge presented. The ultimate goal was to design a video game that the public would want to play.
Wake Tech’s Simulation and Game Development program started in 2006 with a grant from the National Science Foundation. More than 500 students are currently enrolled, and many graduates have had games published and marketed to commercial success.
Wake Tech is a major sponsor of the East Coast Game Conference in Raleigh each year, which draws thousands of game developers and enthusiasts from around the world. Wake Tech will also be a part of the upcoming TiltExpo in Durham this fall.
