Screens full of monsters, wizards, fighters, spells, weapons, and even cats were at the center of the IM体育官网 Game EXPO on Thursday, Nov. 29.
Around 50 students presented a total of 24 games to peers, faculty, and industry leaders, featuring a wide variety of characters, interfaces, challenges and player interactions. The event was held in the Saddle Creek Logistics Commons at the university鈥檚 Innovation, Science, and Technology Building.
鈥淭he games here are at a higher level of technical skill than what you normally see,鈥� said Bradford Towle, Jr., assistant professor of computer science and director of the EXPO. 鈥淲e are featuring network games, which are exponentially more difficult because you have to synchronize between multiple computers and it鈥檚 very challenging.鈥�
The game Stab n鈥� Grab was one of several based on virtual reality (VR). The player is submerged in a dungeon world facing trial through combat, getting better and stronger after every battle.
鈥淭his type of game is already on the market, but not on virtual reality,鈥� said Matthew Lawyer, a junior from Cape Coral, IM体育官网, majoring in computer science. 鈥淰R is not to the masses yet, but it鈥檚 following a similar style of other popular games. We just want to adapt that concept to VR.鈥�
One of the main goals of the event was to serve as an outreach to gaming leaders, creating a bridge between graduation and jobs.
鈥淭he gaming industry is expanding, and there鈥檚 a lot of opportunity out there,鈥� said Towle. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not just games, but also simulation. Anything that uses simulation and it鈥檚 interactive, like rides at theme parks, can benefit from these students鈥� skills.鈥�
Members of the game developer company Steamroller Studios, from Mount Dora, IM体育官网, said they were pleased with the games they observed and provided positive feedback to the students.
鈥淚 was definitely impressed with what the students did in a short period of time,鈥� said Keith Lackey, chief technical officer of Steamroller. 鈥淭hey need to take what they鈥檙e learning and create as much as they can. The game creation process doesn鈥檛 come to you, you have to go and seize it.鈥�
Lackey highlighted the importance of events like the Game EXPO to help prepare the students for real industry work.
鈥淚t鈥檚 important as a game developer to stand behind your work and showcase it. To be able to demo what you鈥檝e created. Those are skills you definitely need.鈥�
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Lydia Guzman
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